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
Tag: artist
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 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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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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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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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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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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Featured Artists Deborah Waters
This months featured artist is Deborah, I hope you enjoy her story. What is your name (or the name you go by for your art)? Deborah Waters, AKA Desirables by Deborah. I didn’t want to limit my brand to just art as I also create cards, cushions and whatever takes my fancy including millinery and…
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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 public, having that work “exhibition ready” and by that, I mean presenting it in the best possible way, is essential. Ask yourself this: would you…
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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 not art! I did post-graduate studies in international development, and then worked in that area for over 20 years. However, my work took me to…
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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 a part-time lay minister. For many years my canvas was the garden, moving around and designing one everywhere we lived! I sketched on holiday and…
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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 route. I have worked professionally all my life as an actress. How did you learn your craft, i.e. college, self-taught and what did that entail?…
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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 a long time. But please don’t fret about it; you can’t change it, so it is far easier for your own wellbeing to simply accept…
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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 the scientific arena and a PhD in immunology, I have worked in academia and in the commercial environment as a project and product manager and…
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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 was my best subject in High School. My teacher encouraged me to think about going to Art College, which is the path I took. I…
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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 who love nothing better but before I give you my answer, let me break down the pros and cons for you. Having your artwork shown…
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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 a love for wild, rugged, worn landscapes. At school I loved art, pottery, and textiles but in terms of a career path I opted for…
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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 and what she did to celebrate her birthday, she told me that she had decided to try out the watercolour paints I bought for her…
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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 enjoy readying this lovely ladies story. Your name: Anna Clarke Where do you live? Bookham, Surrey What is your background? Whether I’m trying to capture…
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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, please know that you are not alone. I haven’t produced any work myself for weeks now. So, I too need to put aside all the…
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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 and big apologies for messing up. Your name? Sue Roberts Where do you live? Goostrey, Cheshire What is your background? I come from a…
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March Featured Artist
This months featured artist is a wonderful lady who I have only recently had the pleasure of meeting. Her story is really interesting as is her work. Your name? Gwynne Penny Where do you live? Shepperton, Surrey, UK What is your background? I studied Art and Ceramics…
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The benefits from connecting with other artists.
As many of you already know, I set up a group last year called the Exhibition Collective. This group consists of over 60 artists throughout the UK who are either working as professional artists or working towards being professional artists. The idea behind the group is that we find suitable venues in which to hold…
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Featured Artist – Keith Coomber
This week’s blog is about Keith Coomber, who I met through the Dorking Group of Artists. Keith is a lovely man, generous of spirit and always happy to help others, which is probably why he was such a great police officer. Keith is also a member of the small support group I run and as…
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How to improve your artwork
By stepping away from the painting. This week I wanted to talk about the need to remove oneself in order to see things in a different light. When I lived in the USA, I had a horrible but brilliant oil painting teacher. She never liked me and, frankly, I wasn’t impressed with her, but I…
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Featured Artist Roy E Fleming
This months featured artist is Roy E Fleming NDD (National Diploma in Design), FCSD (Royal Chartered Designer) FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts) For this month’s featured artist, I want to introduce you to a wonderful man who I have known all my life and who has had a huge influence over the…
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Special Feature Barry Owen Jones Artist
If you are one of my weekly blog followers, you will know that I feature an artist on the first Sunday of every month. To date these artists have been people I know or have met on the exhibition circuit, but this week I want to share something a bit closer to home and far…
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Interview with Alison G Saunders (me)
1.What’s your background? My parents were both amazing artists and I didn’t feel equipped to compete when I was younger, so I became an accountant instead. Time spent in the USA gave me the distance to explore the possibility that I could make art worth having. I took classes there with professional artists who were…
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Change and how to cope with it
Change – how to cope with it and embrace it. It is that time of year when it is all change. Here in England, the children are going back to school, my wonderful flower boxes are beginning to look disheveled and the leaves on the trees are just beginning to turn. Summer is coming to…
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Louise Collins Featured Artist
This months featured artist is Louise Collins. Louise is another of the artists I know based in Surrey, England and shares her art journey and her beautiful artwork. Please tell me a little about yourself. I have lived in and around Banstead, Surrey all of my life. My earliest and most inspirational teacher was Mrs Smale…
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How to improve your artwork
Design. Why design is so important in your artwork? I have had the luxury of being on an amazing painting course which started in May and which deals predominantly with design in our artwork. The course has reinforced all the things I have ever been taught about producing good art but is delivered in such…
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Frances Jordan Featured Artist
This months featured artist is Frances Jordan. Frances is based in Surrey, England and provided me with this enlightening interview about her life as an artist. Please tell me a little about yourself. Since I was a little girl I have always drawn and painted and I so much wanted to go to art college,…
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How to write an Artists Statement and Bio
An Artist Statement and Bio, what are they, why do you need one and how to go about writing them. An artist’s statement is a short, written piece about your artwork, your art practice and an opportunity to briefly discuss the thought process behind making your work. If you are struggling to write one for…
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How to paint a heart – Part 2
In last week’s blog, I talked about coming up with the designs for the hearts. This week I want to show you how I went about turning these designs into the finished products. These hearts have been made by the very talented Aden Hynes of the Sculpture Studios in Basildon, Essex. He made the moulds…
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