The Blog

Painting en plein air with water mixable oils is easier than you might think! You don’t need much equipment or many materials and with...

I have to admit that I never used a sketchbook when I was first learning to paint. I would find a photo of something I wanted to paint,...

For a couple of years I abandoned watercolour painting entirely as I was concentrating on my oils, but then I rediscovered the thrill of...

My six most hard-working colours, and why I chose them! I have used the Portable Painter 12 pan watercolour palette for quite a while now...

I was asked a few days ago by a reader of this blog if I could share the colours I use on my palette and how I make some of the colour...

Here are three really interesting ways to find new subjects in the landscape. Have you ever wandered around looking for something to...

Come along with me as we take a walk with the dogs into the olive groves and paint in a semi-abstract way. September 2022. A hot day in...

Here’s one simple idea for an ultra-lightweight plein air sketching kit. I recently took just these few items with me as I travelled...

How to finish a plein air painting when you’ve run out of time and have to head home. Here’s a short video that may just help you to...

Painting outdoors en plein air can be complicated, frustrating and difficult, as well as fun and exhilarating. One of the things I have...

I love getting outdoors and painting the landscape from life. There’s really nothing quite like it for seeing colours as they truly are –...