How to get the most out of a painting workshop
When we’ve made an investment in developing our art, we all want to know how to get the most out of a painting workshop. This weekend I start four days of fantastic creativity with two amazing tutors. Here are a few things you can do…
How to re-use failed paintings
Have you ever wondered how to re-use failed paintings? (I’m talking specifically about work on paper in this post). See that photograph of 62 failed paintings at the top of this post? That’s not a stock picture. That huge pile of paper had been sitting…
Seven ways to make time for art
Do you struggle to make time for art? I hear this frustration so often. And I hear myself saying it more often than I would like to. This week I stepped off the treadmill of work, life and busy-ness for the first time this year….
How Painting Outdoors can improve your life
It took me a long time to get comfortable with painting outdoors. The whole idea seemed just far too challenging. First, there was the hassle of working out what I needed to take with me. Then there was the fear of people watching me –…
Best painting kit for travel
I always take a painting kit with me when I travel. Even on a short trip, I try to paint at least a couple of times a week. The challenge is always what to take? Here’s the problem. When I pack my painting kit I…
The colour blue – what every artist should know about it
We all have an affinity for particular colours – I have one for the colour blue. I always lean towards the blues – and in particular the green end of the blue scale. This glorious colour has always dominated my wardrobe and my surroundings –…
Why take a painting workshop
You may be thinking you might want to take a painting workshop. Or you’ve done an online workshop and are thinking about what to do next. You may even be deciding whether to take your first painting workshop. Perhaps you’re torn between wanting to take…
Explorations in paint
What’s the difference between experimentation and explorations in paint? We use the words interchangeably as I said in my last post about whether artists should experiment. I find myself doing this too, even though they aren’t the same. There’s another question about the difference between…
Photographing your paintings with a phone – a very simple guide
Photographing your paintings can be a challenge if you worry about getting it wrong. With more exhibitions going online, getting a sharp image of your painting has become a key factor in getting sales. But it doesn’t have to be daunting or expensive if you…
Should Artists Experiment?
Perhaps instead of ‘Should artists experiment?’, we should be asking: When should artists experiment? and ‘Why should artists experiment? Let’s start with the word experiment? So often, the term is misinterpreted in the context of making art. We say experiment when we mean ‘explore’. There…