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
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 up fast. It can be applied in various 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 first layer 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
In Brighton, Clarkes art shop and gallery is in the creative heart of the city, the North Laine. Street art is a frequent sight and the staff of Clarkes add their own mural every summer. Gathering artists together Over thirty artists and makers display their work in the gallery upstairs Read more
May 2021 at the art table On the art table in May I’ve been painting for the Curious Tales series to take to the gallery and to share with my Instagram followers. I’m still loving these ocean blues and purples. I also wrote a blog about the importance of taking Read more
Making art for mental health This week has been Mental Health Awareness week in the UK. I’ve been sharing my thoughts and some resources over in my Instagram stories during the last few days, in particular links to support. It’s a subject very close to my heart and going by Read more