Are you a brave and bold person, always looking for a challenge?    Or are you a somewhat retiring personality, with nevertheless, the feeling that deep inside you, is another person looking to emerge?    Well, art, by which I mean, drawing and painting, is one excellent way in which to achieve both types of needs.

Most people will begin their artistic endeavours by tentative doodlings…little scribbled shapes in the margins of scraps of paper.   In time, though, these  sketches will develop – depending on you, the artist, into illustrations of merit.    The beauty of this area of the arts is that you can take your time, doing as little or as much each day, as you wish.   Artists rarely rush their work – it shows too much: instead, their artwork is usually built up over a period of days, weeks or even months, in order to achieve the desired effect.

Because art is so flexible (its’ beauty does indeed lie in the eye of the beholder) you can afford to be adventurous in this field.    But the one thing I always advise, is to learn how to work expansively – that is to say, use large illustrations on large surfaces rather than tiny drawings on tiny pieces of paper.    Very small work tends to be tight and limited whereas large works give scope for easy viewing and a broad expanse of artwork!

Remember too, to take on subjects that you may not have considered before.    Everything that surrounds you can be illustrated.    From the wash hand basin with its accrued towels, facecloths, soaps, toothbrushes, etc., to the new jar of coffee sitting beside a coffee cup and saucer, spoon and biscuit,   and from a plate of fish and chips on a gingham table cloth to the broken down chair and old metal watering can in the garden.

Artists, the world around you provides all you will ever need as subjects – so go ahead, take on the challenge and produce your wonderful artworks for all to admire and enjoy.