I was reading a forum discussion recently about painting trees. . . it stood out to me because the artist was trying to paint each leaf, which reminded me of a time when my son was in grade school.. . . read more
A year ago, after a few months of “daily painting” and starting a new art blog, I felt it was time to join an online print service. Upon reading a few reviews of different companies, I decided on RedBubble. . . read more
Plein-air painting—or, painting outside in the open air with all the perils and dangers that entails—is a very odd, and perhaps silly thing to do. Why not stay in your nice cozy studio with the central heating on, away from the vagaries of weather, biting insects, nosy people, gusts of. . . read more
Have you ever stood in front of a painting (yours or someone else’s) and wondered why it doesn’t really say anything? It just doesn’t “pop!” That's a “sort of” painting. . . read more
Should we (as artists) be willing to adapt and diversify our artwork to the market in order to generate mass market appeal? Or are we so attached to our work that we hold back from commercialising it. . . read more
Last year Jane bought a painting at a prestigious art show. She loved it, and decided to buy another painting from the same artist, so she looked online and was shocked to see the same painting she had in her office for sale, again. . . read more
I once worked with a woman who referred to my art as a “HOBBY,” and it really annoyed me a lot. She was talking about my life-habit of art as if it were a little fad I had picked up and enjoyed doing in my time off. . . read more
I can’t help noticing that art galleries are closing in droves. In the USA, anyway. It’s easy to blame this on tough economic times, when spending on luxury items (even cheap luxury items) like a small art print is always the first thing to get cut. . . read more
Change comes in many ways. Some changes we seek while others are forced upon us. Many people find change a frightening prospect. Some welcome or even seek it. But all would agree that change is necessary if . . . read more
In pursuit of our artistic dreams, we’re all prepared to go the extra mile. But what if that mile stretches into the hundreds?. . . read more
As I like to say, "Every art piece is a song with its own melody." It has its own chords, its own rhythm, and its own particular vibe. And that's why I believe every work of art should have its own artist statement. . . read more
I create fairie art. . . What impression of me does that give you? I also create feline and feminine art. Does that reinforce the first impression, or throw you off track a little? I actually didn’t set out to create any particular type of art . . . read more
I wouldn’t think that falling off my stool at the age of 5, when placed against my first easel, had anything whatsoever to do with me choosing pencils as my preferred medium. Given their relative safety. . . read more
A photographer friend of mine (who is also a former war correspondent) made an interesting comment after we had a discussion about plagiarism at art fairs. He said, “Life’s tough, buy a helmet. . . read more