Blog

Oil paint for beginners

What is oil paint? Oil painting is a process of painting with pigments and using a medium of drying oil as a binder. Drying oils include linseed...

After Lockdown at Gadsby’s

Gadsby's re-opening changes We do not expect many customers for the first two or three weeks following re-opening but we have put the following...

Lockdown Art

Jane has painted a series of pictures using acrylics during the Covid-19 lockdown.Lockdown affects artists too... While I’ve been in lockdown I...

Perspective

Perspective is the art of representing three dimensional objects on a two dimensional surface.

This gives the height, width, depth and position in relation to each other.

Perspective has a Latin root meaning “look through “ or “perceive”…

Handmade Greeting Card

How to make this card…

This card is for advanced level. It features a hexagon with iris folded rainbow coloured strips of paper.

Life drawing

Life drawing is a great way to draw the human body in any of its various shapes and positions using any media. There are different degrees of...

Calligraphy and illuminated calligraphy

What is Calligraphy?

Calligraphy is a visual art related to writing. It is a way of designing lettering with a selection of broad to fine tipped nibs and a min holder or brush and a bottle of ink.

VE Day Bunting

Making your own bunting adds to the fun of any celebration.

Jane shows how she made her bunting for the upcoming VE Day celebrations.

Stay Safe!

Mixed Media Art Work

Creating a piece of art can involve the application of just one skill in one medium.

Or, as Jane shows here, it can be a mix of skills and media. Neither approach is better or worse than the other – just different and fun because it is so different…

Using Gouache

Jane recommends trying Gouache – saying “Gouache is a great medium not to be overlooked or passed by. Have a go and see what it’s like for yourself.“

…Gouache is an opaque version of watercolour and can be used like watercolour by diluting with water to use as washes to give a softer more translucent colour.

Painting with Acrylics

…sometimes when I want to loosen up I turn to acrylic paint.

Acrylic paint is water soluble and once it has dried it is then permanent. Remember to clean your brushes in warm soapy water after use.

I also like acrylics because if I make a mistake I can just paint over it and start again.

Watercolours

Why is watercolour such a difficult medium to master?

Paint removal… watercolour will stain the surface of the paper.

Style of painting… Another challenge with watercolours is the style of your work

Caran D’ache Pencils

Caran D’ache provides a great range of materials for drawing and painting. This brief summary is a simple guide to the ‘Pencil’ ranges available.

To distinguish the quality of the products – items are classified as Student or Artist quality. While both are very high quality the ‘Artists’ products are made from more expensive / better materials…

Using Caran D’ache pencils – permanent and water soluble

Jane explores the differences between some of the superb Caran D'ache ranges of pencils. Here she provides a short guide for someone who hasn't used...

Posca Pens on Ceramic Mug

I loved it, the kids would love it too! Keeping the kids occupied can be tough. Arts and crafts offer not only short term activities for them to...

Posca Pens

Water based paint for almost any surface One of the most popular products which we sell for art and craft use are Posca pens. They contain a water...

Pebeo painting on glass

Traditional stained glass pieces Jane, a member of the Gadsby's team, has been making traditional stained glass pieces for a few years. The finished...

Refurbished / Up-Cycled Stool

The team at Gadsbys are multi-talented. Jackie has recently completed the refurbishment / up-cycle of an old, worn-out rattan stool. Using 100%...

Picture Restoration Service

If you look at our website you will see many examples of paintings which we have repaired and restored to their former glory. This is a process...

Questions for Picture Framers

40 years of picture framing experience Gadsby’s have been framing and restoring pictures since 1898, and I have been working there for forty years...

Gadsbys is closed!

Gadsby's Covid-19 Closure 17/04/2020 Following the official notification this week that the UK will remain in lockdown for another 3 weeks, at...

Repairing a damaged painting

Sometimes when clients bring in damaged paintings we learn how the damage occurred, other times we are left to guess. This one left us guessing....

Lions Ears Repair!

Two clients brought in lion ornaments (one lion, one lioness) for repair. Each ornament had one broken ear which was successfully repaired as shown...

Oil paintings cleaned

The images above show the before and after of an oil painting recently cleaned at Gadsbys. The patches on the side of the first image show just a...