Recent Posts
There’s a great temptation for artists, especially at the start of their careers, to enter art competitions and exhibit in juried shows but are they really worth your time and effort? Entering an art competition is an expensive, time-consuming, lottery. The selection process by self-appointed unaccountable experts is arbitrary and …
Onlookers are often surprised to see me draw with mechanical pencils, yet I use them all the time. Mechanical pencils are good for drawing, in fact, they are my pencils of choice. Mechanical pencils are excellent for drawing. The lines erase well, are lightfast, great for precision lines, and perfect …
Accidents happen. We’ve all been there, coffee splashes, tears, and buckles, they can all feel like a total disaster. Well, all is not lost. It’s possible to rescue your art from all kinds of mishaps. I will teach you how to repair drawing paper – most of the time. Paper …
We’ve all been there. You get stuck and your drawing is dull, but all is not lost. You can make your drawings interesting with some simple hacks. It’s easy to improve a drawing. In this post, you will learn 14 ways to add more interest and improve your drawings, PLUS …
Both semi-wild and orphaned orangutans are easy to see independently and for a fraction of the price of a tour. So how do you visit a rehabilitation center? Buy a return ticket to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Get a cheap AirAsia flight to Sandakan in Sabah. Get on a local …
Time is precious and sometimes you need a quick and easy way to scale up a drawing. This post will guide you through 4 practical ways to enlarge (or reduce) your image. No fluff, let’s jump right in. How to Scale Up Your Drawing Using a Grid The idea is …
Ever wondered how artists draw those tiny white lines in a pencil drawing? How do you draw whiskers? It looks insanely difficult, doesn’t it? But in actual fact, it’s incredibly easy, once you know how. There are three reliable ways of creating white lines in a pencil drawing. Score the …
Before you set yourself up as a wildlife artist you’ll have a portfolio of ten to twelve pieces of saleable art. Easily said, but where do you find wildlife subjects to begin with? National parks and cheap safaris are always going to be preferred but that’s not always possible. Alternative …
I’m a professional artist and yet, like 1 in 12 of the male population I am colorblind. So how have I managed to find a way of making a living as a colorblind artist? Colorblind artists learn to know color without being able to reliably see color. They use color …
There are many people who abhor the very idea of drawing from reference photos. They see it as a betrayal of real art. Others greatly admire the skill, patience, and dedication involved in copying faithfully and long to do the same thing. Who’s right? Drawing from reference photos is bad …
I’ve backpacked through East Africa carrying all my art supplies, including a box full of 200 pastels on my back and I’m never going to that again. So how do you travel with art supplies, practically? Take the bare minimum. A small pad, pencils, pens, and watercolors are perfect for …
Let’s face it, so many artists and craftspeople get it all wrong! They sit there and wonder why no one is beating a path to their door. I thought it was time to list a few essentials every trader should know. So if you are a newbie or want a …
I know why I failed as an artist the first time around and it still haunts me. The reason I failed had nothing to do with making money. No one comes clean about the real reasons why most artists fail. Artists fail because the lifestyle is lonely, insecure, and the …
Believe it or not, this is one of the most common questions I’m asked. Problems occur mainly because we get into lazy habits, but there are many ways to prevent your drawings from smudging, such as: Spray your drawings with a fixative to seal the surface. Place a clean sheet …
I’ve been selling my art for over 20 years so I’m well placed to tell you how to sell your drawings. In this post I cover the key points you must get right if you are to succeed in making money. Drawings are very much a niche market and to …
Have you ever dreamed of traveling to far-off lands in search of wild tigers? That was my dream and I was determined to make it a reality. The problem was I couldn’t afford the tours, the prices were simply outrageous. Besides, I didn’t need, nor did I want, luxury. I …
