What’s the point of joining an art club? I know everything there is to know about art. We all need to test our beliefs and skills. After all Snobbery is the mistake of confusing familiarity with creativity and progress.

Originally part of the Art-Club web site and following feedback from our members we realised there was too much content so we've gone back to basics and made Art Critique Club more simple. It's now a free virtual art community of like minded people and creators.

The art world is shifting rapidly. Online art galleries have grown in popularity, offering collectors new ways to discover and purchase art. More and more high street galleries are closing, driven by a 12% drop in sales and high operational costs. The major change however has been the shift in digital purchasing forcing the closure of many smaller spaces.

This blog explores the process and techniques I used and shows below my own rendition of Dr Edward Wilson’s watercolour of McMurdo Sound

Learn how to recreate Jack Vettriano’s iconic The Singing Butler as Beach Dancing in acrylics. Explore transformative twists, sky techniques

I paint for fun, the challenge and the enjoyment and I improve my technique from Masters like Monet. Whilst I sell some of my finished paintings, I don't lose any sleep if they don't sell. For me this art tutorial “Fun in the Poppy Field” is more about constant improvement. We can all learn from the masters and Monet is one of the best. If what I produce expands my knowledge and others can learn from it then that gives me the confidence to keep going. We all learn by example

Let me start by saying up front, everyone can draw and everyone can paint. The problem is how much time you are gong to put into practicing and honing your newly found skills. You will read about cool and warm colours, perspective, composition all of which will put you off right from the start. Well don't be, it happens to all of us. I retired some 3 years ago, I hadn't painted since junior school and that was with my fingers and hand , according to my 89 year old mother.