Don’t Be A Starving Artist

Newly qualified art students in their naiveté think that their work will stand on its own and that by marketing their work they are selling out. By the time that they find out that this isn’t so many have left the art world altogether and others live day by day relying on grants and government handouts. Many top talents never paint or sculpt again.

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Cezanne, The Cube, The Cylinder, The Sphere

Cezanne was famous for saying that everything in nature could be represented in terms of the cylinder, the sphere  and the cone. He also said  “One must first of all study geometric forms: the cone, the cube, the cylinder, the sphere.” Although pencil drawing is the first art form that most of us encounter don’t [...]

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Oil Pastels And How To Use Them

I use oil pastels when I think that I am painting in too tight a style. They are not my natural medium so I think that struggling with them does me good. The first time that I used them was so disappointing. My final work looked no better than work that I did at school [...]

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Tips On Using A Sketch Book

SKETCH BOOK TIPS Using your sketch book is essential in building up a record of data for future use. Also if used on a daily basis it becomes more than just a sketch book but also a diary. I look back at my old books and remember old times. Looking at old sketch books can [...]

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Observational Drawing

Observational Drawing In my opinion drawing from observation is the best way to teach drawing.  it is obviously not the only way, but I think that it is the best way for to develop drawing skills. Drawing from memory and drawing from imagination are also to be encouraged. I don’t think that copying should be [...]

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Biro Art or Ballpoint Pen Art

Biro Art or Ballpoint Pen Art is an example of the play aspect of drawing that I mentioned in yesterdays post. I I was talking on the telephone and at the same time doing what we all do … doodle. Yes doodling is drawing. I must have done this hundreds of times, but have never thought [...]

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Drawing Tips

Drawing well is not a mysterious talent. You shouldn’t think of drawing as a talent that you need to be born with. I take it as an insult when people tell me that they weren’t born with artistic talent, insinuating that I was. Let me tell you that if you want to be good at [...]

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Drawing Secrets

The trend towards the quick fix seems to be getting worse. People seem to have a shorter concentration span than in the past and if something can’t be learnt quickly move on to something else. Everything has to be reduced to a simple procedure. Well, I am going to give you the secret knowledge that [...]

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Artistic Inspiration

I honestly think that “waiting for inspiration” is often used as an excuse for not doing any work.

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Exercise For Artists

Not many artists know that they work in one of the most dangerous occupations possible. You don’t believe me? Well go and ask about insurance and you will be quoted a much higher premium than workers in other occupations. Years ago I realised that I spent a great proportion of my time sitting, being very [...]

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