Blog Posts

By Buddy Penfold, Associate Professor, School of Design Innovation, De Montfort University  In a world increasingly driven by innovation, self-expression, and sustainability, careers in fashion, textiles, and creative subjects are more relevant than ever. These industries blend making skills with technology, tradition with modernity, and ...

  Canvas is more than just a surface for paint, it’s the foundation for creativity, expression and artistic exploration. From early wooden panels to modern cotton duck canvases, the story of canvas reflects centuries of innovation, craftsmanship and experimentation that continues to inspire artists today.    From History to ...

By Charlie Burley, The Teachers Health CoachI STOOD THERE, IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CLASSROOM, COMPLETELY FROZEN IN FEAR…  It’s almost six years to the day since a panic attack in front of my class that would completely change my life; and lead me to help thousands of teachers and school staff to do the same.It was in early May 2019 ...

Recently, we hosted a mixed media concertina sketchbook workshop with artist and former art teacher Karen Stamper at the inspiring Kettle's Yard in Cambridge, bringing together art teachers for a day of experimentation, creativity and practical classroom inspiration. The workshop focused on building expressive sketchbook pages using layers, ...

  Bold, radiant and full of contradictions, yellow has always been more than just a bright colour. It’s the hue of sunlight and warning signs, joy and jealousy, faith and betrayal. Few colours have carried so many meanings across cultures and centuries.  The Many Faces of Yellow   Origins of LightOver 30,000 years ago, ...

  For centuries, every art student has learned the same rule:Oil and water do not mix.Yet today you can buy oil paints that thin with water, clean up with water and often don't require solvents at all.So what changed?Have chemists somehow broken the rules of painting?Not quite.Water-mixable oils are one of the most significant developments in ...

By Jayne StillmanCounty Inspector/Adviser for Art, Hampshire Improvement and Advisory Service (HIAS)  Introduction:  Art has always been a powerful way to tell stories, spark conversation and inspire change. In Hampshire, we’ve taken that belief and turned it into a county-wide movement, one that gives young people the tools, ...

POSCA paint markers have earned cult status with students, artists, crafters and anyone who loves bold colour that behaves beautifully. They glide, they pop, they’ll happily draw on everything from paper and wood to fabric, metal and found objects in the art room. But even the best-loved tools can have the odd wobble.   The good news? ...

  There is a moment most art teachers experience when introducing clay for the first time.The lesson has barely started and a student is already holding a sculpture with walls two inches thick saying: “Can this go in the kiln today?”Meanwhile another student has added water to their clay until it resembles soup, somebody else has ...

  Silver has long captivated artists for its cool glow and reflective beauty. From medieval manuscripts to Renaissance miniatures, this metallic hue added light, luxury and illusion to sacred scenes and fine details. Yet behind its brilliance lay a flaw silver’s tendency to darken and corrode. Despite its challenges, silver continues ...