5 ideas for filling your sketchbook You’ve chosen your sketchbook and now you want to stack up a collection bursting with your art. Here are 5 ideas for filling your sketchbook and supporting your art practice. Choose one or mix them up for a sketchbook that feels inspiring. These ideas Read more…
Start making art in your new sketchbook with these creative ideas. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed by possibilities there’s something here to kickstart your new sketchbook, whatever is holding you back. These tips are how I deal with new sketchbook gremlins. Perfectionism We want our sketchbooks to be Read more…
Are you inspired by the sketchbooks of your favourite artists? Maybe flip-throughs of gorgeous coloured pages and art notes have encouraged you to start a sketchbook of your own. Choose a sketchbook or art journal with this guide to finding the right sketchbook for your art practise. What is a Read more…
Favourite art supplies These favourite art supplies started in the back of a notebook as a sort of shopping list. I’d write down my favourite inks and Neocolor colours so I knew what to buy when I went to the art shop. Since then I’ve created new lists in sketchbooks Read more…
What difference does it make if I paint for a winter event in summer? It’s my first time creating for the Artists Open Houses winter event and it raised a new challenge. How do you create work for a winter open house when you’re bathing in summer sun and sea Read more…
Concertina or accordion sketchbooks hold a continuous length of folded paper to create on. This opens up possibilities for artists to go beyond the limits of a single page. Using a concertina sketchbook gives me space to work on a theme and works well for landscapes. This is how I Read more…
The creative cycle Cycles and seasons Do you make art in a creative cycle? Social media posts suggest that new art is made every day in a frenzy of creativity. However, the impression that it’s possible to churn out new art like a machine is a bit misleading. People naturally Read more…
Painting a clock for the art trail When I was preparing art for the Adur Art Trail this year I began journaling ideas for creations to take with me. I wanted to offer something more than just original paintings and thought about scarves, collaged greeting cards and even zines. But Read more…
Working in layers is easy with acrylic paint. Acrylic is quick-drying and can be layered easily. It can be applied in a variety of thicknesses and transparencies and mixed with textured mediums. Using layers in a painting adds richness, history and depth. How I start with acrylic layers The early Read more…
Working in a series To create a series of paintings for an event or gallery is usual but a collection of similar art looks great and has benefits for the artist too. For a series of paintings to look good together, they usually fit some pre-set limitations. This might sound Read more…