I have spent a glorious month painting autumn in watercolour. It is, by far, my favourite season. I had imagined that I would be painting autumn landscapes in watercolour and of course those beautiful autumn leaves.

But a total cutie popped up in one of my paintings this month …

Learning how to draw figures for beginners can be something of a daunting challenge.  If we are honest, it's not just beginners - I have met quite a few experienced artists that still have some reservations about drawing and painting a human figure.

I have a few tips for the terrified to get you on your way, if you think you fall into this camp.

The questions I get asked most often are about how to get started with watercolour painting. Here are my best answers and everything a new painter needs to know about the kind of watercolour paint that comes in tubes and pans.

There is something so deeply pleasing about the organised rows of vines. No wonder I couldn’t stop at one when I painted a vineyard. There is so much to learn from nature about achieving balance and order and rhythm. I can’t think of a better way to study them than painting.

See the whole series and find out more here…

Have you ever asked yourself the question, ‘why paint’? Do you wonder about the importance of painting and whether there are any benefits to it?

Ever thought about having a go at a portrait in watercolour?

Good thinking… and these 10 tips for beginners are sure to get you off to a flying start.

This month I have been painting Portraits in Watercolour. Painting faces is fascinating work for so many reasons, its no wonder we still paint faces even in era of the omnipresent camera.

See the whole series and find out more here…

Have you heard the story of Goldilocks and the 3 art supplies? If you have ever wondered if you are choosing the ‘right’ art supplies, this is for you…

This month I have been painting Hot Air Balloons - one of my absolute favourite things to paint.

See the whole series and find out more here…

I end every year with a Mandala series - this one is the latest.

Apparently I am not the only one who loves circles, it is actually something hard wired into our brains. Who knew?….

Did you know that elephants purr? Yes, a bit like a cat!

This is just one of the many fascinating facts I learned about elephants - my painting subject for this month’s series. They are such magnificent creatures you can’t really help being curious, can you?

I know. You have this little creative itch to scratch. Plans of starting a sketchbook practice, journalling regularly, getting back into painting or dusting off that guitar.

But somehow actually Doing The Thing just doesn't happen.  It’s that inner critic…here are my best tips for dealing with her.

Are you a bit over all the exuberant advice about goal setting?

I hear you…. it’s exhausting. Is there another way to live your life and still achieve your goals that is a bit less tiresome? I sure hope so….

I used both ink and watercolour this month - they play so beautifully together. Of course, each is perfectly adequate on their own. But when they work together there is less to be expected of each one - the load is shared. There is a message in that for all of us, to be sure.