The colour Yellow
Yellow symbolises happiness, the summer sun, warmth and is said to promote happiness more than any of the many other colours around us, and that is the same in most cultures.
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Alison G Saunders painter and printmaker artworks
Moving into my new studio
Setting up a new art studio, what is going well and what needs more thought.
How to buy art that is right for you and your home
Collecting art can be a minefield. Here are a few basic tips to help you buy the right art for you.
Featured Artist: Debbie Tearle
Featured artist Debbie Tearle creates stunning artwork. Read more about her artists journey.
A bit more about the colour red
Red part 2 Looking back at my recent blog about the colour red I decided that there is so much to say that I would cover a bit more about it here, but I am still only scratching the surface. Hopefully this will be enough for now, but I may cover it again later when…
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Taxes and record keeping
It it that time of year again when we need to start thinking about getting our tax returns filed to avoid the last minute panic in January
Why take a BA in art (and how hard can it be, anyway)?
Abstract artwork named Curiosity. Work explores colour and emotions
No featured artist, so coping with adversity
When a painting isn’t working, sometimes it can be recovered but in this case, it will become part of the next series of works, read why.
The colour red
The first in a series of pieces about colour. Starting with red simply because it stands out more for me.
Painting the hen
Chick Flick has been created in support of the Haslemere charity event running this year
Recent exhibitions and my personal view.
Reporting back on my personal views about two exhibitions I took part in recently. Denbies Vineyard and Contemporary Art Fairs Sandown Park.
Featured Artist – Me! Alison G Saunders
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the two people who were scheduled to appear as my featured artists for March and April are unable to take part. I hope their circumstances greatly improve for them soon and that you will be able to read about them later this year. For this month, at my editor’s suggestion, I am answering…
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Understanding some differences between the UK and the USA
Understanding some differences between the UK and the USA
The advantages of creating artworks in a series
Producing work in multiples or in a series. I’d suggest working on at least five pieces at a time.
My influences and inpiration
Inspirations and influences for me from the grand master of art to modern day.
Featured Artist Rosemary Lawrey
What is your name or the name you go by for your art? My name is Rosemary Lawrey. Where do you live? I live in the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It stares across the Solent towards Portsmouth and the more distant Southampton, watching the cruise ships, battleships, and giant container ships…
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media update
Keeping up with the updates of your artistic media image is vitally important and this may help you.
How to paint a hen
Decorating fibre glass animals for raising money for charity has been going on for about 20 years. This is my latest adventure, painting the hen.
Change continued
Experimenting with new ideas in paint. Having taken a class at Emily Ball’s of Seawhite having not painted for too many months
Writing blogs, making art and taking a break
I have been consistently writing blogs now for a decade. In the past four years theses have been specifically art-related and aimed at artists wanting to start or improve their new business. I am delighted that I have been able to help so many of you and I plan to continue. However, finding something new…
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A positive approach during the latest Covid outbreak
A positive approach during the latest Covid outbreak Just when we thought it was safe to go out, Covid-19 is threatening to push us back into our homes, again. Maybe not all of us, but a lot of us. The driving force behind this is fear. We are fearful that we will catch it, become…
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Featured Artist Shirley Ann Aphrodite – revisited.
This week’s blog revisits a wonderful artist I first interviewed in May 2019. A link to that first interview is at the end of this blog if you would like to read that, too. The reason for this second interview is to show you the reader that each of the artists I have interviewed have…
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Art and charity work crisis due to lockdown
158th Blog – Art and charity work crisis due to lockdown Over the past couple of years all charitable organisations have suffered as people just haven’t been putting their hands in their pockets and donating to good causes in general. It is the small local charities which have probably seen the greatest demand on their…
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Art Discounts – Should you give them?
Should you give discounts on your artworks? As many of you already know, I run an online art gallery called Ginger Cactus Art http://www.gingercactusart.com and having just launched our Christmas exhibition, the issue of special offers or discounts is being discussed. In the case of Ginger Cactus Art, we are purely an online exhibition space;…
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Sketch books revisited
156th Blog post – Sketchbooks revisited Back in early 2019 I wrote a blog about how I use my sketchbook and how you might consider using yours. Over two years have passed, and the basic message is the same, but I have updated it a bit, though I am re-using some of the artwork I…
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An idea for blogs, for my blogs and I need your input.
An idea for blogs, for my blogs and I need your input. 155th blog Those of you who are regular readers of my weekly blog will know that normally, on this first Sunday of the month, I would have published an interview with the latest in my “featured artist” series for your enjoyment. I had…
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About colour
Last week my editor complained (not for the first time I must admit) but this time it wasn’t about my dreadful writing or spelling [Whilst you’re at it, don’t forget punctuation and grammar – Ed]. It was about content. Basically, he is fed up with reading about record keeping so to keep him happy I…
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Journal/record keeping and planning for now and next year
It has been a while since I last wrote about journaling and record keeping. I will be totally honest with you and tell you that I haven’t touched my journal for the past five weeks as I have been so caught up in my house move. I did manage to get my accounts up to…
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Dealing with self-doubt
151st Blog post – Opening my eyes and coping with self-doubt. I have been writing these blog posts since 2018 and whilst I hope the content and writing have both improved over this time, I have always written with the reader in mind. My aim has always been to inform other artists about new trends,…
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Featured Artist Stephanie Thompson
What is your name or the name you go by for your art? My name is Stephanie Thompson, and I trade as Stephanie Thompson Art. Where do you live? I’m based in Surrey, UK, but have lived in several places, both north and south in the UK. We have a fantastic landscape which influences my…
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How to keep going with your art
Just keeping going Some of you will know that I recently moved home and although we have moved to a beautiful house on a large site, we have actually downsized. This means that we are trying to go through all our ‘stuff’, get rid of what we really don’t need, which is probably most of…
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How to survive taking part in an art exhibition
Blog post #148 Sticks and stones. Having recovered from the exhibition I ran at Denbies Wine Estate recently, I thought you might like to hear my feedback on how it went. First, though I have to tell you about the three people whose comments should have been kept to themselves but in the end said…
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How to use mood, vision or concept boards in your art.
Vision and mood boards I was recently reminded of the value of using vision and mood boards when I was asked to produce some for our new home and the work we want to have done on it. In my case, I am looking initially at the type of exterior aesthetic for the art studio,…
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Featured Artist Kristy Darnell Battani
What is your name or the name you go by for your art? Kristy Darnell Battani Where do you live? Austin, Texas USA What’s your background? I have always loved art—drawing, painting, whatever. I started in college taking studio art classes, but the truth is I had no idea what it meant to be an…
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How to look after your painting equipment
These days artists use all manner of different tools to produce their artwork but traditionally many, if not most, use brushes. Keeping brushes clean and in good order will mean that their working lives will be extended, and they will in turn produce the reliable quality you need for your work. Different media require different…
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blog
143rd blog Shortages of art supplies I think we have all read about the shortage of supplies in our shops. Most of us have seen empty shelves in our supermarkets and all manner of excuses have been put forward as to why this is happening. Brexit is the most common, along with Covid-19, too and…
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How to keep on track with record keeping and preparing for exhibitions.
142nd Blog post I am going to start by being completely honest with you. I have not done as I said I would by now, I have not done my tax returns. To be fair, I have been so busy with the funerals and the legal stuff surrounding the deaths of my father-in-law and father…
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Some of what you need to know about watercolour paper.
Watercolour paper and what you need to know. Last weekend I attended a watercolour painting class in support of a friend who was tutoring. I enjoy using watercolour and don’t use it a lot but there is always something you can learn by taking a class. The thing which really struck me at this class…
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Featured Artist – Anne Armes
What is your name or the name you go by for your art? My name is Anne Armes. Where do you live? I live in Newport, Shropshire, a rural market town, with my husband and my black Labrador, Tilly. What’s your background? I’ve worked as a pharmacist all my life to support the family as…
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Silver Clay and how it works
Blog post #139 Silver Clay I love taking classes in disciplines that I don’t normally work in and just recently I went on a course to learn about silver clay. The one-day course was held at the Ardington School of Crafts in Oxfordshire (www.ardingtonschool.com), which is owned by the incredibly talented Simon Sonsino, who I…
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More about record keeping.
Blog post #138 Record keeping. Again. You may have noticed that last month I spared you the preaching about record keeping [Thank the Lord, Ed]. Well, this month I am back on it. When I last told you about keeping stock records, I said that I was going to try a new system and would…
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Making a simple leather journal
Making a simple leather journal There are many different kinds of journals you can make. Stitched covers, which I teach online classes about (with my talented friend, Cecilia); cloth covers; card covers etc. Then there is the stitch work: simple straight stitching; cross stitching of various complexities and then the different finishings. As I am…
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Featured Artist Adele Froude
What is your name or the name you go by for your art? ‘Adele Froude Designs’ and ‘Dalmatian Art by Adele Froude Designs’. Where do you live? The Yorkshire Dales National Park. What’s your background? I worked in the NHS for 20 years, in several different locations across the country, including Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, London and…
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My love affair with colour (continued)
Last week I talked mainly about the different products I use to make my colourful artworks. This week I thought I would tell you about some of the ways I use those products and share some of the results, too. There are many different ways we can approach starting a piece of work but to…
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My love affair with colour
My love affair with colour As many of you know, I love colour. Every piece of artwork I make starts with me thinking about the colours I want to use and the overall effects those colours will have on each other. Am I looking for a particular feeling? Is that feeling bright, joyful, sombre, cheerful,…
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How to measure exhibition success.
133rd Blog post record keeping (again) Yes, we are back to record keeping, this time following the art exhibition I took part in at Painshill Park a couple of weeks ago. First, a quick reminder about your journal, or bullet journal as I find some of you are now referring to it. I wanted to…
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What to consider for your 2021 exhibitions
Blog post #132 – After the exhibition I have just taken part in my first in person exhibition since March 2020 and wanted to share what I learned from the event. I hope this will in turn help you for any events you have coming up. The first and most surprising thing for me was…
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Featured Artist –
Featured Artist – Karen Dickinson What is your name (or the name you go by for your art)? Professionally, I’m Karen Dickinson Studio but I am also known as karentillyart or Tilly art on social media. Tilly has been my nickname all my life. Where do you live? Leyland, Lancashire, England. What’s your background? I…
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