Arty Bloggy
If you’ve read my website you’ll have discovered I’m dyslexic so I expect you can appreciate that blogging is not my favourite way to pass the day. BUT here it is worts and all. May you forgive my enimitable grammer and typos!
I Lost My Art Mojo
Over the years I have not drawn for months at a time or years even!! I used to idly think it was some magic power that I had temporarily and then it would vanish as quickly as it had arrived. That sounds a bit (a lot!) crazy but that is honestly how I felt. Someone...
Wash Underpainting with Soft Pastels
This week in the Improvers art class (based in Southampton) we went in a completely different direction to realism and it was a bit scary - for me as well as the class!! In fact if someone had asked me to do this at the beginning of my art journey I would have been...
Intro To Pastel Workshop
I can remember well what it was like to be a beginner to soft pastel and how confused I was by all the different materials on the market, which paper to use, which pastels and why I should use them and how to protect my work once complete.That is why I decided to...
First Soft Pastel Class 2018
What an exciting day! My new Pastel And Drawing Skills weekly class in Marchwood started.  I love teaching, I used to be a teacher in a special needs school and a private tutor. For me, there is little that is more satisfying than helping people learn a new skill.I...
Bokeh Backgounds in Soft Pastel
This weeks class was all about making our paintings stronger by having a centre of focus and blurring the background. This is known in the photography world as a Bokeh effect. For the pronunciation think Hyacinth "Bucket" from Keeping Up Appearance's but if you're too...
Which Pastel Pencils Work Best On Which Paper?
There's no prize for guessing which pastel pencils and pastel sticks are my favourite - just looking at that delicious photo!! But, the point of this blog is not what is my favourite but which pastel pencils work best on which paper. Between myself and the lovely...
Hampshire Open Studios 2018
Hampshire Open Studios 2018 is nearly upon us and I'm not ready! But I have a plan so all is good! This year I will be joined by two other artists Donna Mcghie and Jasmin Crockett. So the line up is: Susan Kerrigan-Harris (me) with portraits in soft pastel. ...
Chihuahua in Soft Pastel
I was asked to paint a beautiful white chihuahua by the daughter of a friend for her boyfriends Christmas present. Little Hugo was such a delight and I got to meet him in person which is quite rare as usually people send me photos to paint. But his owner didn't have...