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Articles posted by Jolyne Lauriault

Inside the Sketchbook of Yiwei Xu

Yiwei Xu is a Chinese-born artist based in London and Kent whose work explores the sensory power of nature and the peace found in its impermanence. In this article, we take a look inside her vivid and expressive sketchbooks, where she finds freedom in unhindered self-expression. Yiwei discusses how her sketches evoke memories, the tactile process of selecting her materials, as well as her philosophy of approaching creativity without being bound by the burden of expectation. Inside the Sketchbook of Yiwei Xu Sketchbooks used to be my biggest comfort zone in my practice. There are no limitations, no specific methods to follow, no standard of what’s right or wrong – I’m free to mess things up. Flipping open a sketchbook, I don’t have to be skilful or professional; the only thing I need to think about is being myself – what I want to see, what I want to record, what I care about. During that time, my sketchbooks were full of random, personal subjects. I don’t have a specific preference when choosing sketchbooks, but I do enjoy picking one in person. That way, I can feel the texture of the paper and imagine the feeling …

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In Conversation with Derwent

We sit down in the Jackson’s Studio with Tom Lewington, Global Sales Director, and Adam Gaskell, Technical Manager at Derwent, to hear the story behind the brand. From its roots in England’s Lake District, the historical source of the world’s richest graphite, to its modern innovations in pencil making, Derwent’s journey spans nearly two centuries of craftsmanship. In this interview, Tom and Adam share how the company’s heritage and deep connection to artists continue to shape every product they make – from raw materials to the finished pencil. Above image: Tom Lewington and Adam Gaskell of Derwent In Conversation With Derwent Contents 0:00 Introduction 1:38 Can you tell us about the very beginnings of Derwent? 2:59 What was the first Derwent Product Made, and who was it aimed at? 3:55 Derwent are a world-renowned manufacturer of Artist Pencils. Tell us more about how your brand achieved this. 6:50 Can you tell us about Derwent’s production? Walk us through the steps in producing a pencil. 12:41 How do you colour the outside of a pencil? 14:57 Can you tell us about the wood used for your pencils? 16:15 What is mixed with graphite to make a pencil lead, and …

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Artist Review of Michael Harding Oil Paint in Cobalt Violet Dark

In this article, Depal Patel shares her appreciation for Michael Harding Oil Colours, a range long-admired by painters for their buttery texture, high-quality pigments and vibrant range of colours. Depal focuses on the quiet beauty of Cobalt Violet Dark, a colour she describes as ‘a transparent purple diva’. She explores its subtle tinting strength and transparency, qualities that make it a nuanced and versatile staple on her palette. Artist Review of Michael Harding Oil Paint in Cobalt Violet Dark by Depal Patel Michael Harding Oil Colours are my favourite oil paints. I also believe it’s worth investing in good tools, as they enhance both your experience of the oil paint’s rich, visceral nature and the quality of your final results. I think about oil paints in terms of their qualities when handling and painting, such as the level of chroma or saturation and therefore tinting strength. Are they transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque? Where do they ‘live’ on the colour wheel? I like different types of qualities in painting and will highlight a few things which are special in this review. Cobalt Violet Dark is an expensive pigment compared to other ‘purple peers’, but worth it, as it is …

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Artist Insights: Meg Buick

Meg Buick is a painter and printmaker based in East Lothian, Scotland. Her work, often depicting hazy landscapes and obscured figures, evokes a sense of ancientness and dreamlike solitude. In this article, Meg discusses how she employs a wide range of mediums, including egg tempera, monotype, oils, and pastels, as well as describing her constant reworking of these materials to evoke the ethereal atmospheres found in her work. Drawing inspiration from art history that spans prehistoric cave paintings, the Renaissance, and modern abstraction, Meg presents us with a sense of symbolic memory, where humans and animals merge quietly into her shrouded landscapes. Artist Insights: Meg Buick Contents 0:00 “People often say the work feels ancient” 0:20 “It feels natural to me to keep covering it, and destroying it someway, and bringing it back” 0:51 Introduction 1:06 “I wanted to really learn a practice and learn how to make physical things” 2:00 “I always had drawing on the back burner” 2:47 “A human figure has such a psychological pull for any viewer” 4:04 “It’s more of a landscape than a portrait essentially” 4:20 “I think I’ve always been quite intuitive about materials” 4:38 “Egg Tempera forces you to …

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A Directory of Art Charities

Art has the power to heal, uplift, and transform lives. Across different settings and experiences, organisations are using visual arts to open doors, spark connections, and support wellbeing. From creative workshops for people living with dementia to platforms that celebrate the artistic talents of children in underfunded areas, charities are using art to make a real difference. From initiatives that protect the environment through creativity to those that champion the work of neurodivergent artists, many projects are creating meaningful and lasting impact through the arts In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of charities doing exceptional work through art worldwide and provide references so you can contribute. Each organisation reflects a shared belief: that creativity has the power to include, to elevate, and to inspire. Above image: artist Afonso Rocha at work A Directory of Art Charities Art Charities in the United Kingdom Art For Youth An annual exhibition showcasing emerging artists while raising funds for UK Youth. Over 37 years, it has generated over £2 million to support millions of young people facing disadvantage, with all sales and donations benefiting both artists and vulnerable youth across the UK. Art for Charity Founded in 2012, Art for …

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Introducing Jackson’s Pigment Stories Book

We’re thrilled to announce Pigment Stories, a book containing over sixty richly-illustrated pigment entries that bring the history of artists’ colour to life. A continuation of the social media short film series, these stories trace how pigments have shaped art, science, and culture, from earthy ochres used in prehistoric caves to the cutting-edge chemistry of modern colours. Introducing Jackson’s Pigment Stories Book Pigment Stories: The Story So Far In June 2023, Jackson’s published the first short film in the Pigment Stories series on social media. It began as a simple idea – we wished to share the histories behind the colours on artists’ palettes, past and present. This drew on research we had accumulated over years of speaking to artists about colour, and articles about pigments by Evie Hatch, Studio and Materials specialist at Jackson’s. Evie wrote her first feature on the Blog in 2019 while working in the Customer Services Team, a path that soon led her to writing for the Blog full-time and, later, to study History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art. When we began telling these stories on screen, the aim was to create a series that was both …

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Inside the Sketchbook of Ranny Macdonald

Ranny Macdonald is a London-based artist and musician whose practice is deeply rooted in drawing. In this article, he describes the important role sketching plays for him, and how rapid, intuitive mark making in his sketchbook allows him to capture fleeting moments and elusive ideas. Whether it’s the quickly shifting light and colour of a scene, a moment caught within the briskness of urban life, or creative concepts competing for dominance in his imagination, this spontaneous sketchbook process allows him to record ideas in their rawest form – ultimately shaping the distinct perspective of his work. Inside the Sketchbook of Ranny Macdonald Drawing is at the heart of everything I do (artistically speaking!), and for as long as I can remember, it has been a beloved companion and a space I feel totally safe within. Despite this, and the fact that I try to carry a sketchbook everywhere I can, I’ve never thought of myself as a sketchbook person. You might know the type I mean, the kind of artist who might be in your A-level class or art school, whose shoulder you can gaze over in awe as they flick through endless colourful double spreads. I don’t …

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Artist Review of R&F Pigment Stick in Olive Yellow III

R&F Pigment Sticks are highly pigmented bars of oil colour, handcrafted in small batches with the purest traditional paintmaking ingredients. The stick format allows artists to paint directly onto the canvas without a brush, making them versatile, easy to transport, and perfect for expressive mark-making. In this article, Sheila Dodd shares her excitement about the portability and the vibrancy of colour of the R&F Pigment Stick in Olive Yellow III, and how this format of oil paint gives her the freedom to easily travel with her paints. Artist Review of R&F Pigment Stick in Olive Yellow III by Sheila Dodd As a painter, excited to travel to the foothills of Mont Ventoux with an international group of plein air painters, one of my first thoughts was which oil painting materials would be safe and compact enough to capture the sunlit landscapes and still lifes in the markets of Provence. Just as important was making sure everything could fit safely into my cabin baggage, especially after having expensive pigments confiscated on previous trips through airport security! Jackson’s website stocks the relatively new (to me anyway) R&F Pigment Sticks. Olive Yellow III looked like sunshine in a stick! It has …

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Artist Review of R&F Pigment Stick in Olive Yellow III

The post Artist Review of R&F Pigment Stick in Olive Yellow III appeared first on Jackson’s Art Blog.

Inside the Sketchbook of Noemi Conan

Polish-born, London-based painter Noemi Conan discusses her lifelong impulse to gather inspirational fragments of data, and how she curates these visual mementos within her sketchbook as a way to process her busy mind. Noemi’s sketchbook serves as a creative receptacle for her collection of found materials and snippets of inspiration compiled from films, exhibitions and long journeys. Through this process of visual journaling, Noemi is able to explore the themes of migration, womanhood and identity that are central to her work. Inside the Sketchbook of Noemi Conan I’m Noemi Conan, a Polish painter based in London for the time being. In my work, I explore the ways visual storytelling can aid me in talking about my conflicted experience of migration, self-image, and womanhood. I paint women, cats and conifers, smoking after dark, and extended hangouts at roadsides. I arrived at what I would call a sketchbook by combining my lifelong obsession with collecting visual data – labels, dried plants, napkins, stickers, a particularly tasty typeface or logo, a ridiculous headline in the daily newspaper – with the written scaffolding I was encouraged to build by tutors at art school. My brain is a messy, overstuffed attic …

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Inside the Sketchbook of Yiwei Xu

In Conversation with Derwent

Artist Review of Michael Harding Oil Paint in Cobalt Violet Dark

Artist Insights: Meg Buick

A Directory of Art Charities

Introducing Jackson’s Pigment Stories Book

Inside the Sketchbook of Ranny Macdonald

Artist Review of R&F Pigment Stick in Olive Yellow III

Artist Review of R&F Pigment Stick in Olive Yellow III

Inside the Sketchbook of Noemi Conan

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