Playing with Paint in your Sketchbook

Playing with Paint in your Sketchbook

When I start my paintings I begin with play. I had to learn to play with the paint and the tools and whatever else I had to use just like a curious kid. "What happens if I use this?" "What happens if I do that?" I recorded it, so you can see what it takes to play if you are like I was and sometimes find it hard to let go, forget about what you're making, and just get lost in the MAKING. Watch the Vlog.

Colour Shaper Painting Tool

Colour Shaper Painting Tool

I thought I'd share with you some lovely effects you can get with a colour shaper - one of my favourite tools. It's a mini-vlog, but have a look. I use this tool a lot and almost have to prise it out of my hand sometimes just to give the old paintbrush a turn again.

Breaking down 2 Abstract Paintings—What Are They About?

Breaking down 2 Abstract Paintings—What Are They About?

One of the questions I ask myself when I'm trying to nut out my paintings is "What is this painting all about - where are my heroes?" When I get this figured out it's so much easier to know what needs to be done next. Sometimes the hero can get lost in the crowd - so once I've identified what are the heroes, I can clear away the distractions and make some space for the main players to shine.

The Beginning of a Painting: How to Start

The Beginning of a Painting: How to Start

In this vlog, I'll walk you through how I start a painting from the very beginning: preparing the canvas and the first layers, and what my focus is at this stage. Stay to the end to see how one painting evolved from the beginning through to the final finished form.

Building The Surface of An Abstract Painting

Building The Surface of An Abstract Painting

In this week's Vlog, I continue with the progress of the painting which I started last week. I'm adding the layers and building the surface using different tools to apply paint and get a range of effects. Watch as I share with you the process of building my current work as it's starting to get exciting.

The Value of Drawing

The Value of Drawing

In this Vlog I talk about this process and show examples of Picasso's drawings from one of my favourite artbooks. 'The Sketchbooks of Picasso'. He of course didn't have a SMART phone or Photoshop to help him nut out design issues - he used pencil and paper. And his small composition studies are the perfect example of this type of drawing. There are also suggestions for how you could use these ideas in your own practice and some examples of my drawing to demonstrate.

How to Find the Colour and Shape Heroes in Your Abstract Painting

How to Find the Colour and Shape Heroes in Your Abstract Painting

In this week's Vlog I have made a small painting in my sketchbook following my process of building up layers. But what it demonstrates as well as building an interesting surface, and the introduction of the use of stencils is how to give strength to the hero's in the painting. Prioritizing the colour heroes as well as the shapes and elements in the painting that are important to the success of the composition.

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How To Write An Artist's Statement

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How To Write An Artist's Statement

As artists, we'll bend over backwards to encourage connection with our audience. We do it in paint and we can support that with words. For a lot of us, we find it easier in paint than words, but we can all speak so we do know how to use words.... it just takes a bit of effort and isn't as much fun.

Knowing Your Painting Style

Knowing Your Painting Style

How do I find my style? In this vlog I talk about why the search can feel so overwhelming, what actually helps you uncover what feels authentic, and how to keep your style alive as you grow. A gentle reminder that your unique voice is already there. You just need the right practices to nurture it.

My Painting Game

My Painting Game

When life gets in the way of our art, it’s easy to lose our Mojo, find ourselves procrastinating and doubting our ability. Here’s a simple way to get back into your work as an artist and find the joy and love again. Watch as I explain why this happens and how to overcome negative feelings by playing a simple game with paint.

Quick and Easy Design Tutorial with Collage

Quick and Easy Design Tutorial with Collage

Express yourself with this inspiring mix of collage, drawing, and painting. Endless fun while exploring design! Here's what I used to make these collages:

- 110gsm paper previously prepared with paint
- Collage detritus and other papers prepared with paint
- Acrylic paint
- white, black and a couple of colours
- stencils
- Water soluble crayons

Using Thick and Thin Paint to Create a Stunning Painting Surface

Using Thick and Thin Paint to Create a Stunning Painting Surface

I like to build a beautiful surface on my paintings, and in this video, I focus on contrasting thick and thin paint to build a luscious painterly surface. I’ll show you how I do this on 4 paintings I’m currently working on so that you can see my painting process at work. Join me in my studio!

Shapes In Your Painting

Shapes In Your Painting

This week in my Vlog I'm talking about digging into your past and finding things in your memories that can be included in your Art to make it more authentic. Finding SHAPES that you enjoy and that for some reason have some resonance for you, and how including these in your work can build connections with others. That's where the Witches Britches come in...

Painting with Line

Painting with Line

This week my Vlog is an exploration in line in my sketchbook. I've been updating one of the activities in my stARTs course and it's got me really interested in a couple of things - big shapes and delicate lines. I've always been a sucker for these two, but I feel like I'm going BIGGER with the shapes and more explorative with the line.