My subject has pretty much stayed consistent throughout; I love painting and drawing the human figure. I do stray occasionally in to still life, finding there’s always a subject readily available and enjoy the practice it gives me with techniques, form, tone and colour etc.

I’m happy when I’m painting and have sold a number of paintings via my website, in galleries and exhibitions as well as producing a number of works to commission. I give demonstrations and take workshops at art groups and run blocks of my own adult art classes as well as teaching on a 1-2-1 basis.

But I want more. I want to feel I am truly a member of the art community, making a success at the thing I love and one of the few things I feel good at. This is easier said than done. The art world seems to operate differently to business elsewhere and seems to require qualities that are way out of my comfort zone. Or maybe it’s just that, as an independent artist, I’m having to be good at every aspect of the business. Rather than being told what to paint, painting it and giving it to someone to sell, as well as creating I’m having to market, sell, promote, handle IT and accounts -something I could not afford or justify paying someone else to do.

At the time of writing I am about to start the last year of a Fine Art degree at DeMontfort University, Leicester. The main thing this has taught me is that it’s not enough just to paint pretty pictures. The art world can be a confusing place to navigate and I need to explore where I fit in to it all.

So I’ve decided to document my journey.

This will hopefully have a number of benefits. Documenting will be a way of organising the many ideas in my head, helping me to, hopefully, think a little more clearly about what I’m doing. It will help me to keep track of what works for me and what doesn’t. And, who knows, other people may find it useful.

So please join me along this colourful Artist’ Path and feel free to message me with any comments, suggestions or thoughts.

Jackie x