THIS IS ARTWERK

Composition - making balance and imbalance work for you. In the world of art, balance is more than just a technical aspect; it's the heartbeat of a composition -  the rhythm that guides the viewer's eye through a piece. Whether we're painting a landscape, sketching a...

This time, I’d like to chat about a medium that often gets overlooked in today’s art scene but has a rich history that's worth exploring – pastels. If you’re an artist, you’re probably constantly seeking unique ways to express yourself, and pastels provide a vibrant...

Using space in artwork Learning to use space is one skill that can make a huge difference to an artist's work. There are some great artists out there, creating amazing works. But I often feel that some really exciting and promising drawings and paintings could be made...

Artist's brushes are tools of the trade. But they're far more than a stick with some bristles. If you're a painter there is a very special connection with your brushes. They are the last link in the chain between your imagination and the surface upon which you will be...

Do artists see the world differently? Well, that's a tricky question. Because none of us really knows how anybody else sees the world. We can't see inside their mind. To make life easy, we tend to assume the world looks pretty much the same to most people. It's a...

What’s non-figurative art, and what’s it all about? First let’s be clear what we’re talking about. Now, I’m not going to get into some semantic argument about what is the difference between figurative and non-figurative art. That’s like arguing how many angels can...

I was asked if I could provide some drawing tips. Not a difficult request you might say, but it made me think carefully. I'd need to start by asking a few questions. It depends what you want to get out of your drawing, why are you doing it in the first place and what...

Sketchbooks are vital to an artist, but people often misunderstand how they are to be used. A sketchbook is an artist's private tool, a diary, a resource, a stimulus and an aid in the blank times. It should not be something calculated to be shown to others. It's a...

Should I work from photographs? Many artists do, but I usually advise caution and try to avoid solely copying photographic images. I have a number of reasons, but the main one is 'selection'. As an artist working from life - landscape, figure, still-life, whatever -...

There's a common misconception that oil painting is difficult. Students at my evening classes almost always started their explorations of painting with watercolour. They believed that was easier and oils were just for more experienced painters. Nothing could be...