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Finalist x Petite Pieces: Top 100, 2026

This little 30x30cm painting has been selected as a finalist in Aspire Gallery's Petite Pieces: Top 100 show in Paddington, Brisbane! Inspired by a visit to Brisbane's Botanical Gardens, in retrospect it might have been more appropriate to put a bin chicken (ibis) on the roof of this building rather than a blackbird! What I liked about this image was the three rooftop whirly birds that are already on the roof, and then a real bird has come along to join the party, making it f

Jules

22 hours ago1 min read

Beware Strathmore heavyweight paper now has a new texture

As a half-French person, it pains me to say this, but if you're buying Strathmore watercolour paper, you're best off getting the ones that are made completely in the USA and not in France. I know, I know, it's very unpatriotic of me, especially these days when we need to be careful about what we buy from the USA, but hear me out. On the front of the watercolour sketchbook, the belly band says it is: "Made in the USA with materials from France". You'd think this wouldn't make

Jules

22 hours ago2 min read

White Queenslander house surrounded by lush tropical foliage

From little beginnings

Before working on a really large painting, I usually like to create a mini study to get an idea if the composition and colours will work together. It also gives me something to reference (and reassure myself that things will pan out ok in the end!) if I have a smaller version on hand. The following are examples of what the mini study (painted with acrylics on paper) looked like first, before painting on polycotton canvas. The same brand and colour paints are used, so that I c

Jules

Nov 26, 20252 min read