Recent Posts
Wouldn’t it be great to have a dream art studio where you could escape the outside world and get on with your artwork, free of interruptions and with everything to hand. I must confess, despite having been a professional illustrator for over 20 year, I have never had such a …
Every artist and crafter eventually gets asked the same question, ‘Do you sell on Etsy?’ It’s understandable, Etsy is a global marketplace dedicated to selling handmade and creative goods, so is selling on Etsy worth it? Before I committed my time to the task, I decided to find out. Selling …
Have you ever lost yourself in a work of art that was so real you felt part of it? How do artists trick you into thinking that a flat surface is 3 dimensional? This is how artists create depth in a drawing: Distant objects drawn in perspective, reduce in size, …
In today’s world, artists are increasingly turning to blogs as a way to showcase their art and connect with their audience. This guide explores the benefits, drawbacks, and practical aspects of starting and maintaining a successful art blog. Should artists have a blog? Yes and here’s why. An art blog …
After selling my drawings for so many years, there’s one style that’s guaranteed to make people stop and look, and that’s hyperrealism. Believe me, super realistic drawings win hands down. Why? Because the public are in awe that another human being is able to draw (or paint) in such photographic …
This post provides valuable information and insights on how to get paid for drawing online, and offline too. I cover various ways to earn money from your drawing skills, including traditional drawing jobs, drawing services, and selling your own drawings. Artists get paid for drawing by selling reproductions of their …
Every artist struggles with the same challenges. You’ve probably asked yourself, why does my shading look dull while others make their drawings feel alive? The truth is, it’s not about tricks or formulas. It’s about learning to see light and shadow the way an expert does. That’s exactly what top …
Choosing the wrong pencil for an underdrawing will ruin your watercolor painting. Too soft and your watercolor wash gets dirty, too hard and the pencil will scratch the paper. The best type of pencil to use with watercolors is a graphite drawing pencil, grades F, H, or 2H. Water-soluble graphite …
Skillshare is an online learning platform with over 30,000 classes. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to learn new skills, but it’s not without its drawbacks. The platform has evolved significantly recently, and in 2026, it’s fair to ask: is Skillshare still worth it? Skillshare is worth it if …
It’s no secret that Udemy is one of the most popular online learning platforms out there, boasting 79 million students, 75000+ instructors, and a staggering 250,000 video courses, but is Udemy worth it for artists and creatives? Is it good value for money? Udemy courses are worth it when you …
Domestika is an online learning platform that offers a staggering array of creative courses at prices that often seem too good to be true. As a professional wildlife artist, I’m always on the lookout for ways to sharpen my skills or recommend worthwhile courses to my readers. Since I first …
As a professional artist with over 20 years of experience using mechanical pencils to draw very detailed pencilwork, I’m well placed to offer some good advice about choosing the best mechanical pencils for drawing. The Pentel P200 and Pentel P120 A3 series are the best mechanical pencils for drawing due …
The web is dominated by cartoons and drawing tutorials by people who really can’t draw very well. I’m going to show you how to draw a realistic giraffe with a pencil. In this tutorial, I will show you my process in reverse. First, we will start with the interesting bit …
This post tells the story behind one of my lion drawing. You will see how the idea started, how I planned the composition, and the steps I took to finish the drawing. It also shows how I turn drawings like this into prints that sell. I drew this young male …
What is it with framers? You arrive with a cheap print you bought for a few bucks and leave with an overdraft. The good news is that a beautiful gallery wall doesn’t require an extended mortgage or specialist tools. With a few clever tricks and a bit of creativity, basic …
This is a neat little framing hack to present your art print in an easy way. You don’t need special tools or expensive mat board. You can use fabric you already own and turn it into a custom mat. It adds texture and personality fast. If you like simple DIY …
Custom framing costs a fortune. Even a custom matboard can cost more than your print. That hurts. What if there was a DIY framing hack that looks great but doesn’t break the bank? There is, and you don’t have to go near a framer. You can make your own mat …
Many years ago, I discovered a framing hack that not only looked great but also increased the value of my art. It was simple. I used large picture frames with wide mats to give small prints more presence. The artwork did not change. The way people saw it did. I’m …
You buy or download an art print. Then what? You don’t know how to frame it so you grab a cheap frame or trim the print to fit. It looks terrible. The borders are wrong, the edges look sloppy, it’s a mess. The whole thing feels cheap and nasty. Sound …
This post reveals the story behind my barn owl drawing. It’ll give you an idea of how I make my art, my drawing methods, and my thought processes. If you’ve ever wondered how artists get their ideas, plan a drawing, and make sales, read this post. It will open your …
