Recent Posts
There is no golden rule for the best angle for drawing but there is good advice that will help you to avoid some elementary mistakes. This is a question worth asking and one that is often overlooked., In general, you should draw at the same angle to your subject. If …
People think drawing is relaxing, but for me and many others, it is anything but. It is mentally exhausting and often stressful. So how can that be? In this post, I will explain why drawing makes you tired. Drawing is tiring because it requires intense levels of focused concentration. Each …
I remember an art teacher telling me to soften my edges, fine but you have to know where the boundaries are first. So do you need to outline drawings? Certainly You should outline drawings to get the correct proportions and overall shape. An outline is a scaffold for your finished …
Loneliness is not something we talk about easily but artists can’t ignore the subject. For most artists, solitude is an everyday reality. Is being an artist lonely? You bet, and some people cope better than others. Most artists work alone and from home. There are no workmates, no laughs, and …
Have you ever had a drawing ruined because it was not properly protected? It is heartbreaking to see your hard work lost, and you don’t want to risk that happening again. There are a number of things you can do to store your drawings at home, and just as importantly, …
Have you ever looked at a popular art piece and wondered, “Is it me or is this really crap?” It turns out that people are not always confident about what they think. Art is intimidating but is art subjective? An emotional reaction to a traditional skills-based work of art is …
I’ve been selling my limited edition prints for over 20 years and I know there’s confusion in the minds of some people about the term. So instead of taking things for granted, I decided to answer some of the most common questions. A limited edition print is a reproduction that’s …
Can you copy art and sell a painting of a painting legally? What about if the artist is no longer alive? What about copying a picture online? Even though this sounds like an ethical dilemma, it’s also a legal one. This article will cover the issues surrounding copying other people’s …
Over time most art mediums will change and some art fades. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent art from fading and keep your artwork looking new for years to come. Graphite and Charcoal drawings do not fade, Indian ink and black pigment inks are permanent too. Some pigments used in …
Greeting card companies are always in need of new designs, however, it is important to understand how much money greeting card companies pay artists for their designs so you can decide if it’s worth the effort. Greeting card companies generally pay a flat fee which ranges between $275 and $500 …
Can anyone learn to draw? What makes a good artist? Can drawing be taught or is it a talent you’re born with? Is practice enough? Plus, how long does it take to become good at drawing? So many questions and this post tries to answer them honestly. Anyone can learn …
I started my art career as a landscape artist and began to make a living within a year of learning how to paint. It is by far the easiest genre to sell. So I’ve compiled a list of 13 ways to sell landscape paintings from my own experience. According to …
Same old problem, there’s too much choice, so how do you choose the right pastel pencils? If you are struggling, this guide will help you choose the best pastel pencils for beginners ALL lists are subjective, we all favor our own brands for our own reasons, not the least of …
I follow quite a few artists on Instagram and almost without exception, the initial outline has been traced. The work is fantastic but is tracing art cheating? When, if ever, is it acceptable to trace your art? Tracing images is cheating only if you set out to deceive. For most …
I’m well placed to answer the question. I’ve been making my living as a wildlife artist for over 20 years so I know how wildlife artists make a living. On the face of it, my lifestyle is very simple. I make and sell my art in the summer and travel …
When it comes to selling wildlife art you have to be pragmatic and concentrate your efforts on making art with a proven chance of success. That’s why I’ve listed my top 12 wildlife art bestsellers with a bonus list at the end. After 20 years of selling and making wildlife …
Drawing wildlife is an enjoyable niche and one that I’ve managed to turn into both a job and a lifestyle. When I tell people that I’m a wildlife artist and I travel the world looking for wildlife subjects, they almost swoon with envy. The public will buy and collect anything …
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 …
