Gabrialla Sanders asked me if it is normal to feel scared and intimidated by a blank canvas.

The answer is YES. For some reason I was unable to answer here comment so I ‘m making a video for her.

A Canvas is expensive and easy to ruin. It’s also a statement. It says, I’m painting something special that deserves a frame around it so it can hang on a wall for ever.

If you are confident that you are ready to make that statement, you will not feel intimidated but enthused and ready to get painting.

Build your ideas in sketchbooks, learn your craft. learn how paint works on canvas, experiment and be prepared to make a lot of mistakes along the way. many of those mistakes will become the foundation of your own unique style as you learn from them and begin to become an original.

But don’t expect to stand in front of a blank canvas and have inspiration descend upon you from on high, it doesn’t work like that. You have to build your ideas and techniques until you are ready to make that big statement.

Good luck 🙂

Everyone asks about the tools I use when I’m out using my sketchbook.

The Pentel Aquash Brush is here in the Uk 
and here in the US 

Rotring Tikky Graphic in the UK here 
in the USA 

The Cotman sketching watercolour set is here in the UK http://amzn.to/1gNpZ8s
and in the US here: http://amzn.to/1gaG6qA

The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal is here in the Uk and here in the USA