Blog

Understanding and mastering 'value' and learning how to place it effectively in a composition takes plenty of practice. In this exercise, I'm looking at 'value' in terms of light and dark. 'Value' can be explored in many other ways but here I'm just looking at using light and dark values to create contrast. Exploring this idea just using small thumbnail sketches is a great way to practice looking for values and training our eyes and brain to recognise contrasting light and

I recently found time to revisit an idea that emerged this time last year at Noosa Open Studios. Taking part in the event in 2021 was a first for me, I had no idea what to expect, who would come (if anyone!) and how it would all go. But I signed up and leapt in with both feet, knowing that somehow an energy shift would take place, though I wasn't sure how it would happen or what it would look like, but I was up for the adventure.

I rarely begin a piece having made a decision about what the focus will be. I find that just getting down to the work and committing to exploration creates an environment for those light bulb moments to happen; those moments when I suddenly realise what a particular painting is going to be about.

If you've been following me on Instagram you'll know I've stumbled into a new colour combo - Blue Black Indigo and Quinacridone Magenta. Why I launched into new paintings with these colours without having given them a road test in my sketchbook is anybody's guess! So here's a quick sketch using these colours along with white and Pastel Lemon.

Every painting I make has failure points in it somewhere and most of them teeter on the edge of failure for days or even weeks! But I usually figure out a way to resolve whatever I feel the problem is, armed with a flexible and adaptable process that gives me lots of options to try. Day 3 of Louise Fletcher's 'Find Your Joy' taster course was all about feeling free to make unsuccessful work and letting it go.

The first part of the challenge was to pick up colours that you don't usually use and select a range of tools that are unfamiliar to work with. The second part of the challenge was to then revert to more usual colours and tools but this time add in a couple of items from session 1. The key for this exercise was to try and focus on the feelings that arose as we worked.