by Cowling & Wilcox | June 8, 2022 | Featured Products
Tofayel Ahmed on Unsplash Staedtler has a history dating back to 1662 but was officially founded in Germany in 1835 – making it one of the oldest manufacturers in the country. Originally creating pencils, the company diversified throughout the years and now...
by Cowling & Wilcox | June 8, 2022 | Featured Products
Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash Markers are becoming a more and more popular artist medium. With all the benefits of acrylic or oil-based paint without the associated preparation or mess, paint markers are a great way to get into painting if you’re an avid drawer or...
by Cowling & Wilcox | May 12, 2022 | Featured Products, Ideas & Inspiration, Tips & Techniques
Canvas is a popular choice of substrate for many artists with all levels of experience as it is lightweight and the textures feel great to paint on. There are a wide variety of art canvas types available, from stretched linen and canvas boards to cotton or linen...
by Cowling & Wilcox | April 11, 2022 | Ideas & Inspiration
Photo by Zalfa Imani on Unsplash In all areas of our lives, trends come and go. What is fashionable one year might not be popular the next. When it comes to art trends, this endless series of waves is even faster than one might expect. These change depending on what...
by Cowling & Wilcox | April 8, 2022 | Featured Products
Photo by Tanya Pro on Unsplash A new year brings a new calendar of exciting art exhibitions for artists to enjoy. Museums and galleries across the globe have been frantically working to bring us safe experiences to showcase brilliant pieces of artwork, with...
by Cowling & Wilcox | April 7, 2022 | Art Tutorials, Ideas & Inspiration, Painting Inspiration, Tips & Techniques
Photo by Andres Perez on Unsplash Colour mixing takes just as much skill as applying paint to canvas. For artists, it can be incredibly frustrating to struggle to find the exact right shade of paint. When you have visualised the colour you need, nothing should stand...
by Cowling & Wilcox | April 7, 2022 | Art Tutorials, Ideas & Inspiration, Tips & Techniques, Tutorials
Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash Maintaining the quality of your artist’s equipment should be a priority for artists of all levels. Quality brushes that you enjoy using can often be an investment, and not just in terms of money. You will get used to your artist...
by Cowling & Wilcox | April 6, 2022 | Art Tutorials, Painting Inspiration, Tips & Techniques, Tutorials
Leather is a popular substrate for many artists looking to create something a little different. From shoes or belts to jackets, the projects are extensive. When thinking about how to customise your design, you may ask the question “can I use acrylic paint on leather?”...
by Cowling & Wilcox | April 4, 2022 | Featured Artists, Interviews
We’re excited for you to meet our latest featured artist; Paulina Estrada!At only 23yrs old, they’re already making some intricate, amazing & unique pieces. We got to ask them some questions regarding their creative process, along with inspirations...
by Cowling & Wilcox | March 25, 2022 | Featured Artists, Interviews
Our latest Featured Artist is Debra Stapley, a wonderful UK based artist creating beautiful pet portraiture using pastels & pencils! Read on to find out what inspires her, along with some hints from the artist themselves… How long would you say you’ve...
by Cowling & Wilcox | March 3, 2022 | Featured Products
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash Acrylic paint offers a range that not many other paints can provide you, whether that be in terms of texture, feel, consistency, or overall style and finish. With acrylics, you have so much possibility, especially when you introduce...
by Cowling & Wilcox | March 2, 2022 | Featured Products
Photo by Raychan on Unsplash The right artist easel can make a world of difference to your artwork. While they aren’t a necessity, it’s a great idea to try painting, sketching, or illustrating using an easel, just to test out the option. If you’re just starting in the...
by Cowling & Wilcox | March 2, 2022 | Amazing Art Products, Tips & Techniques
Photo by Peter F on Unsplash If you’re looking to easily blend colours and create rich, vibrant portraits with a range of textures, then look no further than pastels. Available in several styles; hard, soft or oil. Although this medium can be an unknown...
by Cowling & Wilcox | March 2, 2022 | Featured Artists, Ideas & Inspiration, Painting Inspiration
Photo by Kelli Tungay on Unsplash As we head into a new year we have put together a selection of some of the best artists you should be aware of. Engaging with new artists can be an excellent source of inspiration for our own artwork. Alternatively, art can simply be...
by Cowling & Wilcox | January 27, 2022 | Featured Products
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash Many illustrators have made a career from having a unique and distinguishable style, often associating themselves with one brand or author. However, it doesn’t hurt to familiarise yourself with different illustration and drawing...
by Cowling & Wilcox | January 26, 2022 | Amazing Art Products, Illustrating
Drawing is an art form that is accessible to everyone. Bold shades and depth of colour is not limited to wet mediums. Sketching is an effective and affordable way to create gorgeous landscapes, stunning portraits, and meticulous still lifes. While anyone can pick up a...
by Cowling & Wilcox | January 25, 2022 | Featured Products
Photo by Dave Phillips on Unsplash It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to searching for the best acrylic painting brushes. There are many different ranges from numerous manufacturers on the market, which means there is a wide variety of choice....
by Cowling & Wilcox | January 6, 2022 | Art Tutorials, Ideas & Inspiration, Tips & Techniques
Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash Painting landscapes is often left until Summer, for sun-kissed scenes, or Autumn, for a gorgeous plentiful colour palette. Standing in freezing forests or surrounded by snow is hardly an appealing place to spend your time painting a...
by Cowling & Wilcox | January 4, 2022 | Art Tutorials, Tips & Techniques, Tutorials
Photo by Halima Bouchouicha on Unsplash We all know that the art world has a unique way of seeming both super simplistic & curiously complicated. However, if you’re anything like us & enjoy sketching, perhaps it’s time to consider trying something new and...
by Cowling & Wilcox | December 15, 2021 | Ideas & Inspiration
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels At Christmas time, we all want to get the perfect gift for someone. That becomes a more difficult task when you are trying to buy for an art lover. Lovers of fine things tend to have very particular taste when it comes to art and...
