Here to Ignite, Encourage and Inspire your Creative Flame

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 and that the sun is shining in your life right now, either literally or metaphorically (hopefully both). Today my mind has been on the subject of growth in our artistic journeys, so bare with me while I ramble a while lol;

We all know that creativity comes in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s drawing or painting, knitting, crochet, woodworking or sculpture, there’s a place for us all; and it’s in these places of ours that I encourage you to grow. When beginning a new craft or hobby our growth seems to leap forward, propelling us into new adventures as we learn new skills. However, after a while, once we’ve learned the basics, our journey begins to plateau and can lead to a feeling that we’ve either stopped learning or maybe this is as good as it gets. But stop right there. Once you reach this feeling it doesn’t mean you’ve reached your destination, it’s more of a sign post pointing you to new adventures. Taking your craft to the next level may seem a little daunting, after all you’ve become so comfortable with the basics you’ve now learnt that your not having to challenge yourself anymore, hence the ‘plateau feeling’.

So what is the next step to take on this never-ending journey? Well it’s to take a challenge. Maybe watch a more advanced YouTube video or sign up to a class or tutorial of someone whose creativity you admire. Don’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone and think of it more as releasing yourself from the inside of a bubble. You’ll be surprised when you set your sights ahead of what you’ve already learned.

So why not start today? If you’ve never tried pastel or you’re thinking that fur texture or eyes in pastel look a little daunting, take a look at my latest YouTube video and I hope you’ll be pleasantly surprise when the unknown is broken down into easy to understand steps:

Now for those of you wondering what’s on my easel at the moment: I bring you an Amur Leopard.

Working on a smooth Belgian Linen Canvas, I began by applying a layer of transparent gesso. Once dry, I then proceeded to sketch on my subject with a white charcoal pencil, defining the lines I wanted to keep as accurate guide lines with a 9B graphite pencil. By sketching with two contrasting colours I was able to erase the surplus white lines as needed, tightening the drawing and adding a little detail to the now refined composition.

The graphite sketch has now been sealed with a spray fixative, and the canvas is now ready for the next step – time to get my paints out. Acrylic or oils? I’ve yet to decide.

This Epic Arctic Art Adventure is soon to have a date available in 2025!!! More news on this soon.

I now have a shop for merchandise on FINE ART AMERICA :

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

21 of my original paintings are now available as prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An screenshot example from my page:

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	Barn Owl
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	Painted Lady Butterfly on Flower
September 21st 2024	Pastel	Fallow Deer
November 23rd 2024	Watercolour	TBC

My suggested materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:

Suggested 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

Suggested 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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc. * Two water containers

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

New Diary Dates for 2024!

Arctic Expedition – Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear. Now with an addition of having me on board to help, encourage and hopefully inspire you should you wish to sketch and paint during the trip.

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Could you please recommend one of your videos that is suitable for a watercolour beginner? Thank you.

A. Thank you for your video request. The following video not only covers an ‘easy to apply’ technique, but also covers the idea that it’s fun and informative to just sit and play with our mediums whether you’re a beginner or not. I hope you find it helpful.

I may not always have a video on my YouTube channel to help when answering a subscriber’s question, but when I do I’ll be sure to add it.

Okay folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

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Here to Ignite, Encourage and Inspire your Creative Flame

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 and dry lol. Yep it’s rain rain and little more rain here in the UK. But the weather shouldn’t stop us from enjoying our great outdoors, so I’ve been outside and done a little gardening before lunch. So glad I did as I happened upon a little bee. He was wet through and unable to fly, after a little sugar water and a place to dry out, he’s looking much better now 😊 This little occurrence made me think how easy it is to make a difference in this world, it may be small for me but not for the bee. Hence today’s quote by Anne Frank 🔼

I’m so very pleased to announce that there is going to be a live online watercolour workshop Wednesday 5th June 6 – 7pm BST and it’s completely FREE for anyone who wishes to sign up 😃

Derwent and Cult Pens are the organisers and will be hosting the event and have invited me to be the tutor 😊

The workshop should run for around an hour, and once you’ve signed up you’ll be emailed the reference image, line art and suggested kit list, so you can be ready to paint along with me. I’m really looking forward to it, and I know that they have 94 participants signed up already.

The subject for the free online watercolour workshop is this stylised Painted Lady Butterfly.

I’ll be working live so that you can paint along or just watch and paint later as you’ll be able to download the video if you’ve signed up to the live event.

The subject and techniques are suitable for beginners, even if you haven’t painted before.

You don’t even have to worry about the initial drawing as the line art will be emailed to you, along with the reference images.

Here’s a link if you want to get more information on this free online workshop or just wish to register:

This week’s new video – Join me as I test this watercolour travel brush set by Golden Maple. Using spontaneous watercolour painting I find out just how good these brushes are.

This set of synthetic sable brushes are vegan friendly and were sent to me to review by  @goldenmapleart8448  all of the views and thoughts are my own.

Plus I’ve included a link to this brush set should you wish to purchase a set for yourself, Golden Maple have kindly included a 10% discount on anyone using the code ‘Kerry’ when they purchase:

Golden Maple Watercolour Travel Paint Brushes, 3PCS Round Pointed Tip with Leatherette Carry Case for Painting

www.artgoldenmaple.com

All techniques in this video are suitable for beginners.

This Epic Arctic Art Adventure is soon to have a date available in 2025!!! More news on this soon.

I’m so pleased to say that Wildfoot Travel have launched their page announcing an Arctic adventure that will include everything Wildfoot Travel normally offer, plus as an ‘added attraction’ I’ll be there too, offering art advice, tuition and encouragement along the way. I’ll be painting and sketching during the voyage and will be auctioning one of the paintings whilst on board, with all proceeds going to the WWF.

The following is a tiny portion from Wildfoot Travel’s dedicated page for this adventure: (for much more information on their site)

Wildfoot Travel are also offering a 5% discount to anyone booking prior to 10th February 2024

ABOARD: M/V HONDIUS I’ll be there encouraging and hopefully inspiring anyone who wishes to either start their art journey or take their skills to the next level.

‘Join renowned wildlife artist Kerry Newell on this very special voyage to discover the enchanting coastlines and fascinating, seldom visited regions of eastern and southern Spitsbergen. This unique itinerary offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to uncover Spitsbergen’s outstanding natural beauty in the company of one of the UK’s most revered wildlife artists, who will not only offer you tuition time, but will also be creating a new masterpiece right in front of your eyes as you journey through these wildlife-rich lands.

Sailing during the high Arctic summer solstice, on this authentic Spitsbergen cruise experience you can enjoy exciting Zodiac excursions, twice daily landings accompanied by Arctic experts, extended hikes through the region’s magnificent landscapes, an informative lecture and presentation programme, and thrilling wildlife observation opportunities. Discover a world of spectacular scenery, search for sightings of polar bears and indulge in the adventure of a lifetime!‘

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Discover Spitsbergen in the company of revered wildlife artist Kerry Newell who will be offering tuition and creating a special piece that will be auctioned onboard, with the proceeds going to WWF
• Enjoy spectacular scenery throughout from amazing glaciers to icy fjord systems and mystical tundra
• Experience the high Arctic summer solstice and sail under the Midnight Sun
• Visit fascinating historical sites and bountiful seabird colonies
• Good chances of spotting whales, seals, and possibly even polar bears

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Full board accommodation on board with all meals, snacks and hot drinks
• All zodiac excursions and landings with expert guides
• Programme of expert lectures
• Loan of rubber boots

PRICES FROM £3,364pp 17 JUN, 2024 | Up to 7 nights

Plus any bookings that mention ‘KerryArctic2024’, Wildfoot Travel have kindly offered to adopt a polar bear with WWF on behalf of the booker, on a per booking basis.

If you’d like to know more then please click on the button below, this will take you to Wildfoot Travel’s website where you’ll be able to further explore all that the polar regions have to offer:

I now have a shop for merchandise on FINE ART AMERICA :

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

21 of my original paintings are now available as prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An screenshot example from my page:

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	Barn Owl
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	Painted Lady Butterfly on Flower
September 21st 2024	Pastel	Fallow Deer
November 23rd 2024	Watercolour	TBC

My suggested materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:

Suggested 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

Suggested 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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc. * Two water containers

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

New Diary Dates for 2024!

Arctic Expedition – Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear. Now with an addition of having me on board to help, encourage and hopefully inspire you should you wish to sketch and paint during the trip.

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Hello Kerry, I’m new to your website and was wondering if it’s possible to create a full pastel drawing just using pastel pencils? Sorry if you have already covered this subject in your past subscriber questions. Thank you, Tina.

A. Hi there Tina, thank you for your question. You can indeed complete a project using just pastel pencils. One of the reasons I use soft pastels and pastel pencils is just to speed up the process. I’ve included the following video as this shows an owl created with just pastel pencils (the background was created using soft pastels, but the tree trunk was created using pastel pencils). What I would suggest is working on a couple of smaller projects first if you only have pencils, there’s nothing worse than getting half way through a large project and running out of steam lol.

I may not always have a video on my YouTube channel to help when answering a subscriber’s question, but when I do I’ll be sure to add it.

Okay folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

Name(required)

Email(required)

Submit

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Here to Ignite, Encourage and Inspire your Creative Flame

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 and staying creative. Lots going on this end so I’ll keep today’s newsletter brief. But as a thank you for your ongoing support I’ve three new videos for you 😊 I’m going to be sharing these in reverse order to when they went live on my YouTube channel this week.

Starting off with ‘Permission To Play’ – over the years it has become evermore apparent to me the usefulness of simply playing with my art materials. This, no pressure, play time helps increase my understanding of my materials, whilst enhancing my creative abilities and fuelling my inspirational ideas. No time spent exploring the mediums I have is wasted time. With each pencil mark or brush stroke my knowledge of what a medium can or can’t do grows, and with it my understanding of how I can push my materials to work with my styles and not against them. I hope you find this video encouraging and that it inspires you to grant yourself ‘permission to play’:

If you have a question, or would like to see me work with a particular medium or subject then don’t be shy, just leave me a comment either here using the comment box at the bottom of this page, or alternatively over on my YouTube channel.

The following video explores how I paint with gouache on toned paper. It’s a ‘how to’ process but also answers the question of why choose a toned paper in the first place. For those of you who haven’t heard of gouache before, it’s simply an opaque watercolour (traditional watercolours being mostly translucent). Techniques in this video include layering, wet on wet and wet on dry, stippling and glazing. I hope you find time to give this one a watch:

The third video is something a little different for me. A product review. Not necessarily an ‘art material’ but something that I’ve definitely already put to work in my studio. This little handheld PRT label maker was sent to me by PRT a couple of weeks ago, with the simple request that I provide them with some feedback on the product. I was so pleased with this little device, and as a thank you to PRT, I made the following video for them. It has so many possible uses, I’ve only just scratched the surface. It works with a free downloadable app and is very simple to use:

So we’re pretty much caught up once again. However I do have one more piece of news that you may find of interest:

I’ve been invited by Derwent and Cult Pens to host a livestream workshop for them on Wednesday 5th June in celebration of Derwent’s recently released watercolour pans. I haven’t ‘live streamed’ before, so I’m busy sorting out the tech side of things lol. Once I have a ‘sign up’ link I’ll make sure to share it with you all. I do know that this workshop will be free to anyone who wants to watch, so more news on this soon…

This Epic Arctic Art Adventure is soon to have a date available in 2025!!! More news on this soon.

I’m so pleased to say that Wildfoot Travel have launched their page announcing an Arctic adventure that will include everything Wildfoot Travel normally offer, plus as an ‘added attraction’ I’ll be there too, offering art advice, tuition and encouragement along the way. I’ll be painting and sketching during the voyage and will be auctioning one of the paintings whilst on board, with all proceeds going to the WWF.

The following is a tiny portion from Wildfoot Travel’s dedicated page for this adventure: (for much more information on their site)

Wildfoot Travel are also offering a 5% discount to anyone booking prior to 10th February 2024

ABOARD: M/V HONDIUS I’ll be there encouraging and hopefully inspiring anyone who wishes to either start their art journey or take their skills to the next level.

‘Join renowned wildlife artist Kerry Newell on this very special voyage to discover the enchanting coastlines and fascinating, seldom visited regions of eastern and southern Spitsbergen. This unique itinerary offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to uncover Spitsbergen’s outstanding natural beauty in the company of one of the UK’s most revered wildlife artists, who will not only offer you tuition time, but will also be creating a new masterpiece right in front of your eyes as you journey through these wildlife-rich lands.

Sailing during the high Arctic summer solstice, on this authentic Spitsbergen cruise experience you can enjoy exciting Zodiac excursions, twice daily landings accompanied by Arctic experts, extended hikes through the region’s magnificent landscapes, an informative lecture and presentation programme, and thrilling wildlife observation opportunities. Discover a world of spectacular scenery, search for sightings of polar bears and indulge in the adventure of a lifetime!‘

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Discover Spitsbergen in the company of revered wildlife artist Kerry Newell who will be offering tuition and creating a special piece that will be auctioned onboard, with the proceeds going to WWF
• Enjoy spectacular scenery throughout from amazing glaciers to icy fjord systems and mystical tundra
• Experience the high Arctic summer solstice and sail under the Midnight Sun
• Visit fascinating historical sites and bountiful seabird colonies
• Good chances of spotting whales, seals, and possibly even polar bears

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Full board accommodation on board with all meals, snacks and hot drinks
• All zodiac excursions and landings with expert guides
• Programme of expert lectures
• Loan of rubber boots

PRICES FROM £3,364pp 17 JUN, 2024 | Up to 7 nights

Plus any bookings that mention ‘KerryArctic2024’, Wildfoot Travel have kindly offered to adopt a polar bear with WWF on behalf of the booker, on a per booking basis.

If you’d like to know more then please click on the button below, this will take you to Wildfoot Travel’s website where you’ll be able to further explore all that the polar regions have to offer:

I now have a shop for merchandise on FINE ART AMERICA (the UK branch) page:

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

21 of my original paintings are now available as prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An example from my page:

My ‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ painting now offered in a variety of prints, including canvas prints and framed prints as well as greeting cards, tote bags and a plethora of other products too.

Site’s PRODUCT DETAILS:

‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ iPhone case by Kerry Newell. Protect your iPhone with an impact-resistant, slim profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your iPhone for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone’s features!’

The phone cases are available for all iPhones , from the iPhone 8 – iPhone 15. Cases are also available for the Galaxy S4 – Galaxy S8.

Fine Art America

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	Barn Owl
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	Painted Lady Butterfly on Flower reference image shown above
September 21st 2024	Pastel	Fallow Deer
November 23rd 2024	Watercolour	TBC

My suggested materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:

Suggested 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

Suggested 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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc. * Two water containers

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

New Diary Dates for 2024!

Arctic Expedition – Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear. Now with an addition of having me on board to help, encourage and hopefully inspire you should you wish to sketch and paint during the trip.

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Every time I sharpen my pastel pencils I break them. They have never been dropped and the pencil leads don’t break when I use them. What am I doing wrong?

A. Hi there, sorry to hear that you’re having problems sharpening your pastel pencils. From personal experience I know how frustrating this can be. Instead of trying to describe how I go about sharpening my pencils using a craft knife and sandpaper, I thought it would be easier for me just to include the following video for you to watch. I hope this video encourages you to give this a try. Whilst this method can be quite slow to begin with, it will definitely pay off once you get the hang of it. The more you do it, the faster you’ll get until it becomes second nature to you.

I may not always have a video on my YouTube channel to help when answering a subscriber’s question, but when I do I’ll be sure to add it.

Okay folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

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Email(required)

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Here to Ignite, Encourage and Inspire your Creative Flame

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 and enjoying the sunshine – sunny here in the UK at long last. I spent a busy, but productive, morning in the studio today, followed by an afternoon catching up on some gardening. With the dinner on I thought I’d make good use of this downtime and catch up with you all through a quick newsletter. Don’t worry I’ll keep it short, unlike last week’s essay style letter lol.

I’d like to say a huge thank you for the lovely feedback I’ve received regarding last week’s newsletter. Many of you, it seems, could relate to the lady I spoke of, and many of you have taken action to turn things around and begin the artistic journey you’ve always wanted.

While on this subject I’d like to draw (pardon the pun lol) your attention to the quote at the top of this newsletter (yep a different one each time if you hadn’t already noticed):

“If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you don’t believe it’ll work out, you’ll see obstacles.”
– Wayne Dyer.

Whatever you’re hoping to achieve, try to begin with a positive mind set. I know that sometimes this is hard to do, but you’ve nothing to lose by simply trying. Whether you’re just beginning your art journey, or you’ve been on it for a while, everything is possible. Some things take minutes to learn, some weeks or even months. But these time frames shouldn’t be obstacles to you, for every moment spent creating (whatever the outcome) is time well spent.

Okay let’s move on. A few months ago, just before Christmas actually, Derwent sent me a prototype of their Watercolour Paint Pan set, asking me if I had the time to trial them. Needless to say I readily accepted the challenge and began to design a project that would put them through their paces. At the time of receiving the paint box prototype my Cyclamen was flowering in my studio, it was definitely one of those ‘meant to be’ moments, so the following afternoon I settled down to a relaxed afternoon of sketching some thumbnails, developing a sketch and later a completed drawing. It was a couple of days later before I could begin to start putting paint to paper, beginning by swatching the paint colours and testing their transparency, mixing abilities and finding out how easy they were to lift once dry. Once this procedure was complete, and I felt I had a feel for the paints, I set my camera to record and began to paint, the following video being the result. After completing a few more smaller projects with these paints I can now thoroughly recommend them. The paints were finally released this month and are now available in both a 12 set and a 24 set. Video number one for this week’s newsletter:

A few days before the final release of the above paints I received a rather large parcel from Derwent. Inside was an assortment of goodies which I’ll be reviewing over the coming weeks. Amongst the contents were a set of Derwent Technique Brushes. Now this is something that I don’t very often use in my paintings, having been self taught I’ve learnt through the years how to maximise the use of my existing materials, and so can pretty much match the strokes these brushes make but with either a round, flat or filbert brush. However, when teaching a beginner, or for someone wanting to learn techniques a little quicker, these brushes would be a great addition to their art supplies. Hence video number two for this week’s newsletter:

Over time you too will get to know your art materials, what can and can’t be achieved and what the possibilities really are. But never be afraid to play, just doodling with a pencil or sampling some brush strokes are all worth while. Each time we sit down and explore our art supplies we’re learning, and as we do this we’re building muscle memory too.

Okay, I’m pretty sure we’re all caught up now. I’ve a couple more changes to make further down in the newsletter (see if you can spot what they are lol) and I’ve more exciting news regarding my journey with Derwent – but I’ll tell you about that in my next newsletter.

This Epic Arctic Art Adventure is soon to have a date available in 2025!!! More news on this soon.

I’m so pleased to say that Wildfoot Travel have launched their page announcing an Arctic adventure that will include everything Wildfoot Travel normally offer, plus as an ‘added attraction’ I’ll be there too, offering art advice, tuition and encouragement along the way. I’ll be painting and sketching during the voyage and will be auctioning one of the paintings whilst on board, with all proceeds going to the WWF.

The following is a tiny portion from Wildfoot Travel’s dedicated page for this adventure: (for much more information on their site)

Wildfoot Travel are also offering a 5% discount to anyone booking prior to 10th February 2024

ABOARD: M/V HONDIUS I’ll be there encouraging and hopefully inspiring anyone who wishes to either start their art journey or take their skills to the next level.

‘Join renowned wildlife artist Kerry Newell on this very special voyage to discover the enchanting coastlines and fascinating, seldom visited regions of eastern and southern Spitsbergen. This unique itinerary offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to uncover Spitsbergen’s outstanding natural beauty in the company of one of the UK’s most revered wildlife artists, who will not only offer you tuition time, but will also be creating a new masterpiece right in front of your eyes as you journey through these wildlife-rich lands.

Sailing during the high Arctic summer solstice, on this authentic Spitsbergen cruise experience you can enjoy exciting Zodiac excursions, twice daily landings accompanied by Arctic experts, extended hikes through the region’s magnificent landscapes, an informative lecture and presentation programme, and thrilling wildlife observation opportunities. Discover a world of spectacular scenery, search for sightings of polar bears and indulge in the adventure of a lifetime!‘

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Discover Spitsbergen in the company of revered wildlife artist Kerry Newell who will be offering tuition and creating a special piece that will be auctioned onboard, with the proceeds going to WWF
• Enjoy spectacular scenery throughout from amazing glaciers to icy fjord systems and mystical tundra
• Experience the high Arctic summer solstice and sail under the Midnight Sun
• Visit fascinating historical sites and bountiful seabird colonies
• Good chances of spotting whales, seals, and possibly even polar bears

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Full board accommodation on board with all meals, snacks and hot drinks
• All zodiac excursions and landings with expert guides
• Programme of expert lectures
• Loan of rubber boots

PRICES FROM £3,364pp 17 JUN, 2024 | Up to 7 nights

Plus any bookings that mention ‘KerryArctic2024’, Wildfoot Travel have kindly offered to adopt a polar bear with WWF on behalf of the booker, on a per booking basis.

If you’d like to know more then please click on the button below, this will take you to Wildfoot Travel’s website where you’ll be able to further explore all that the polar regions have to offer:

I now have a shop for merchandise on FINE ART AMERICA (the UK branch) page:

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

21 of my original paintings are now available as prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An example from my page:

My ‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ painting now offered in a variety of prints, including canvas prints and framed prints as well as greeting cards, tote bags and a plethora of other products too.

Site’s PRODUCT DETAILS:

‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ iPhone case by Kerry Newell. Protect your iPhone with an impact-resistant, slim profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your iPhone for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone’s features!’

The phone cases are available for all iPhones , from the iPhone 8 – iPhone 15. Cases are also available for the Galaxy S4 – Galaxy S8.

Fine Art America

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	Barn Owl
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	Painted Lady Butterfly on Flower reference image shown above
September 21st 2024	Pastel	Fallow Deer
November 23rd 2024	Watercolour	TBC

My suggested materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:

Suggested 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

Suggested 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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc. * Two water containers

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

New Diary Dates for 2024!

Arctic Expedition – Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear. Now with an addition of having me on board to help, encourage and hopefully inspire you should you wish to sketch and paint during the trip.

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. I hope you choose my question 🙂 I find it hard knowing what to put in the background of a watercolour painting. When I try for realism it looks awful, so I’d like to try something different but I don’t know what. I hope this question makes sense and equally hope that you can help. Thank you in advance. Gracie

A. Hi there Gracie, thank you for your question and yes I do know what you mean. Before jumping in to creating realistic backgrounds that can prove a little daunting, especially when you’re wanting to get on to the more pleasing parts of a painting such as the subject, I would recommend starting with something a little looser. The background on the following giraffe painting was created with watercolours and was a very easy one to do. Putting the paint onto wetted paper and really just letting the paint move freely. Practise with colours on a separate piece of paper and once you know which colours will work well with your subject give it a try. I hope you find the following video useful.

I may not always have a video on my YouTube channel to help when answering a subscriber’s question, but when I do I’ll be sure to add it.

Okay folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

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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 (and warm during this weird April weather). Sorry for the delay in getting my latest newsletter out to you all, hopefully three new videos will make up for it.

Over the past few days I’ve been chatting with a lady on social media regarding her art journey, or lack of it. She has the materials, a space in her home set aside for a creative adventure and the time to do so. But still her journey hasn’t begun. The reason being is that she says she is afraid she will fail. My heart felt like breaking when she said this. Maybe she’s experienced criticism in the past that she hasn’t been able to deal with, or maybe she’s sought confirmation from someone and hasn’t received it. I don’t know, but what I do know is that “fear kills more dreams than failure”. To ‘fail’ at something gives us the opportunity to start again, and that’s a positive:

I can’t even begin to think of the amount of times I reach for an eraser when sketching out a new project, each erased pencil mark means I’ve learnt something new. The world of social media can be very misleading, especially on YouTube. Sped up art tutorials make it look like everyone knows what they’re doing from beginning to end. But that is rarely the case. All of the artists I know, including myself, make mistakes and that’s just part of the artistic process – a learning curve that never ends. So if any of this resonates with you take heart, pick up a pencil and allow yourself time to play.

Choosing a subject can also be a barrier to some, scrolling through hundreds of photos on your phone just to find ‘that something’. Yep I’ve done that too, and before you know it hours have passed by, nothing has ‘jumped out at you’ and now you’re too tired and it’s time for bed lol. But inspiration will very rarely strike when we’re just sitting. However, if we exercise our imagination a little inspiration, it seems, will begin to creep in. I’ve made a little 15 minute video where I cover one way of overcoming ‘art block’ and am currently working on a follow up video to this where I put this act into practise. Here’s the first one for you:

Another way of climbing out of an artistic rut is to switch mediums. I rarely get art block and I’m pretty sure it’s because I work with different mediums, switching regularly between pastel, acrylic, ink, graphite etc. This in itself keeps my inspiration flowing and my artistic journey that little more interesting. However, I know that this isn’t always possible for everyone due to time, resources and maybe even allergies. But by making a little change here and there you’ll be surprised by the new horizons that come into view. Sketching with a ball point pen for instance, instead of a pencil, brings out a spontaneity in lines that still surprises me. Knowing that lines can’t be erased takes away the pressure of getting things right lol.

The saying ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ doesn’t apply, thankfully, to art. Switching between mediums, or exploring a new one, isn’t as scary as it may sound. Things learnt in one medium, such as contrast value or composition are easily transferred between mediums. And on the whole colour mixing adapts well between mediums too. So why it may have taken you weeks, months or what seems like years to get to grips with one medium, wont necessarily be the same hard slog for a new medium. For what you have learnt up to know you’ll be able to put to good use moving forward. The following video of a Barn Owl in pastel is now exception, for I would have used the same mindset, colour theory and contrast should I want to create this again in another medium:

Now while I say there’s nothing wrong in trying new mediums, I would only encourage you to try one new one at a time, for they each have a learning curve. And not every medium will suit every artist. For instance, pastels can create dust which could affect your choice should you suffer from asthma. Oils take a while to dry, so planning ahead is a must – waiting at least a day between layers and depending on the mixing medium can have quite a strong odour. Watercolours and gouache (opaque watercolour) are great if your art time is limited or if you want to travel with your supplies. Whereas coloured pencil projects can be slow to complete and nine times out of ten you’ll require a larger selection of ready bought colours as colour mixing can be more difficult. And then there are acrylics… with a drying speed resembling a speeding cheetah they’re not for everyone either. Then there are inks, graphite, charcoal etc the list seemingly endless. So what I’m trying to say is that if you do fancy dipping your toe into a new medium, try a little to begin with. Pastel pencils or coloured pencils – by a handful of colours and have a play to see if they’re the right choice for you. Watercolours – maybe a couple of tubes or pans, a decent quality paper and a watercolour brush. Acrylics – just get a black, a white and have a play. And so in keeping with the current ‘switching between mediums’ nature of this newsletter so far, here’s my latest YouTube video (uploaded today):

Well I’m sure you’ll be relieved to know that my waffling is over lol. I’ll keep the rest of the newsletter short and sweet, but with an update to date ‘subscriber question’ and answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

I’m so pleased to say that Wildfoot Travel have launched their page announcing an Arctic adventure that will include everything Wildfoot Travel normally offer, plus as an ‘added attraction’ I’ll be there too, offering art advice, tuition and encouragement along the way. I’ll be painting and sketching during the voyage and will be auctioning one of the paintings whilst on board, with all proceeds going to the WWF.

The following is a tiny portion from Wildfoot Travel’s dedicated page for this adventure: (for much more information on their site)

Wildfoot Travel are also offering a 5% discount to anyone booking prior to 10th February 2024

ABOARD: M/V HONDIUS I’ll be there encouraging and hopefully inspiring anyone who wishes to either start their art journey or take their skills to the next level.

‘Join renowned wildlife artist Kerry Newell on this very special voyage to discover the enchanting coastlines and fascinating, seldom visited regions of eastern and southern Spitsbergen. This unique itinerary offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to uncover Spitsbergen’s outstanding natural beauty in the company of one of the UK’s most revered wildlife artists, who will not only offer you tuition time, but will also be creating a new masterpiece right in front of your eyes as you journey through these wildlife-rich lands.

Sailing during the high Arctic summer solstice, on this authentic Spitsbergen cruise experience you can enjoy exciting Zodiac excursions, twice daily landings accompanied by Arctic experts, extended hikes through the region’s magnificent landscapes, an informative lecture and presentation programme, and thrilling wildlife observation opportunities. Discover a world of spectacular scenery, search for sightings of polar bears and indulge in the adventure of a lifetime!‘

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Discover Spitsbergen in the company of revered wildlife artist Kerry Newell who will be offering tuition and creating a special piece that will be auctioned onboard, with the proceeds going to WWF
• Enjoy spectacular scenery throughout from amazing glaciers to icy fjord systems and mystical tundra
• Experience the high Arctic summer solstice and sail under the Midnight Sun
• Visit fascinating historical sites and bountiful seabird colonies
• Good chances of spotting whales, seals, and possibly even polar bears

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Full board accommodation on board with all meals, snacks and hot drinks
• All zodiac excursions and landings with expert guides
• Programme of expert lectures
• Loan of rubber boots

PRICES FROM £3,364pp 17 JUN, 2024 | Up to 7 nights

Plus any bookings that mention ‘KerryArctic2024’, Wildfoot Travel have kindly offered to adopt a polar bear with WWF on behalf of the booker, on a per booking basis.

If you’d like to know more then please click on the button below, this will take you to Wildfoot Travel’s website where you’ll be able to further explore all that the polar regions have to offer:

I now have a shop for merchandise on FINE ART AMERICA (the UK branch) page:

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

21 of my original paintings are now available as prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An example from my page:

My ‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ painting now offered in a variety of prints, including canvas prints and framed prints as well as greeting cards, tote bags and a plethora of other products too.

Site’s PRODUCT DETAILS:

‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ iPhone case by Kerry Newell. Protect your iPhone with an impact-resistant, slim profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your iPhone for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone’s features!’

The phone cases are available for all iPhones , from the iPhone 8 – iPhone 15. Cases are also available for the Galaxy S4 – Galaxy S8.

Fine Art America

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024 SOLD OUT	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	Barn Owl
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	TBC
September 21st 2024	Pastel	Fallow Deer
November 23rd 2024	Watercolour	TBC

My suggested materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:

Suggested 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

Suggested 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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc. * Two water containers

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

New Diary Dates for 2024!

Arctic Expedition – Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear. Now with an addition of having me on board to help, encourage and hopefully inspire you should you wish to sketch and paint during the trip.

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Can you please advise on a palette that keeps acrylic paint workable for longer periods of time? Thank you.

A. Thank you for your question, I can thoroughly recommend the New Wave Glass Palette and the Mastersons Palette box – I use these together and can honestly say that I haven’t had to look for anything else since buying these items. I explain in the video below how I use them and why:

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 folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

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Here to Ignite, Encourage and Inspire your Creative Flame

Please note: some items are repeated for the benefit of new subscribers. Thank you 😊

Hey there my friends how are you? I hope that you’re all keeping well and staying creative. I’ve been busy tidying up a few loose ends in my studio, finishing a few paintings and sifting through the ones that require additional work. I also took a little break to work in a new sketchbook – here I let my video camera roll and have the footage for you, now edited and completed by adding a voice over:

I’m so pleased to say that Wildfoot Travel have launched their page announcing an Arctic adventure that will include everything Wildfoot Travel normally offer, plus as an ‘added attraction’ I’ll be there too, offering art advice, tuition and encouragement along the way. I’ll be painting and sketching during the voyage and will be auctioning one of the paintings whilst on board, with all proceeds going to the WWF.

The following is a tiny portion from Wildfoot Travel’s dedicated page for this adventure: (for much more information on their site)

Wildfoot Travel are also offering a 5% discount to anyone booking prior to 10th February 2024

ABOARD: M/V HONDIUS I’ll be there encouraging and hopefully inspiring anyone who wishes to either start their art journey or take their skills to the next level.

‘Join renowned wildlife artist Kerry Newell on this very special voyage to discover the enchanting coastlines and fascinating, seldom visited regions of eastern and southern Spitsbergen. This unique itinerary offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to uncover Spitsbergen’s outstanding natural beauty in the company of one of the UK’s most revered wildlife artists, who will not only offer you tuition time, but will also be creating a new masterpiece right in front of your eyes as you journey through these wildlife-rich lands.

Sailing during the high Arctic summer solstice, on this authentic Spitsbergen cruise experience you can enjoy exciting Zodiac excursions, twice daily landings accompanied by Arctic experts, extended hikes through the region’s magnificent landscapes, an informative lecture and presentation programme, and thrilling wildlife observation opportunities. Discover a world of spectacular scenery, search for sightings of polar bears and indulge in the adventure of a lifetime!‘

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Discover Spitsbergen in the company of revered wildlife artist Kerry Newell who will be offering tuition and creating a special piece that will be auctioned onboard, with the proceeds going to WWF
• Enjoy spectacular scenery throughout from amazing glaciers to icy fjord systems and mystical tundra
• Experience the high Arctic summer solstice and sail under the Midnight Sun
• Visit fascinating historical sites and bountiful seabird colonies
• Good chances of spotting whales, seals, and possibly even polar bears

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Full board accommodation on board with all meals, snacks and hot drinks
• All zodiac excursions and landings with expert guides
• Programme of expert lectures
• Loan of rubber boots

PRICES FROM £3,364pp 17 JUN, 2024 | Up to 7 nights

Plus any bookings that mention ‘KerryArctic2024’, Wildfoot Travel have kindly offered to adopt a polar bear with WWF on behalf of the booker, on a per booking basis.

If you’d like to know more then please click on the button below, this will take you to Wildfoot Travel’s website where you’ll be able to further explore all that the polar regions have to offer:

I now have a shop for merchandise on FINE ART AMERICA (the UK branch) page:

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

21 of my original paintings are now available as prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An example from my page:

My ‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ painting now offered in a variety of prints, including canvas prints and framed prints as well as greeting cards, tote bags and a plethora of other products too.

Site’s PRODUCT DETAILS:

‘Red Eyed Tree Frog’ iPhone case by Kerry Newell. Protect your iPhone with an impact-resistant, slim profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your iPhone for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone’s features!’

The phone cases are available for all iPhones , from the iPhone 8 – iPhone 15. Cases are also available for the Galaxy S4 – Galaxy S8.

Fine Art America

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024 SOLD OUT	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	Barn Owl
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	TBC
September 21st 2024	Pastel	Fallow Deer
November 23rd 2024	Watercolour	TBC

My suggested materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:

Suggested 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

Suggested 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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc. * Two water containers

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

New Diary Dates for 2024!

Arctic Expedition – Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear. Now with an addition of having me on board to help, encourage and hopefully inspire you should you wish to sketch and paint during the trip.

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Hello Kerry, I have a few different types of art mediums, which ones do you like to use together?

A. Awe this is an easy one to answer as I like to use mixed mediums on drawings and paintings. Now I’m unsure what materials you have so I’ll give you a few suggestions. A pencil drawing and watercolour washes is a simple and relatively cheap place to start. Ink (even a biro will work for this) and watercolour. Watercolour washes followed by pastel or coloured pencil. Ink followed by acrylic (as in the video below). Acrylic followed by oil paint. Pastel base layers followed by coloured pencils for more detailed areas. Just a few of the many combinations that can be used. If you let me know what materials you have, I may be able to offer further suggestions for you.

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 folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

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Hey there my friends how are you? I truly hope that you’re all keeping well and staying creative.

Now I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting news on my next trip to the Arctic – well I’m so pleased to say that Wildfoot Travel have finally launched their page announcing this much anticipated expedition. This Arctic adventure will include everything that is normally offered by Wildfoot Travel, plus as an ‘added attraction’ I’ll be there too, offering art advice, tuition and encouragement along the way. I’ll be painting and sketching during the voyage and will be auctioning one of the paintings whilst on board, with all proceeds going to the WWF.

I can honestly testify that visiting the Arctic last August was a truly life-changing experience, I would therefore love it if you could share the same experience with me this June.

The following is a tiny portion from Wildfoot Travel’s dedicated page for this adventure: (for much more information on their site)

EAST SPITSBERGEN – SUMMER SOLSTICE

WITH SPECIAL GUEST KERRY NEWELL

ABOARD: M/V HONDIUS

Join renowned wildlife artist Kerry Newell on this very special voyage to discover the enchanting coastlines and fascinating, seldom visited regions of eastern and southern Spitsbergen. This unique itinerary offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to uncover Spitsbergen’s outstanding natural beauty in the company of one of the UK’s most revered wildlife artists, who will not only offer you tuition time, but will also be creating a new masterpiece right in front of your eyes as you journey through these wildlife-rich lands.

Sailing during the high Arctic summer solstice, on this authentic Spitsbergen cruise experience you can enjoy exciting Zodiac excursions, twice daily landings accompanied by Arctic experts, extended hikes through the region’s magnificent landscapes, an informative lecture and presentation programme, and thrilling wildlife observation opportunities. Discover a world of spectacular scenery, search for sightings of polar bears and indulge in the adventure of a lifetime!

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Discover Spitsbergen in the company of revered wildlife artist Kerry Newell who will be offering tuition and creating a special piece that will be auctioned onboard, with the proceeds going to WWF
• Enjoy spectacular scenery throughout from amazing glaciers to icy fjord systems and mystical tundra
• Experience the high Arctic summer solstice and sail under the Midnight Sun
• Visit fascinating historical sites and bountiful seabird colonies
• Good chances of spotting whales, seals, and possibly even polar bears

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Full board accommodation on board with all meals, snacks and hot drinks
• All zodiac excursions and landings with expert guides
• Programme of expert lectures
• Loan of rubber boots

PRICES FROM £3,364pp 17 JUN, 2024 | Up to 7 nights

Wildfoot Travel are also offering a 5% discount to anyone booking prior to 10th February 2024

Plus any bookings that mention ‘KerryArctic2024’, Wildfoot Travel have kindly offered to adopt a polar bear with WWF on behalf of the booker, on a per booking basis.

If you’d like to know more then please click on the button below, this will take you to Wildfoot Travel’s website where you’ll be able to further explore all that the polar regions have to offer:

I know have a shop for merchandise on FINE ART AMERICA (the UK branch) page:

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

21 of my original paintings are now available as prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An example from my page:

My ‘Pretty in Pink’ painting now offered in a variety of prints, including canvas prints and framed prints as shown in the image, and in a variety of sizes too.

Site’s PRODUCT DETAILS:

‘Pretty in Pink framed print by Kerry Newell.   Bring your print to life with hundreds of different frame and mat combinations. Our framed prints are assembled, packaged, and shipped by our expert framing staff and delivered “ready to hang” with pre-attached hanging wire, mounting hooks, and nails.’

Fine Art America

On My Easel / Hot Off My Easel

Happy to say that I have two new YouTube videos for you this week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did whilst creating the paintings for them. If you do pop over to my YouTube channel, don’t forget to ‘Like’ & ‘Subscribe’ if you haven’t already. Thank you in advance xXx

First is the Fallow Deer that was on my easel only last week:

The second video is a little watercolour project that I painted yesterday, using only three colours and a couple of brushes:

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024 SOLD OUT	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	Fallow Deer
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	TBC
September 21st 2024	Pastel	TBC
November 23rd 2024	Watercolour	TBC

My suggested materials for the the pastel & watercolour workshops:

Suggested 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

Suggested 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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc. * Two water containers

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

Diary Dates for 2024 coming soon!

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

Arctic Expedition – ‘Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear.’

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.

Subscriber Question

This question has been requested again as a couple of subscribers didn’t receive last week’s newsletter, thankfully the two new videos in this week’s newsletter should keep the rest of you busy lol xXx

Q. Hello Kerry, I received some Inktense pencils for Christmas, just the 12 set. Is it possible to create a complete painting with just these. Thank you.

A. Hi there Audrey, thank you for your question. You can most certainly create a project with 12 pencils. Swatch your colours out and try mixing them to increase your colour range if you want. Then you’ll be able to choose a subject that suits your supplies. The Intense pencils are very versatile, you shouldn’t have any problems at all. Have fun with your new supplies xXx

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 folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

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Hey there my friends how are you? I truly hope you’re all keeping well and that the beginning of 2024 is showing signs of being an amazing year for you.

January, for me, has begun in the fast lane, a new commission has been received and accepted, my work for Derwent has been sent to them for a final proof and plans for my return trip are well underway, with marketing starting in the next few days.

I’m not one for setting New Year Resolutions, but I do have a couple of goals I’d like to achieve this year. The first one being to super-charge my YouTube channel. My original idea was having the ability to create one new video each week, however other works within my studio have put this on hold already lol. So I’m calling that plan A, fortunately I’ve a plan B,C,D… lol. So while I still want to boost the amount and frequency of new videos it might not be happening each week just yet. I have been asked by several subscribers if I could create a ‘studio tour’ video, so this will most likely be one of the first for 2024.

The other goal that I’ve been meaning to hit for a while is the utilisation of my FINE ART AMERICA (the UK branch) page:

Fine Art America is the world’s largest art marketplace and print-on-demand technology company. They’ve been helping artists sell wall art, home décor, apparel, and other products since 2006, working with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and iconic brands.

I now have seven of my original paintings uploaded to their site and will be adding more each week (this goal is working well so far). The products I’m offering at the moment include prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints, greeting cards, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, stationary and mugs etc. So they’ll hopefully be something for everyone.

An example from my page:

My ‘Splash of Lime’ painting has really come into it’s own as a phone case, tempted to order one for myself 😊

Site’s PRODUCT DETAILS:

‘Splash of Lime iPhone case by Kerry Newell. Protect your iPhone with an impact-resistant, slim profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your iPhone for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone’s features!’

The phone cases are available for all iPhones , from the iPhone 8 – iPhone 15. Cases are also available for the Galaxy S4 – Galaxy S8.

Fine Art America

On My Easel

Okay back to my studio – This little deer in pastel is waiting patiently for me to get back to my easel, hoping it wont be waiting too long as I’ve a list of projects lined up for this year. Add no doubt more will be added by the end of January lol.

Arctic Expedition for 2024

For those of you interested in knowing more about this year’s proposed Arctic Expedition I’m pleased to say that the initial building blocks of my new website page are now in place, and I’m currently waiting for Wildfoot Travel who are busy working on the final details for their new and unique webpage for this venture, so hopefully it wont be too long until both pages and the widget below (for my homepage) will be going live. More news on this really soon.

Passengers will be able to experience the majestic landscapes and unique flora & fauna of an Arctic expedition as I did in August of last year, plus if they wish, they can draw, paint or sketch along with me during the more relaxed times of their voyage. The dates are now set as above and I’ll keep you all informed of any change, plus I’ll be sure to let you know when both mine and Wildfoot Travel’s new pages go live.

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	TBC
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	TBC
September 21st 2024	Pastel	TBC
November 23rd 2024	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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc.

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

Diary Dates for 2024 coming soon!

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

Arctic Expedition – ‘Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Hello Kerry, I received some Inktense pencils for Christmas, just the 12 set. Is it possible to create a complete painting with just these. Thank you.

A. Hi there Audrey, thank you for your question. You can most certainly create a project with 12 pencils. Swatch your colours out and try mixing them to increase your colour range if you want. Then you’ll be able to choose a subject that suits your supplies. The Intense pencils are very versatile, you shouldn’t have any problems at all. Have fun with your new supplies xXx

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 folks that’s it for me for today. 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.

Until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

Name(required)

Email(required)

Submit

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Hey there my friends I hope you’re all keeping well and warm. Just three sleeps to go until Christmas and I’ve still lots to do before I can take a well-earned break. Remembering what a busy time of year this can be for all of us, I’ll keep this post short and begin wishing you all a:

I hope you’re happy to hear that I’ve two new videos for you, both now live on my YouTube channel.

I hope you all have as much fun watching these as I had creating them 🎨 😊

At the moment I’m unable to share what’s on my easel as I’m currently doing some work for Derwent, all for a brand new product release in the Spring of next year! So watch this space….

For those of you interested in knowing more about next year’s proposed Arctic Expedition I’m pleased to say that the initial building blocks of my new website page are now in place. Wildfoot Travel are busy working on their new webpage for this venture, so hopefully it wont be too long until both pages and the widget below (for my homepage) will be going live. More news on this coming soon.

Passengers will be able to experience the majestic landscapes and unique flora & fauna of an Arctic expedition as I did in August, plus if they wish, they can draw, paint or sketch along with me during the more relaxed times of their voyage. The dates are now set as above and I’ll keep you informed of any change, plus I’ll be sure to let you know when both mine and Wildfoot Travel’s new pages go live.

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2024

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

Date	Medium	Subject
January 27th 2024	Watercolour	Reindeer
March 23rd 2024	Pastel	TBC
May 18th 2024	Watercolour	TBC
September 21st 2024	Pastel	TBC
November 23rd 2024	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 * Bring along some white gouache too if you have some – great for adding highlights etc.

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

Diary Dates for 2024 coming soon!

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

Arctic Expedition – ‘Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Should I spray my pastels with something to keep them in place?

A. Hi there Sophie, thank you for your question. An easy way to make a background recede in a painting is to make it look out of focus, then apply finer detail to anything you want to draw the viewers eye to be drawn to, such as the little hedgehog in the video below. Also you could try adding cooler colours to the background and warmer colours to the foreground/subject, this also creates a sense of distance between the two elements. I hope this helps xXx

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 folks that’s it for me for today. 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 a truly magical Christmas, until next time, as always, stay safe and stay creative, Kerry xXx

Questions & Suggestions welcomed

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Hey there my friends I hope you’re all keeping well and warm. Sorry that I haven’t posted a more up to date newsletter, life sure gets in the way of living sometimes eh. This is my second draft of this newsletter due to having Gremlins residing in my website lol. Thankfully all seems well now thanks to Barry my website host – you’re a star and truly appreciated for all you do.

Okay grab a coffee, or beverage of your choice, and lets take some time together for a long overdue catch up. Now where to begin? Let me start by sharing what’s on my studio easel at the moment:

For those of you who know me well you’ve more than likely come to the conclusion that I really do enjoy working in a variety of mediums. My choice is sometimes made by the subject I want to paint or draw, and sometimes dictated by tuition and workshop dates I have booked in my diary. Next Saturday (25th November) I have my next Wildlife-inspired Pastel Workshop at WWT Martin Mere. I therefore had to choose a suitable subject for the day. I feel that this Lynx portrait encompasses everything that participants want to practise on a day’s pastel tuition. A simple and slightly out of focus background makes a great contrast to the finer detailed work of the Lynx’s eyes and fur. Also luminous colour in lifelike eyes is something that previous participants have been asking for in future workshops, so I’m hoping that this project will tick all of the boxes so to speak.

Now for those of you who love to draw and paint, or wish to start an artistic adventure, but are unable to join me in person, I’ve something for you too. I’m pleased to say that I’ve a whopping four new videos for you:

The first of these videos is all about the wonderful watercolour field easel by Meeden. To be honest I wasn’t expecting too much, not because Meeden doesn’t make quality art products, far from it, but because when I began unboxing the easel it was so very light weight. Wow was I surprised. This little field easel is absolutely perfect. Compact and light, and totally adjustable for different sitting and standing heights. A perfect design and made from durable materials. I’m in no way getting paid to say any of this, but hope that my testimony to it and the fact that it will be the easel of my choice to accompany me to the arctic next year, says it all.

This easel would also be wonderful if you create artwork at home but have a limited space to do so xXx

The second video is a must for all who have ever looked at a sheet of white paper and thought ‘where do I start?’ Yes we’ve all been there. It’s also for those who already have watercolour paints, or are looking to get some, but are unsure of ‘how to start’. When having these thoughts, several things can occur. For some people just those unsure feelings can be enough to dim a creative flame and that is such a shame. Some people feel that until they know what to do they’ll just be ‘wasting their materials’ – believe me when I say that the only ‘wasted art materials’ are the ones that are never used.

In this following video I explore the world of ‘spontaneous watercolour painting’. A style that allows complete freedom and therefore takes away the pressure of painting that perfect something. Let me tell you there is no such thing as perfect when it comes to art. There’s no perfect drawing, no perfect painting and no perfect artist. There isn’t even a perfect way of going about something either. Art is a journey and it’s meant to be enjoyed.

So what is ‘spontaneous watercolour painting’? It’s simply applying watercolour paint to a wetted or partially wetted piece of paper and letting the paint just do it’s thing. Working with a limited palette helps (just a few colours are required which makes it ideal for beginners too). Once the paint is applied, just sit back with a coffee (yes another lol) and watch as shapes and colours appear. This is when the magic happens. Relax and let your imagination wander. You may see the shapes of mountains or trees, flowers or animals. Once you do you can begin to lightly detail these parts of the painting if you wish, or you can just leave it as it is. It’s entirely up to you. During this video I also get the opportunity to test and review a wonderful little watercolour travel brush set that was sent to me by a company called Fuumuui (yes that’s the correct spelling lol). The brushes worked really well and I’ll definitely be using them in conjunction with the above travel easel soon.

The third video ‘Reindeer in Watercolour’ builds on the previous technique.

In this video I begin by masking out the Reindeer then painting watercolour in a spontaneous style for the background. I use the same limited palette of colours as in the above video, this ensures that I already know the resulting colours and hues when they begin to merge and mingle on the wettened paper. Once the background has dried I then remove the masking film that’s covering the reindeer and begin to add translucent washes of colour, slowly building up the layers adding hues of colour and altering the tones and contrast as I go. To finish this little project a spattering of white gouache (opaque watercolour) is applied – I feel this added a little movement and extra atmosphere to the painting.

I’ve been creating art for over 50 years but I still get excited when I think of something new to try (think of art as a journey and not a destination), video number four started out as an experiment. I mixed a little Indian ink with some washing up liquid (Fairy liquid is ph neutral) and using a straw blew lots and lots and lots of bubbles lol. When the bubbles were left on the paper the ink sank in and stained the paper’s surface. I chose the little lizard to paint on top as I thought the vibrant colours would create a good amount of contrast against the diffused colouration of the background. I chose to paint the lizard in acrylic for a couple of reasons, the first being the vibrant colours and secondly I needed a medium which was opaque enough to conceal the background colour beneath. I hope you enjoy watching this video and the others too.

For those of you interested in knowing more about next year’s proposed Arctic Expedition I’m pleased to say that the initial building blocks of my new website page are now in place. Wildfoot Travel are busy working on their new webpage for this venture, so hopefully it wont be too long until both pages and the widget below (for my homepage) will be going live. More news on this coming soon.

Passengers will be able to experience the majestic landscapes and unique flora & fauna of an Arctic expedition as I did in August, plus if they wish, they can draw, paint or sketch along with me during the more relaxed times of their voyage. The dates are now set as above and I’ll keep you informed of any change, plus I’ll be sure to let you know when both mine and Wildfoot Travel’s new pages go live.

🎨 Saturday 25th November – just one week left to book your place on my latest wildlife-inspired pastel art workshop, limited places, beginners welcomed – line art provided. Note: materials NOT included. (50% of proceeds going straight back into conservation):
🎨 www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere/whats-on/art-workshop-with-kerry-newell

Suggested art supplies for a pastel workshop:

Wildlife Art Workshops for 2023

£60 per person (materials not included)

All workshops are held at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and 50% of all proceeds go straight back into conservation.

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	Postponed
May 20th 2023	Watercolour	Toucan
June 24th 2023	Pastel	Kingfisher
August 26th 2023	Watercolour	postponed
September 23rd 2023	Pastel	Polar Bear
October 21st 2023	Watercolour	postponed
November 25th 2023	Pastel	Lynx
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

Workshops 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 Kingfisher project was the subject for June 2023 art workshop over at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.

Diary Dates

Global Birdfair – an international three day event – Join a community of nature lovers and birdwatchers from around the world as we gather to make a difference to Conserving Nature Worldwide. Lectures, demonstrations, art exhibitions, holiday destinations, authors, photographers, Global Birdfair auction, optics companies including Nikon, Viking Optical, Zeiss & Swarovski Optik – there really is something for everyone at this annual event that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland UK.  LE15 7TW 

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.’

Arctic Expedition – ‘Take a cruise around Spitsbergen and explore the icy waters of the North Atlantic. This special expedition offers you the chance to catch site of whales, reindeer, Arctic foxes, walruses, seals, and the star attraction, the polar bear.’

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.

Subscriber Question

Q. Should I spray my pastels with something to keep them in place?

A. Hi there Sophie, thank you for your question. An easy way to make a background recede in a painting is to make it look out of focus, then apply finer detail to anything you want to draw the viewers eye to be drawn to, such as the little hedgehog in the video below. Also you could try adding cooler colours to the background and warmer colours to the foreground/subject, this also creates a sense of distance between the two elements. I hope this helps xXx

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 folks that’s it for me for today. 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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