Woman in a tub pastel Degas
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Drawn in colour Degas from the Burrell Collection at the National Gallery, London

Degas and his use of pastels  National Gallery London This was a fascinating exhibition of Degas drawings, which showed  how working methods change with fashion and with available materials. During the second half of the 19th century,…
Knabstrup charcoal drawing Diana Hand
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How to work with an exhibition brief

 There is nothing like an exhibition brief for developing ideas.  It is the fulcrum for focussing on what one's real energy and interests currently are.  For this exhibition "Wild Spaces" at the Whitehouse Gallery, Kircudbright,…
Findhorn Horse sense and soul

“Horse, Sense and Soul” at Findhorn Foundation July 2017

"Horse, Sense and Soul" at Findhorn Foundation      In July 2017 I visited northern Scotland for  a course entitled Horse, Sense and Soul at Findhorn Foundation led by Pam Billinge…
Ali smith Autumn

Working from the heart

Working from the heart can be a difficult leap of faith when one is on a learning curve.  At the end of 2017, after a year of studying, including  social media marketing and goal setting, I began to feel like an automaton, or, more topically,…
Oil painting of nude model

My life as an artist

My life as an artist During my life as an artist, a passion for the act of drawing and painting has led me through a long winding road of psychological twists and turns, emotional bumps in the road, some unexpected diversions and very many…
Venice Biennale 2017 near the Giardini

Venice Biennale 2017

Venice Biennale 2017A great trip to Venice in October to catch the 2017 Venice Biennale in the Giardini and the Arsenale.  The Giardini is a long established exhibition site and many countries have a permanent pavilion here.  There is…
Assembly Rooms Christmas craft fair, Edinburgh Diana Hand stand

Assembly Rooms Christmas Craft Fair, Edinburgh – what a pleasure!

Assembly Rooms Christmas Craft Fair, Edinburgh  - a resume This weekend I have been at the Assembly Rooms Christmas Craft Fair, Edinburgh with 120 other artists, makers and designers for a great creative gathering.  There is nothing like…

Alan McGowan class

This week I shall be working on the portrait with Alan McGowan, the Edinburgh-based figurative artist.  Alan works works in a free and expressive style.  This apparently improvisatory style is actually based on a rigorous knowledge of anatomy. …
Martin Campos demo

Painting with Martin Campos

In July I went to Cork in Ireland to study with Martin Campos, teacher at Philadelphia College of Art.  Martin is a figurative painter, who specialises in the human figure, and he is a wonderful draughtsman and painter.  But I like the way…
WP HORSE'S NOSE

Painting horses

I am exploring the use of colour in my equestrian art.  The coat texture and the colours so rich and different from our human skin. SaveSave