It's so important to surround yourself with your 'arty tribe'... Hey ReaderSo, this week I was lucky enough to take two days out and head up to Shropshire for the International Watercolour Masters...I did a workshop with Watercolour Master Bjorn Bernstrom - That's me and Bjorn up there in the photo (Me looking pretty chuffed, him a little confused) đ But the thing is...As much as the workshop was great, and the techniques and skills I learnt from him were invaluable - he wasn't the most...
28 days ago â˘Â 1 min read
Paint this cherry blossom with me.... Hey ReaderI've been addicted to painting cherry blossom this week. It's my bestie's birthday and she loves cherry blossom...So, pressure's on đHere's how I paint cherry blossom - if you wanna paint along and give it a try.Painting without purpose, without judgement and from a place of flow.Til next time,Sue đ¨đ âUnder the cherry blossom tree - I find sanctuary." - Anon Oaklands Road, Bridgend, Bridgend CF31 4SNUnsubscribe ¡ Preferences
about 1 month ago â˘Â 1 min read
There's garbage and gold is us all... Hey ReaderI was thinking the other day about the expectation I see people have with painting.They try it once⌠maybe twice⌠it feels a bit awkward, a bit messy⌠and then quite quickly comes the label...âIâm just not an artist.â And it got me thinking about other skills. Like⌠Do you pick up a violin and instantly expect to play Mozart?Do you pick up some pipe and think âyep, Iâm totally a plumber nowâ Nope. đ¤ˇâď¸So why is it that with art - and especially...
about 1 month ago â˘Â 1 min read
Why does painting feel⌠a little bit guilty? Hey ReaderI want to talk about something that doesnât get said enoughâŚHow guilty we may feel when we paint...Not the fear. Not the judgement. The guilt.I still get it...I still have that little nagging voice that says "Shouldn't you be doing some 'real' work?Because somewhere along the way, we were taught that things that feel this joyous canât possibly be âreal workâ⌠or even a good use of time.We've been taught that 'proper work' means we have to...
about 2 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
You absolutely can paint these... Hey ReaderSince holding my workshop in March Iâve had lots of messages sayingâŚâIâd love to come along, but I just canât paintâHearing this both breaks my heart and challenges me at the same time.. Why? WellâŚI believe each and every one of us can paint - and paint well.Just hear me outâŚwhat if...Youâre not bad at painting. Youâre just new to it.I know, madness hey?Somewhere along the line, someone may have told youâŚâYou just canât drawâ, âyouâre no good at...
about 2 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Paint these explosive flowers with me... Hey ReaderThis one's a pure joy...Honestly this is what watercolours are all about for me. When you paint with lots and lots of water and simply drop the pigment in and let it take control...Watch the video above - even if you choose not to paint this one. It's a total escape for a few minutes to just watch what the watercolour paint can do...And...I've just gone live with the date and info for my next in-person Summer Watercolour Workshop (it was an...
2 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Wouldn't it be freeing to focus on just one thing? Hey ReaderIs it just me or do you feel this too?The urge to simplify. To bring your focus back to just doing one thing?To be completely honest with you all - some days it feels as though my head is going to pop with how much the world seems to demand my attention! đ¤ŻAnd when I feel like this - I ALWAYS come back to watercolours - ALWAYS!It's part of my toolkit. Part of my grounding practice I guess. Because...When you pick up the brush and...
3 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
I don't want to do this on my own... Hey ReaderI'm hosting my Spring Floral Watercolour Workshop on March 21st and I'm hugely grateful as it's all sold out. I'm truly excited to share the day with everyone who's booked on and it's made me realise something...There's just as much joy in watching someone else discover the beauty of watercolours than just painting them alone...And...Over the past few months, through growing creative community, Iâve received so many messages from people saying...
3 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Just now...The world just feels a bit too heavy! Hey ReaderSome days the world just feels⌠heavy.You wake up, scroll the news, listen to conversations around you, and it can feel like everything is loud, urgent, and slightly too much. Your mind fills up with worries that arenât even yours and before you know it your shoulders are tight and your carrying the anxiety of everything inside your head. đ¤ŻI think we all feel that sometimes. Especially just nowâŚAnd when the world gets noisy, Iâve...
3 months ago â˘Â 1 min read