painting studio

Create Structure & Variety in your Abstract Art with this Easy Method

Create Structure & Variety in your Abstract Art with this Easy Method

With a limited palette and a few quick steps I’ll show you how to create a beautiful varied and interesting surface. Then I’ll show you how to create a balanced composition by rearranging squares in a grid format. This provides structure while also allowing the variety and combinations that are so compelling in abstract art. Only requiring a few colours and materials this is an exercise that anyone can do and produce great results. Give it a go!

Finding Clarity and Finishing

Finding Clarity and Finishing

Here’s the final installment of what has become a 5-part grueling Serial of the evolution of one of my latest paintings. If you were with me at the beginning you'll know we had quite the journey!! Watch the Vlog to see the birth of 'Sunday Sundae with Red Lips Rose'

Knowing Where You Are

Knowing Where You Are

In this week’s Vlog, you'll see me start to find a direction and I talk about how I'm never lost even when I don't know where I'm going. It's all about knowing the stages of a painting and trusting your process. Knowing where you are in that process.

Learning From Your Work

Learning From Your Work

When I don't like what I see in my work my go-to solution is - ROTATE. I rotate the painting, look at it with fresh eyes, go back a step, and add more of what I like. I also look at what I DO like in my other work. What can my more successful paintings tell me - what have they got that the Cupcake in this painting hasn't? Watch as I walk you through and discuss the process of what I did in this week's vlog.

Finding Direction in Abstract Painting

Finding Direction in Abstract Painting

Last week you would have watched about the breakthrough and moving ahead with my paintings. And suddenly, this painting is taking me on a very bumpy journey - and you're all coming along for the ride!

At the moment, what it means to me is that this painting will be rich in layers, have AMAZING texture, and is taking longer to reveal itself... that's all. I can't describe the process, I'll just leave you to watch me making some very dubious decisions.

The First Layers

The First Layers

This video shows the process of creating the first few layers of one of my latest paintings. I collaged with fabric and then applied paint and dry drawing media. Watch as I show you the process of how I bring life to the surface.

What's Your Hero?

What's Your Hero?

Abstract painting can often look like 'wallpaper'. It has no focal point and the viewers eye is left to roam often unable to discern what the artist wants them to see, feel or gain from their painting. What these paintings need is a hero. Here I talk about deciding on a hero when developing an abstract painting.

Starting A Painting

Starting A Painting

How I start a series of paintings. Watch as Judy talks about her process, the materials she uses, and what her concerns are as she starts a series of abstract mixed-media paintings.

The Beauty of Multiples

The Beauty of Multiples

Working in multiples is a game-changer in producing work of higher quality, reducing anxiety during the process and maintaining consistency throughout your artwork. Watch as I talk you through my most recent series of paintings and how working on one informs the decisions made in the others.

Permission To Paint

Permission To Paint

Do you give yourself permission to paint? When there are pressing demands on your time it’s worthwhile to evaluate the importance of the attention you give to your Art. What it means to you and why you want to spend time playing with paint.

About Winning Art2Life 1st Prize

About Winning Art2Life 1st Prize

So last Wednesday when I sat at my computer on that Zoom call and one by one watched the other Artists get their awards and then finally when the 2nd place was announced and I knew I had won – I heard a whoop from my partner in the bedroom - and I cried…

Selling Your Art

Selling Your Art

SELLING ART. With the knee-wobbling price of art materials and given that none of us are going to stop producing it’s something that we have to deal with, like it or not. I‘ve learnt that selling Art is a long game. Read my 5 tips for selling your Art.

Finishing Again

Finishing Again

How do you know when you’re finished is one of THE most frequently asked questions, and probably the most difficult to answer. Well, you just know – you know? How do I go about deciding that perhaps… maybe it’s possibly… quite probably finished or…. almost done – nearly?

From Start to Finish - in a nutshell

From Start to Finish - in a nutshell

Someone asked me to explain my process. The clock was ticking, we were closing in on the hour and that’s a big question. So I summed it up by saying “I add, add, add and then I start seeing shapes, decide what the paintings going to be about and then edit.” If only it was that simple…

My Studio – What it’s REALLY like

My Studio – What it’s REALLY like

…when I have my music on, a canvas on the wall and my palette swimming in wet paint the mess, the skinks, the spiders, and the rats are not even a thing – kind of.

Building Layers with Mixed Media

Building Layers with Mixed Media

How do you integrate drawing and painting techniques in your artwork? Watch how I vary wet and dry media with differences in types of paint application. Working in this way holds my interest in the process and delivers variety to work with going forward.

Painting with Total Abandon

Painting with Total Abandon

The journey from difficulty and confusion to clarity and joy. That’s the path we are all on with our Art. We are all at different stages of that path – some at the beginning bogged down among the weeds, and others further along emerging into openness where the path widens and the walking is more easy. We can kind of see the way forward – a bit.

How To Catch The Viewer's Eye?

How To Catch The Viewer's Eye?

How do we get the viewer to notice our work? What makes us look twice at something? Knowing how to attract the viewers eye helps us to make more powerful Art.