How to see like a pencil

SOMETIMES THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT PAINTING can be right in front of you – literally. Trying to find the correct subject with great lighting and composition is quite an art: a lot of images won’t

I love to take a sketchbook with me when I’m out in the countryside. I can make detailed drawings, quick watercolour sketches, or add just a few brief marks with a pencil or pen to remind me of the sc

‘The real subject of every painting is light.’ CLAUDE MONET WHENEVER I’M PAINTING A PIECE, I am constantly appraising each movement, blend and nuance along the way. When you break it down, the number

Extremes in dark and light are effective tools in creating punchy focal points. I have painted lots of sunny, acrylic street scenes – mainly backlit – and really enjoyed dabbing in the sparkly highlig

I often see raised eyebrows when I mention that I love using soft pastels in my sketchbook. Watercolours are a popular choice, being portable and easy to use, but pastels and pastel pencils feel more

Charcoal