Sketchbook Tips TIP 11. Studying the work of other artists is a great way to improve your artistic skills. However there are a number of different levels of study that one can tackle. I’ve recently purchased several books about the American artist John Singer Sargent which I have studying. My initial approach is to quickly … Read more
Most folk have strong opinions about the Angel of the North, they either love it or hate it. Personally, I like it, as it’s always a reminder that I’m not too far from home if I’ve been travelling from the South. One of my favourite paintings of the Angel is based on studies I made … Read more
One of the hardest things to learn when painting in watercolour is knowing when to stop. The most common problem that most beginners in watercolour have is overworking the painting and in doing so, killing the freshness and translucency of the paint. Fortunately I find that I’m always able to stop just in time. Working … Read more
Although I’m best known for my watercolours of cityscapes, landscapes and seascapes, I’ve painted a number of portrait commissions, going back to the mid 1980’s. I’ve recently found myself being drawn back to the artistic challenge of capturing people’s portraits from life. This particular drawing of Margaret was made over three sittings in charcoal and … Read more