artists activities

Painting the Norfolk Broads – A forgotten National Park, or an Artist’s Paradise?

artists activities, Plein Air Painters, Studio & Works in Progress / , , , ,

Painting The Norfolk Broads. They are renowned for their early morning mists, beautiful lakes and rivers (known as broads). You will also find windmills, trees, wildlife, boats and sailing craft of every shape and size. Also boathouses, low bridges, old stone ruins, and a few human ruins. Sorry, I couldn’t help it, I mean artists, […]

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News from the Studio – Sun and Rain, Wexford Ireland, and Open Studios

artists activities, Exhibitions, Plein Air Painters, Sketching & Drawing, Studio & Works in Progress, Watercolours / , , , ,

News from the studio – What a Summer it’s been! Hot dry days and cold rainy days in equal measure! But this isn’t a weather report, so here is some of my recent work, from my visit to Wexford, Ireland and then some ‘Open Studio’ news. My visit to Wexford Ireland was to take part in

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Meet the Artist – Open Studios and Art Trails – What’s it all about?

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Would you love to meet up and chat with artists in their studios, but are too scared to do it? What will they be like?  Will I get halfway down their path and turn around in trepidation? Can I think of anything to say and will we have ‘anything’ in common?  Will I be expected

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Why do artists like to paint in the open air – in all weathers?

Acrylics, artists activities, Plein Air Painters, Watercolours / , , , ,

Why do artists paint out doors   I’m off to ‘Art in the Open’. Why do artists like to paint out doors   In the open air? Like the impressionists did? They are known as ‘plein air painters’. The largest plein air festival in Europe takes place in Wexford, in the Irish Republic. It is

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What’s on my palette? What colour is that? The most frequently asked question.

Acrylics, artists activities, Studio & Works in Progress, Watercolours / , , ,

What’s on my palette? What colour is that! It never ceases to amaze me what people ask  me sometimes while I’m painting out of doors, or with a local art group. People will come up and say “what colour is that?” and what did you mix it with? As an artist, when I am choosing

What’s on my palette? What colour is that? The most frequently asked question. Read More »

Why do I paint? – What inspires me?

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Wow! What a Question!  Why do I Paint? “Life obliges me to do something, so I paint.” Rene Magritte Why do I paint? Because I have to! – Because of the excitement if I succeed! – I think its the same thrill that drives an athlete, the feeling that they can always do a little

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News – from the artist’s Studio

artists activities, Exhibitions, Sketching & Drawing / , , , , ,

It will soon be Exhibition time again and I have been busy ‘preparing’ new works for the various exhibitions I’ll be taking part in. See the list of exhibitions here. News from the artists studio . The first and hardest task is to select the works which would best be displayed in frames. Then I

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Pintar Rapido – or – A Painting in a Day!

artists activities, Plein Air Painters, Studio & Works in Progress, Watercolours / , , , , , , , ,

Pintar Rapido is a Spanish idea – brought to London by Roger Beckett. Can you imagine coming across over 500 artists on the streets of Kensington and Chelsea. They are all being madly creative and painting on every street corner. It’s an unbelievable sight for an artist like me, but can you imagine the impact

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How I Plan a Painting Pt 2 – the finished work!

artists activities, Plein Air Painters, Sketching & Drawing, Studio & Works in Progress, Watercolours / , , , , , , ,

In Pt 1 click here I explained how I go about the planning of a painting and the importance of deciding about the composition and placing of tonal values, ie: where the darkest darks and the lightest lights will be positioned. You wouldn’t believe the number of times I’ve seen someone take out a photo from

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How do I choose a subject? I Don’t – The subject chooses me!

artists activities, Plein Air Painters, Sketching & Drawing, Studio & Works in Progress / , , , , , , , ,

Suitable subjects are anywhere and everywhere! When they find me, I know what to do! How do I choose a subject? This is an excellent question which I have occasionally been asked! Many years ago, I found myself driving through the country lanes of west Kent – looking for a view to paint! Having spent

How do I choose a subject? I Don’t – The subject chooses me! Read More »