I’m editing a YouTube video, where I paint this little plein-air study of a stranded sailboat:It’s painted in gouache over a casein priming.If you have a quick question about the process, you can ask it here in the comments. Or, even better, you …
Martha Zmpounou won Anne Rothenstein’s Choice Award this year with her work Dressing Up. In this interview, she discusses her hybrid creative practice, the unpredictability of watercolour, and her approach of discovering rather than creating her pieces. Above image: Martha in her studio Josephine: Could you share the story of how you became an artist and tell us more about your artistic background? Martha: I joined a foundation course at 18 to prepare for the fine art school’s entry exams. I then continued on to complete my BA in Fine Art and Painting at Aristotle University of Fine and Applied Arts in Greece. During that time, I experimented a lot with printmaking, in particular etching and woodcutting, along with my painting practice. Looking back, those years were not only very fun, but also pivotal to my growth as an artist and all that was coming. It was an intense period, very formative in many ways. After graduating, I stopped painting for a couple of years and turned to handmade jewellery instead. When that cycle came to an end, I returned to drawing and painting, and went on to complete a Master’s degree at Central Saint Martins. I started …
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In this article, I define the grattage technique, invented by the Surrealist Max Ernst, and used in the work of his contemporaries and beyond. I consider the visual impact of this tactile method of scraping oil paint across a canvas laid over unconventional materials. Then, I demonstrate how to achieve it in your own oil paintings by testing it out with wood, cutlery, string, and some studio objects. Articles in the Techniques Series define the meaning and context of art making processes and give practical tutorials on how to work with them. The Grattage Technique for Painting Definition Grattage comes from the French verb ‘gratter’ meaning ‘to scrape’. The grattage technique is created when a wet oil painting is pressed on top of various everyday materials, such as wood, mesh, string, glass, or wire, and the top layer of paint is scraped away with a palette knife or spatula, picking up spontaneous unexpected textures on the face of the painting. What is the Effect of Grattage? The grattage technique relies on unexpected marks and chance textures which the artist and audience respond to intuitively. Adding grattage to a painting may spark new ideas in the painter, or …
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The key to painting imaginary subjects is to hold onto the dream image as long as possible, even if it’s hazy and tentative. Then you work like crazy to find analogues in the real world, and gather references of any kind. Be like a sponge, and “f…
Enjoy this preview of some of the inspiring art you’ll find in the Fall 2025 issue of Watercolor Artist
The post Artfully Composed: Explore Dynamic Design in the Work of 5 Watercolor Artists appeared first on Artists Network.
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The post A State of Flow: Watercolor with Massimiliano Iocco appeared first on Artists Network.
Paddle brushes allow artists to have tactile contact with their surface by movement through the wrist, allowing them to work with greater control across large surface areas. The sturdy design also ensures brush longevity. Da Vinci has released their own new paddle brush range, with three bristle types available in three sizes – 40, 60, and 80 mm. In the following article, I describe their unique properties, test out the functionality of their innovative ergonomic handle design, and use them to apply acrylic paints, gesso, and mediums with a variety of effects. Review of Da Vinci’s New Synthetic Paddle Brushes The History of the Da Vinci Company The Da Vinci brush company was founded around 1890 in Germany and remains based in Nuremberg to this day. Their long-standing ethos has been “to produce the best brushes in the world”, covering everything from artists’ and cosmetic brushes to dental brushes. The name Da Vinci doesn’t come from a personal link to the Renaissance master, but was chosen to enhance brand recognition and give an assurance quality after the company trademarked the name ‘Leonardo Da Vinci’ in 1952. Today, Da Vinci manufactures about 6 million brushes annually, with the Paddle …
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In this week’s episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jessica Rose is
joined by Anna Campbell, Kelly Twigg, and Emma René to introduce something
brand new: the first-ever Jewellers’ Visibility Retreat, happening this
September in Brighton, England.
This intimate, in-person, three-day event is designed for jewellery
business owners who are ready to get seen, connect deeply with their brand,
and confidently attract customers, just in time for the busy Christmas
sales season.
Sandra Cavanagh won the Oil Award in Jackson’s Art Prize this year with her work Death of Hector II. In this interview, she discusses finding form in current events, feeling bereft when not working, and the fast dab of an unexpected decision. Above image: Sandra’s painting studio Josephine: Could you tell us about your artistic background? Sandra: I grew up in Argentina, within a deeply patriarchal and conservative culture, where democracy was imperilled by coups d’état, terrorism, and military rule. I witnessed the uncertainties of life in a police state where unchecked uniformed authority inevitably causes a breakdown of trust in the institutions of government. Early on, I cultivated an interest in a courageous, opinionated art, and to date, social injustice, violence, and gender inequality continue to drive the narratives developed in my work. Most recently, I’ve focused on the use of myth to comment on sociopolitical issues. The work evokes ancient and current power structures and the stresses these cause. I’m interested in the enduring nature of cross-generational stories in popular media and their use to contextualise public and private elements of our lives through the ages. I read Social Sciences at the University of Belgrano in …
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Jess talks with fine jeweller and tutor Jane Taylor, to talk about her
creative journey into jewellery making. From childhood badge-making to
running her own boutique jewellery store in Godalming, UK. Jane shares
about the winding road that led her to jewellery. From early experiments
with polymer clay, to leaving an apprenticeship in search of creative
freedom, to building her own brand and shop that’s now part of a thriving
creative hub.
