by Fiona Valentine

Most of us have heard of The 80 20 Rule or The Pareto Principle.  It's the idea that 20% of activity is responsible for 80% of results.  You might have heard it said that 20% of the people do 80% of the work.  In business, it's often 20% of customers who generate 80% of sales.

So, let's apply this rule to our art making.  I think it's a game changer and here's why.

by Fiona Valentine

​As you are learning how to paint, time management & habits  are probably not the first things that jump to mind, right?  Building these 10 creative habits will actually make your learning to paint journey much more successful!

Here's to your art success, friend.  Let's get into the How To of 10 habits of a successful artist.

by Fiona Valentine

If you have trouble mixing greens, you are not alone. Green seems to be a colour mixing dilemma for many of us. If you want to learn how to paint, conquering green will be very helpful.

​So here are five simple ways to mix beautiful greens to get you started. ​

by Fiona Valentine

Art organization is a brilliant idea.  Artists have a reputation for being messy and it’s true, creativity can involve mess but that doesn't mean organization isn't an important aspect of a successful artist's studio.

In this post, I'll share how organizing my art studio and art supplies saved me time, money and frustration.

It has definitely made my studio a happier place.  I have a simple 5 step plan that helped me through the process to a great result.  

by Fiona Valentine

​If you’ve been wondering how to use graphite transfer paper – this blog post is for you.  If you are thinking “Transfer paper?  What’s that?”  it’s paper that has a layer of graphite on one side.  It works like carbon paper to make a copy.  If “why should I care?” is your next question – here are four great reasons you are going to love transfer paper. 

by Fiona Valentine

​​Has learning how to paint in oil ever seemed too complicated?  Intimidating, maybe?  Me, too.  I had oil painting in my “too hard” basket for years.  Once I tried it, though,  I LOVED IT! Now, I suggest my students START with oil because it is so forgiving and they can get amazing results quickly.

by Fiona Valentine

​Interested in learning how to watercolour?  Have you wondered if it’s the right medium for you?  Maybe you just want some simple watercolour how to tips?   This blog post has my top tips on some super easy basics to keep it simple.

by Fiona Valentine

This blog post is a painting how to with a difference. Before I dive in to why I think choosing one medium is the secret to painting success, let me say that I love that there are SO many options for painting.  Each medium offers a unique set of skills to learn, characteristics to explore and story telling possibilities.  Painting just never gets old!  The more how to paint techniques we learn, the more we realize we need to learn, keeping us challenged and interested.

There is always a new artist to discover and get to know who opens our eyes to the possibilities of painting in a fresh and exciting way. And don’t get me started on the excitement of buying new brushes and paint!

by Fiona Valentine

Want to know the best way to find your unique artistic style as an artist?  Be yourself.  I know. Rocket science, right? Sometimes, we forget to pay attention to the obvious.  In this blog post I’ll show you how to look for simple clues on YOUR unique style.

Getting to really know ourselves is a life long journey.  It can be really meaningful  to take some time out and take a good look at where you’ve been, who you are and how that contributes to the art you want to make.  So, let’s have some fun with this!

You might need a cup of tea and a notebook.   This article isn't that long, but be warned, you may find yourself staring out the window lost in thought.  Are you ready?