A trip to the beach - in real life or vicariously through paint is enough to give one a bit of perspective on busy life. Take up a paintbrush and paint away your cares…

Children are a subject matter that calls to me so often for this very reason. There seems to be something so fitting about capturing a little of the spirit of childhood in paint.

I think that because of this reverence in which I hold the very idea of childhood, and the fact that drawing children means drawing people, it is a subject that can be as terrifying as it is attractive.

If you are feeling a little creatively stuck, find yourself procrastinating in your lonely studio and struggling to make art, then an art collaboration might be just what you need. 

Let’s talk about exactly what an art collaboration is and what benefits it might have for you.

There are a lot of good things about art challenges, but let’s be honest - that is only half the story. 

Before diving into an art challenge you might want to consider these pros and cons of art challenges and how best to make an art challenge work for you.

Choosing the right background for your watercolour painting can make or break the whole painting.

Don’t be alarmed though - even though the background is important, it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are lots of options available to you and once you know what there is to choose from I am sure you will find the whole process far less vexing than it might once have appeared.

Let’s review your options…

Learning how to draw figures for beginners can be something of a daunting challenge.  If we are honest, it's not just beginners - I have met quite a few experienced artists that still have some reservations about drawing and painting a human figure.

I have a few tips for the terrified to get you on your way, if you think you fall into this camp.

This month I have been playing with an entirely new medium - Brusho. New art supplies are an inspiring treat and always offer something new to learn. I always feel as if the medium and the subject work together to bring me a message. As is so often the case these days, this one seemed to be about control.