BEHIND THE SKETCHBOOK
INSPIRING STORIES FROM OUR MEMBERS ALL AROUND THE WORLD
latest stories
Brigitte Northover
I like making art that helps the human soul to be totally immersed in beauty. I have always been an artist. I drew a lot as a child and grew up in home where art was part of our upbringing. My father used to do sculptures so becoming a painter was a natural step – I chose a medium that helped me to express emotions and feelings.
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Jane Powell
Growing up in rural Worcestershire, UK, Jane has always found joy in big landscapes. As a child, she had a special place at the top of their lane where she would sit and could see for miles. But being in the landlocked Midlands gave Jane a hankering after the coast which is where she feels truly alive.
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Heidi Schaffner
Heidi makes art that expresses the joy and colour she see’s in animals and nature. She paints animals because of their unique look or that cheeky expression that conveys something to the viewer. Her passion is oil on canvas and the palette knife. See how the Hub has helps Heidi grow as an artist by reading more.
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Evelyn Day
Evelyn is our resident chocolate artist. Pushing the boundaries with this incredible medium, she creates mind-blowing chocolate sculptures that truly look too good to eat. In this interview Evelyn shares advice and insight into her own journey, as well as her process of making art from chocolate. Warning, this interview might make you hungry!
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Simone Patterson
Simone was working in a highly stressful academic position, and although she was well paid, she was also unwell and burned out. Then one day she decided enough was enough and she made the brave decision to leave. Now she is a full time artists who spends nearly every day in the studio. We interviewed Simone, you can read about her journey here….
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Lotti Rawle
Lotti was painting traditional style realism portraits, usually in black and white, full time. She was selling but it had become a factory process. She was trying to be “saleable”, “marketable”, “mainstream”.
She took a very bold move and changed the direction of her art completely. She was filled with fear and was concerned about whether her new art would be liked and if it would sell.
But, she is more successful than ever before and is painting from my heart, and with over 60 commissions, she is loving life as an artist and in this interview shares her tips and lessons along the way….
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Kirstie Page
When Kirstie Page joined us she was afraid to call herself an artist and felt like an imposter, she wasn’t sure what direction her art was going in. Despite this, she worked on herself and her art and has since gone on to sell her artwork on cards and has sold over 100 boxes, received commissions and grown her following to over 1300 followers. The road has been a bumpy one and we thank Kirstie for being so honest in her interview with us….
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Julie Cunningham
Julie Cunningham is an artist from the UK who has challenged the whole concept of a canvas. Julie produces all of her works on feathers and encases them in beautiful displays, using slate, glass and wood. In this frank and honest interview, Julie shares how it was only last year that she returned to art and how she nearly gave up as the struggle to sell was just too much, read on to find out what changed…
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Hannah Webber
Hannah is a British portrait artist based in Leicestershire, whose work explores the psychological experiences of being human, describing unspoken thoughts and emotions. She works in acrylic…She works in acrylic and mixed media on linen.