How to get your artwork exhibition ready
This week’s blog is a reworking of one I wrote a couple of years ago. As we prepare to go back out into the world and show our artwork in … Continue reading How to get your artwork exhibition ready
Blog
Featured Artist – Lisa Woodward
Featured artist, April 2021 What is your name (or the name you go by for your art)? Lisa Woodward Where do you live? Ottawa, Canada What is your background? Definitely … Continue reading Featured Artist – Lisa Woodward
What you should know about Pastels.
Blog post #121 Pastels – what they are and how to use them. I recently read an interesting article about a new pastel on the market. It was interesting because, … Continue reading What you should know about Pastels.
How to persevere with journal keeping.
Journal planning, record keeping and how to persevere It is that time again when I am looking at forward planning, habit forming and goal achievement. I mentioned last month that … Continue reading How to persevere with journal keeping.
How to prepare for taking part in an art exhibition in 2021/22
As the UK starts slowly to prepare for reopening its shop doors, putting on events and exhibitions and generally trying to get back to some kind of normality, now feels … Continue reading How to prepare for taking part in an art exhibition in 2021/22
March featured artist – Stella Tooth
Your name?Stella Tooth What’s your background?I’m a West London-based figurative artist, specialising in portraits in oils, and have painted some of the country’s leading broadcast journalists including the BBC’s Kate … Continue reading March featured artist – Stella Tooth
How to pick the right art materials
How do I chose the best art materials for me? If you have decided to take up art during this pandemic and have now concluded that the cheap set of … Continue reading How to pick the right art materials
Planning, habit forming and reaching your goals
This week we are back to looking at planning, forming good habits and keeping your goals in mind as well as recording them. So, 2021 is still shaping up to … Continue reading Planning, habit forming and reaching your goals
How to make monoprints using gel plates
Mono-printing with gel plates Printmaking is probably my favourite artform, although there are a couple of very close seconds. As I embark on a 12 month-long printmaking course, I plan … Continue reading How to make monoprints using gel plates
February’s Featured Artist – Elaine Almond
Your name? Elaine Almond What’s your background? I was born in London and now live in West Kent. I am an abstract artist, painting mainly in oils and acrylics, and … Continue reading February’s Featured Artist – Elaine Almond
How to make faux leather out of paper for vegan friendly journals
Making a vegan-friendly journal As some of you will know, last year I took a refresher course in journal making and was suddenly hooked. After many years of knowing how … Continue reading How to make faux leather out of paper for vegan friendly journals
Goal Setting and Journaling Catch-up
So, as promised I am checking in on you to see how you are getting along with setting up and using your system of goal setting and, of course, sticking … Continue reading Goal Setting and Journaling Catch-up
Which art materials do I need?
The artist’s essentials I am often asked about the materials I use when making my artwork and I have written around this topic before but having been asked again this … Continue reading Which art materials do I need?
Goal setting and journaling in 2021
Blog 110 Goal setting (continued from 2020) Planning out what your “big ticket” goals are and how you can fit normal life around achieving them is not as daunting as … Continue reading Goal setting and journaling in 2021
Featured Artist – Heather Tobias
Your nameHeather Tobias Where do you live?Watford, Hertfordshire What is your background?I left school and went to Drama College; I had the opportunity of Art School but went the drama … Continue reading Featured Artist – Heather Tobias
How to set and realise your goals
Setting and realising your goals Last week we looked at letting your imagination and goal setting run wild and the week before we looked back at 2020 and the major … Continue reading How to set and realise your goals
Think big for 2021
Thinking about 2021 and dreaming big. What do you want? Because of Covid, life as we know it is unlikely to ever feel the same again, or certainly not for … Continue reading Think big for 2021
How can I make sense of 2020?
An annual review It’s that time of year when people are gearing up to look back at the events over the past 12 months. Obviously, Covid-19 is going to be … Continue reading How can I make sense of 2020?
Featured Artist – This month it is Miriam Brady
Your name? Miriam Brady Where do you live? I currently live in Kent, England, but I am originally from Dublin in Ireland. What is your background? With a background in … Continue reading Featured Artist – This month it is Miriam Brady
Book binding and hand made journals
My adventure into this fabulous craft. Earlier this year, when some kind of normality was allowed and ‘real’ classes were running, I took the opportunity to spend the day with … Continue reading Book binding and hand made journals
Making a Christmas art list.
Christmas is coming I have really battled this week to come up with a topic to write about which a) you will find interesting to read and b) could be … Continue reading Making a Christmas art list.
Being positive about your art and life
Let’s be honest, this Covid-19 crisis has had a huge effect on all of us. Trying to stay positive is difficult but believe me when I say that being negative … Continue reading Being positive about your art and life
Arts v Crafts
Sadly, there still exists in the UK, a huge amount of snobbery around being an artist versus crafter or craftsperson. It is a snobbery I have never understood and, having … Continue reading Arts v Crafts
Featured Artist – Tracey Elizabeth Downing
Your name?Tracey Elizabeth Downing Where do you live?Carshalton, Surrey (nowadays part of the London Borough of Sutton) What is your background?I was always good at art at school and it … Continue reading Featured Artist – Tracey Elizabeth Downing
Getting started with making video lessons
What I have learned making my first few videos of my art demos and classes Whilst Covid-19 has caused huge problems and great sadness there are always good things which … Continue reading Getting started with making video lessons
Art Galleries
Selling your work through galleries – the pros and cons I am regularly asked why I do not approach galleries to show my artwork and I have many artist friends … Continue reading Art Galleries
Art Words and what they mean
Art words and what they mean Every profession has their own language, possibly designed to make people within that profession feel special, elite even and to make outsiders feel inferior, … Continue reading Art Words and what they mean
Featured Artist Lee Caller
Your name Lee Caller Where do you live? Shepperton in Surrey What is your background? I grew up at a time when the home computer was starting to appear everywhere … Continue reading Featured Artist Lee Caller
More about Screen-printing
Earlier this year I said that I would share more information with you about other types of screen-printing technique. Exposed screen-printing method If you are lucky to live near a … Continue reading More about Screen-printing
How to display your children’s artwork
During the lockdown many of you will have spent time filling your days with your children or grandchildren making art. And now you have tons of it and don’t know … Continue reading How to display your children’s artwork
How to take care of Artwork.
How to take care of Artwork Paintings You have spent many hours and a huge amount of energy to make your art so you really should think about what will … Continue reading How to take care of Artwork.
September’s Featured Artist
This month’s featured artist is Lin Chatfield. Read her interesting story here. Your name? Lin Chatfield, though for a time I did use my middle name, Louise, when I was … Continue reading September’s Featured Artist
Certificates of authenticity: What they are and why you need them.
I was asked to write this blog post by a very dear Hungarian friend. She wanted to know more about them and how best to go about getting them for … Continue reading Certificates of authenticity: What they are and why you need them.
How safe is it to be taking part in art exhibitions in 2020?
I am sure many of you are wondering the same thing: Should I take part in that exhibition or should I just walk away? Currently, there is no definitive answer … Continue reading How safe is it to be taking part in art exhibitions in 2020?
Why you should show your artwork to the world.
I was listening today to a podcast called Art Juice which, if you haven’t listened to it, you really should. The fabulous Alice Sheridan and the equally fabulous Louise Fletcher … Continue reading Why you should show your artwork to the world.
How to be confident in your art making.
How to be confident in your art making. How to avoid mistakes which could or have already destroyed your creativity and learn how to put fear in its place. I … Continue reading How to be confident in your art making.
August Featured Artist – Gill Edwards
I do hope you enjoy reading about this months featured artist and please do send feedback to me for her. Your name? Gill Edwards Where do you live? Southwell, Nottinghamshire … Continue reading August Featured Artist – Gill Edwards
How to Experiment with Colour
I would like to bet that, like me, whenever you go into an art store, you are seduced by the colours on the side of paint tubes or pots and … Continue reading How to Experiment with Colour
Art Education and the Funding Argument
Or trying to understand the anti-art education movement This week, I am sounding off on a topic I feel very strongly about: the anti-art education movement. What do I mean … Continue reading Art Education and the Funding Argument
How to – Work Smarter Not Harder
Although we are in the middle of a pandemic, speaking to my friends and family we have all remarked that we can’t understand why, with all this time on our … Continue reading How to – Work Smarter Not Harder
Featured Artist – Zoe Ashbrook
This months featured artist is the lovely Zoe Ashbrook. Your name: Zoe Ashbrook Where do you live? Gloucestershire, UK. What is your background? I have always been creative and had … Continue reading Featured Artist – Zoe Ashbrook
Getting ready for the art world to re-open.
I know it doesn’t feel like we are ready yet but I think we artists need to be planning for being part of exhibitions again when the world does re-open … Continue reading Getting ready for the art world to re-open.
Writing an artists Bio
Writing an artist’s biography. The first thing you need to bear in mind when writing an artist’s biography (usually shortened to bio) is that this is a short statement about … Continue reading Writing an artists Bio
What is Ginger Cactus Art?
A new online exhibition group born out of Covid 19
How to become an artist
70th blog should an artist listen to the “get yourself a proper job” advice. Chatting to an old friend last weekend about how she is coping with the lock down … Continue reading How to become an artist
Featured Artist Anna Clarke
This months featured artist is Anna Clarke. I have known Anna for a few years now and we have exhibited at the same locations on numerous occasions. I hope you … Continue reading Featured Artist Anna Clarke
How to cope with artists block.
How to cope with artists block. I know that many of you during this Covid crisis are suffering from the inability to create any artwork at all. If you are, … Continue reading How to cope with artists block.
Finding inspiration in Covid times through trying collage.
Collage adventures. Someone sent me this photo and I just had to share it with you all. It is beginning to get tough now but this is the most crucial … Continue reading Finding inspiration in Covid times through trying collage.
Tips for working at home during covid 19
I am sharing my tips for coping with working at home during the Covid 19 crisis. There are plenty of other tips and tricks out there if you just want … Continue reading Tips for working at home during covid 19
Featured Artist Sue Roberts
I am re-posting this months featured artists blog with a huge apology to Sue Roberts as I had used the wrong photos. Please take a look at her fabulous artwork … Continue reading Featured Artist Sue Roberts
