

How to tell when your painting is finished? - "Shore" WIP1-3
Ever find you're not sure when to 'stop' with a painting? Do you find you tend to overwork your paintings, and that they're taking...
Coping with the 'art critic', or criticism from your non-creative significant other - though
Do you have a significant other who doesn't fully appreciate your artwork or writing? Someone who regularly criticises what you do? Do...


A different style - featuring pastel paintings by Jenny Grogan
Ever find yourself in a style rut? Can't work out how to improve your paintings? Maybe you should try a new medium or subject, or spend...


Choosing colours for blending skin tones with pastels - "Caitlin" WIP1-4
How do you create the appearance of human skin in portraits? Is it possible to use an opaque medium such as pastel to create the subtle...


Creating a sense of depth and distance with pastel landscapes - "Sunset" WIP4-6
How do you make objects or elements of a landscape appear 'far away'? Why do mountains appear blue from a distance? Why are they called...


Blending landscapes with pastel - "Sunset" WIP1-3
Looking for an easy way to paint landscapes? Wondering how to quickly create that expansive sense of depth over a large canvas/sheet?...


The virtues of making your own colour charts
Why should you bother making your own colour charts and mixing charts? Why not just use the ones supplied by the manufacturer? Anyone...


The complexity of proportion - "Lazy Days" WIP3-7
Ever realized part-way through a painting that the proportions are all wrong? The eyes are too small, the face is too long, the angle is...


Making a 'mahl stick bridge' for pastels - "Lazy Days" WIP1-2
Do you get hand smudges on your pastel paintings? Can't work in fine details because you can't steady your hand against the surface?...