Here to Ignite, Encourage and Inspire your Creative Flame
‘Hold the vision, trust the process.’
– unknown
Please note: some items are repeated for the benefit of new subscribers. Thank you 😊
Hey there my friends I hope you’re all keeping well. This week saw the completion of the above painting – one that I was unable to share while it was on my easel, as I created this as a surprise birthday gift for my eldest daughter xXx
I’m currently working on a Derwent Inktense painting. Derwent Inktense is a water-soluble ink, available as Inktense Pencils, Inktense Blocks and Inktense Pans. I’ve completed quite a variety of works in this medium now, so this current project is being filmed for a review which will be sent to Derwent, the video will also be available to watch on my YouTube channel when completed. More news on this soon. Derwent have also release Inktense Paper – I’ve received some from Derwent, but have yet to use and review this, needless to say it’s now on my ever-expanding ‘to do’ list.
The following two images were completed using the Derwent Inktense products on watercolour paper:
Thank you to everyone who took the time to contact me after my last newsletter was released, your encouragement regarding my ‘new studio progress’ was truly appreciated indeed. More news and photos next time 😉
Wildlife Art Workshops for 2023
£60 per person
| Date | Medium | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| January 21st 2023 | Watercolour | Postponed |
| February 25th 2023 | Pastel | Red Panda |
| March 25th 2023 | Watercolour | Fox in Snow |
| April 22nd 2023 | Pastel | Kingfisher |
| May 20th 2023 | Watercolour | Toucan |
| June 24th 2023 | Pastel | TBC |
| August 26th 2023 | Watercolour | TBC |
| September 23rd 2023 | Pastel | TBC |
| October 21st 2023 | Watercolour | TBC |
| November 25th 2023 | Pastel | TBC |
| December TBC | Watercolour | TBC |
My preferred materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:
| Preferred Pastel materials: | * Clairefontaine Pastelmat Paper (I rarely use anything else now) * larger sheets are available and can be easily cut to size (this is what I do) * Carbothello Pastel Pencils are a must have in my studio, available individually or in different set sizes * Derwent Pastel Pencils are soft with a wide range of colours, available individually or in different set sizes, ideal for covering larger areas with their thicker pigment core * Mungyo Soft Pastels – an affordable way to cover larger areas of a painting, and for adding base coats for your pencils to go on top of * Pan Pastels – my ‘go to’ soft pastel choice, available individually or in sets, 92 colours in total |
| Preferred Watercolour materials: | * 140lb (or heavier) Hotpress or Coldpress watercolour paper * 9″ x 12″ minimum size (buying larger sheets is preferable as they can then be cut down to size) * Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolours are a great paint to get started with (I still use them for sketches etc) * A variety of brushes, sizes & shapes, made from golden taklon which is a synthetic material. Here’s a link to the affordable W&N Cotman set. * A white mixing palette or a white plate will do |
Nine new dates for 2023 have been confirmed by Martin Mere Wetland Centre One running each month, with the exception of January, July and December. Workshops will alternate between Watercolour and Pastel, but feel free to bring along any art medium you wish if the subject is something you would like to create from. All workshops are suitable for beginners. More information can be found over on our exclusive Art Workshop page on the Martin Mere website as well as on the Workshop page of my website. If participants would like further mediums or subjects added then extra dates can be slotted in to suit. So if your passion is coloured pencil or you love acrylic or oil painting then just let me know.
This Red Panda project will also be the subject for this month’s art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere. Nine new dates have now been confirmed for this year and all workshops will be suitable for complete beginners.
Diary Dates
| Art Safari in Uganda | Postponed |
| Patching’s Art Festival | 13th – 16th July 2023 |
| Exhibition of Wildlife Art | 28th – 30th July 2023 |
| North West Birdwatching Festival | 14th -15th October 2023 |
Patching’s Art Festival – an international four day art event celebrating the best in art & craft. Open to all there’s something for everyone, the chance to meet over 250 artists, a lot of which will be demonstrating (including me demonstrating for Caran d’Ache). Plus ‘hands-on’ workshops and art material offers all set in 60 acres of beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside.
Exhibition of Wildlife Art – ‘an exciting three day show featuring the work of some of the world’s most talented wildlife artists. The biggest and most successful, open selling, exhibition of Wildlife Art outside of London. All exhibited work is for sale and many artist demonstrate whilst there.’ I’ll be demonstrating whilst exhibiting there this year and would love for you to drop by and say hello.
North West Birdwatching Festival – Open at 8am, start your day by watching the spectacle of thousands of wild geese leave the roost before heading for breakfast in the Martin Mere restaurant. Over the two day there will be an array of guest speakers and exhibitors, artists and photographers including photography workshops, guided reserve walks, and more. I’ll be exhibiting and demonstrating throughout the weekend and would love you to drop by and say hello.
Art Safari in Uganda – a two week tour taking in some of Uganda’s best national parks, optional gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, visiting a rhino sanctuary and so much more. With a maximum of 6 participants this art based safari ensures you’ll have all the natural world of Uganda has to offer, plus plenty of 1 to 1 guidance from me when you need it to enable you to capture all that you want on paper or canvas.
Subscriber Question
Q. My partner bought me some acrylics for Christmas, how can I stop them from drying out so quickly on the palette? I seem to be wasting a lot of paint through it drying out.
A. This is a common problem when beginning to work with acrylics and something that with time and practise you’ll get to grips with. Firstly, try not to squeeze out too much paint to begin with. Start with small amounts until you get the hang of mixing colours etc. Secondly, get your hands on a fine mist sprayer – fill it with water and periodically mist your paints once they’re on your palette. Thirdly, get a palette with an airtight cover, this way you can mist your paints, pop the top on and they’ll be good to go for your next painting session. The palette setup that I use and can therefore thoroughly recommend: Masterson Artist Palette box and New Wave Glass Palette 12″ x 16″ This combination is an investment, which over time will easily pay for itself by saving you the cost of throwing away hardened paint.
I may not always have a video on my YouTube channel to go alongside a subscriber’s question, but when I do I’ll be sure to add it.
Okay that’s it for today folks as it’s time to grab a coffee and head for my easel again.
Thank you once again, as always my friends, for spending some time with me today, and please feel free to leave a question or suggestion in the contact form below.
Wishing you all the best, until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx
Questions & Suggestions welcomed
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