Blog
The Floating World
Swedish death clean leads to revival of an ancient Japanese Master.
How an attempt to stay organised led me on a visit to the "floating world" to see some bijin-ga...
The tools of our trade
I have been known to pore over art catalogs and brochures looking for the magic ingredient that will solve all my artistic problems and change my life. Like the golfing ‘rabbit’ who is convinced he can get round in par if he could only find the right putter or new driver; I am forever searching for the ideal pen or perfect paper...
What makes a painting?
The world of your painting is your world, you are the supreme being and only you get to decide what looks 'right' and only you can decide if something is 'wrong'. You have the power to make grass red and the sky black, or even the other way around...
From one artist to another
Like most artists I know insecurity and doubt are always round the corner and it's a real pick-me-up to be reminded that someone, somewhere is responding to what you're trying to do. It is even more rewarding when other artists take the time to pass on their compliments and regards.
Why sketch?
Sketching isn't just about drawing, it's all about 'being there'. The experience is more than merely visual. Sounds, smells, the weather, are among lots of factors which make up your experience of a place or a moment.
Taking a line for a walk
In a famous quote by the artist Paul Klee, he describes the line as “a dot that went for a walk” underlining the dynamic nature of the line as the means to conduct the human eye across the space of a painting or a drawing.