AI tools for artists
A search for AI tools for artists inevitably brings up any number of applications that will create AI artwork for you. That is not what I want. I am not a fan of AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated art. It’s probably very complex and clever in…
Planning an art residency to get results
Planning an art residency is the key to making sure you make the most of the opportunity. This January, I went on a week’s residency to the Ballinglen Art Foundation with two artist friends. It’s difficult to describe just how much this trip moved my…
Hagia Sofia. Finding treasure.
Hagia Sophia. Finding treasure in my own family. Here’s why this painting is so precious to me. One evening while I was visiting my family in South Africa some years ago, my sister pulled four boxes out of the back of the cupboard. They had…
New Year’s no-resolutions
This year I am making New Year’s no-resolutions. And here’s why. New Year’s resolutions are always about doing something you really don’t want to do, in order to achieve something you know you ‘should’ do. (Even writing that made me feel exhausted and demotivated. 😁)…
A daily enso art practice
Have you ever considered a daily enso art practice? It’s a great 1 minute process that now forms part of my studio practice and has recharged my enthusiasm for painting. The Enso’s Simplicity At first glance, the Enso might appear deceptively simple – just a…
Lessons from the Chelsea Flower Show
Yesterday, I expected to learn gardening lessons from the Chelsea Flower Show as I embarked on a captivating journey through its flowers and trees. Gardening is one of my passions. Some days I’m torn: turn left to the new greenhouse, or right to my deliciously…
Testing My Handmade Paints
In 2015 I made my own watercolour paints. I do these sort of things out of sheer curiosity. I wanted to know how they were made in order to learn first hand, what makes watercolour work. Then I had to start the process of testing…
Why artists create
There are two ways to think about the question of why artists create: What leads someone to pick up a brush and get started? What drives someone to keep creating artwork? There are different reasons for everyone. Here’s what it is for me: Why artists…
Painting Elements of Nature
In preparation for my workshop, Painting Elements of Nature, I’ve been going through my photographs to find some reference images. And I’ve got some fantastic pictures I want to share with you. What do I mean when I talk about painting elements of nature? There’s…
When a painting goes wrong
When a painting goes wrong, decisions have to be made. If we expect that every time we put brush to paper we will produce a masterpiece, we are going to be disappointed. The ratio of good paintings to sheets of paper used is surprisingly low. Between…