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…
Painting Autumn
Some years, the joy of painting autumn, like the season itself seems to creep in unnoticed. We all wait for spring and summer for their vibrant, fresh colours. Flowers are brilliant sunshine hues. They grow and bloom at increasing pace, giving us changes in the…
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…
Making art is good for your health
Yes, there are good reasons to say that making art is good for your health – it’s not a random claim. When I considered learning to paint, 10 years ago, I asked myself what the benefits would be. I grew up being ‘the numbers one’…