Errr - well, ME! We have this session close to where I work - and I can't get there every week - but it's great when I can. I did this at the first session of 2016. half an hour. Watercolour, and a bit of pencil.

Surely not! That really is a lot of 'must do stuff' completed in one short month of 2016....

Yep - after a lot of procrastination, I've jumped right in and purchased a light, with a daylight bulb and everything. It's one which is sold to go on an easel - but I've had it anywhere but so far as it's too bright to sit in front of the picture I've been working on.

It's a bit cold too. The bulb which comes as standard is very blue. Its daylight is a 6000 rating - I think I need something a little warmer. BUT - I've got it - I've used it and now there's no excuse for not painting.

The portrait that's currently underway (well almost finished perhaps?) needs to be submitted for a competition at The Mall Galleries in London by the end of January. I'll pop a picture on here once I'm happy that we ARE finished!

This is just a quick recommendation really....

About a year ago, we were in Skipton (Yorkshire, UK) and as I made a mad dash around a really nice art shop there, one of the things that got crammed into my basket was a 30 cm square 'natural linen' canvas board - made my the company Pebeo.

Well - a year on, and it's made it up on to the easel and a portrait is coming together rather nicely on it!

As far as I can see, they only come in a square format (but please do let me know if that's NOT the case) - and the surface is lovely. Transparent gesso, I think. It really takes the paint well.

....just saying!