As you know, I am lucky enough to live in France, in Brittany in the far west of the country. So here is a little painting which reflects the mood or ambiance of France, plus some whimsical touches which reflect how I would like to see the country looking at its best! Capture the mood […]
Painting the French Ambiance Read More »
I found this Sea Biscuit on the beach in the Bahamas years ago and have carefully kept it with my collection of found shells. I didn’t know it was called a Sea Biscuit and thought it was a Sand Dollar, but they are actually quite similar. I decided to paint a meditative painting of them,
Sea Biscuit Meditation Read More »
Inspired by the fascinating designs found on pots made in Kashmir I have branched out into negative painting today! If you’re not keen on trying to draw a symmetrical pot you can find a sketch here which will help, with a few different shapes to choose from. I’ll leave the surrounding leaves up to your
One of the sometimes frustrating things about watercolor which we all come up against is the difficulty in making alterations to your painting if you don’t like what you have painted. Yes, you probably can lift out some of the colour you’ve applied, you can keep going, and add pen or other features. But one
Dive into Colour Mixing with Gouache Read More »
So why shouldn’t you fall in love with your art? Well, that’s not what I mean! Someone said to me once – or maybe I read it – I suspect it might have been Ron Ranson or Roland Hilder – that it is risky to become attached to a small section of your painting while
Pretty Vintage Birdcage with Flowers Read More »
The lavender in our garden is in full flower at the moment and looking lovely. So here is a very quick idea for a couple of lavender themed bookmarks that you might like to add to your repertoire. It’s easy to give them your own personal twist by varying the colors and the supporting cast
Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly Read More »
Painting without a plan has something in common with bungee jumping. Although you know it probably won’t hurt and could be exciting, you’re still pretty nervous about stepping off the edge and letting gravity do its work. There are days when I know exactly what I’m going to paint. Tomorrow for example I know I’m
If I jump, will I fly? Read More »
Don’t watch this video if you are looking for slick polished content with not a second of breathing space between words! Don’t watch if you want to see a performance of dazzling skill, impressive mastery of a demanding medium over a tricky subject, or a humbling demonstration of nineteen different tricks you should have known
Don’t watch this video! Read More »
Our garden is full of bees at the moment, bumble bees, honey bees and various other types of bee, all buzzing around merrily pollinating the flowers which are merrily giving me hay fever! So today I thought I would paint three quick bumble bees in my loose style, accompanied by some equally loose floral elements.
Easy-Peasy Bumble Bee-Zee Read More »
Watch this video if you have either of these questions going round in your head: Both these problems are answered in this video which gives you a glimpse inside my studio where the paint gets stuck in its tube, the brush gives up the ghost and I get covered in blue!
From the Archives Read More »
This tiny bird is very hardy and manages to survive in the far north of America even in the bitterest of cold winters. They are clever birds who store food in cracks in tree bark or in holes, and they manage to remember – unlike squirrels – where they have left the food and can
Tufted Titmouse and Friends Read More »
Painting a Mandala Today I thought it would be nice to do a mandala in watercolor and to talk a bit about what they are and why they bring so much into our lives, if we let them. Mandalas are traditional designs based on religious motifs which originate from the Buddhist and Hindu traditions and
Modern Mandala Painting Read More »
It’s been a minute or two since I last painted dragonflies, so today’s video is a treat for me and you. Scroll down to the bottom of this post if you want to see links to some of the dragonfly videos I’ve published before. You can find others if you simply search on google for
Delicate Dragonflies Read More »
Meeden Art recently sent me a 24 color set of their 12ml tubes of Artists Watercolors to try out. It is a remarkably low-priced set and I knew I would be very interested to see what colors were included in the set, and to give them a road test to see how they compare with
Unboxing the Meeden Artists Watercolor set of 24 colors Read More »
Painting Vintage Style Pansies – Simple Secrets to Successful Watercolor Sketches Why not start a botanical sketchbook this summer? Take your box of paints and a small mixed media sketchbook like mine from Canson XL and make some simple but charming vintage style sketches while enjoying the sunshine. Any patch of garden or park will
Vintage Violas in Watercolor Read More »
With the Superbloom in full force at the moment what could be more appropriate than a page of poppies? This quick video will give you plenty of ideas for your own poppy fiesta! Any paints are suitable for this style of painting. Materials Here are the materials I used for this little page of poppies.
Watercolor and Ink Poppies Read More »
Adding a bit of whimsical fun to your animal paintings is a great way to make them truly special. If you’re looking for a creative card or gift idea, try adding a few whimsical animals to your work. A delightful creature can really bring a painting to life and give it a unique feel. Whether
Exploring Watercolor Animals Read More »
We all need more time to relax in our lives nowadays and what better way than letting the paint flow and the brush glide across the watercolor paper? In this video I’m going to talk about how to create a simple abstract without stress. In fact, the whole process is pleasurable and relaxing. What’s not
Let’s get Abstract! Read More »
