Recent ARTdiscount Blog Articles
Explore a range of interesting art-related features written by our in-house artists, including inspiration how-to guides, fascinating interviews, exciting introductions to new product ranges, and much more.
How can I use Gallery Frames?
Framing your artwork is a huge consideration and can dramatically change the aesthetic of a painting, print or photograph. Some paintings don’t need a frame, and some will benefit from having one. The beauty of our gallery frames are that they will accommodate a standard canvas, canvas board or wooden panel up to depth of 20mm.
Popular culture influence on the art world
We take a dive into the increase of interest in pop culture and more importantly the effect that is having on the art world. Is Art now more or less accessible than ever?
Artist Interview: Jenny Steele
Jenny Steele is a Scottish artist currently based in Manchester, UK whose practice is motivated by 20th century architecture and design producing site-specific artwork, textiles, sculpture, printmaking and events. Jenny explores the cross-over between crafts, architecture, design and fine art wonderfully, producing striking pieces that define spaces.
Understanding Pigments: The Nitty-Gritty on Colour
Pigment, not what you would get if you made a pig out of cement, but it is instead the light reflecting particles used as the colourant in paints. As long as the human race has existed we have in some form or another been using pigments for decorative purposes. The ways we obtain these colours are as numerous as they are ingenious.
What Do You Ink? A Guide to Artist Inks
Ink is a solution an incredible medium which encompasses the practices of calligraphy, printing and illustration. In this article we will explain the brands of inks we have available and the particular qualities that differentiate them from each other, so you may find the one most suited to your project.
An Introduction to Paint Pens
The humble paint pen has been with us for years and their popularity and reach amongst artists continues to grow. From street artists to fine artists, paint pens are a powerful creative tool that delivers paint immediately when needed, without mess or hassle.
A Brief Guide to Acrylic Mediums & Additives
Discover a new way to think about using acrylic paints while you learn about the various mediums and additives that you can use with acrylic paint to expand your creative potential.
Artist Interview: Liz West
February is a short month, bringing awareness that Spring is just around the corner, leaving grey freezing temperatures behind, welcoming colour into our surroundings. We are bringing colour onto our blog with this months Artist Interview with British artist, Liz West who is working in site-specific installation, light & sculpture.
An Artists' Guide to Charcoal?
Charcoal has been and is still used by many fine artists, illustrators, and performing kinetic artists. There are many types of charcoal on the market today that can be used to create illustrations, sketches, finished drawings, used to lay out a painting on canvas, or work on large scale pieces and during performance art.
Artist Interview: Tim Muddiman
Tim Muddiman is an English artist, musician and creative. In his own words, Tim's work is "an exploration of the human condition through contrasts: strength and fragility, depth and height, colour and monochrome". Tim takes us through his journey from successful musician to professional Artist.
Your guide to drawing accessories
After finding that all important pencil set that suits all your needs, the next step is to make sure you have all those little extras to complete your tool kit! Erasers are one of the most important tools you need along with the pencil and it is best to have several types in your drawing box for all those different drawing functions.
Understanding Sketching Pencils and Graphite
The pencil that you hold in your hand does not contain lead! This is a misconception, it is actually graphite, also known as plumbago or black lead.
Artist Interview: Jamie Holman
Jamie Holman is an Artist, writer and lecturer based in his home town of Blackburn. Works from this collection have been exhibited at The Royal College of Art, The Saatchi Gallery Magazine and more recently British Textile Biennial. We are thrilled that Jamie could talk to us and give our readers an insight into his practice.
Lapis Lazuli or Lapis
Lapis Lazuli is thought of as a semi precious stone, it is in fact a rich deep-blue metamorphic rock (metaphoric means it has undergone transformation by heat, pressure, or other natural occurrences).
Choosing the Correct Watercolour Paper for Your Style of Painting
Perhaps the most important factor when it comes to picking a watercolour paper is deciding on which surface you want or need to use, as each will give your work a different look and finish.
CREATE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS CARDS
Using watercolour glazing techniques from episode 5 of Watercolour Wednesday, Ellie guides you through some festive creating to make your own Christmas cards using techniques shown in our previous episode.
