When I heard about oil pastels I was really excited. Could I have found the “perfect alternative” to oil paints? The chance to start working in oils, in a cleaner, simpler way?

The computer can be an incredibly useful tool in the life of an artist, from streamlining the workflow, to making decisions about colour, tonal values and composition, enhancing the ability to see detail in images and storing and organizing photos. It can become the hub of keeping track of upcoming competitions and art shows, cataloguing paintings, printing images to use as a photo references or to use in collages. Without the computer it would be impossible to colour-correct photos of paintings, create web sites or blogs—and on and on.

Varnishing is the final step in the painting process. You don’t have to varnish your acrylic painting but it provides an extra layer of protection and, best of all, brings back the intensity to your work. It unifies your work and help establish an “overall” look to your paintings.

Travelling and painting are the joy of my life. For me, there is no greater adventure than setting off to paint in a new country that I have never been to before. I love the challenge of capturing the sights, colours, sounds and smells on paper or canvas. But travelling and painting has it’s own set of challenges. Here I share a little of what I have learned over the years of travelling as an artist.