Watercolour florals from the art challenge Participating in a 12 day art challenge with the Bloom Watercolour Club has taught me so much that I just couldn’t wait to share it with you today. Starting from December 1st we were tasked with drawing or painting a different named flower each day until December 12th. The challenge had some familiar favourites, such as the Camellia and Calla Lily, but there were also a few flowers that were completely new to me, such as a bachelor’s button and Bells of Ireland. I had so much fun looking up each flower, finding a good reference photo and then playing around with compositions every day. I loved having a little routine and knowing what each day was going to bring. Sadly I didn’t have time to paint every single flower, some were sketches, but I’d love to go back and paint these at some point. I couldn’t recommend participating in an art challenge more highly and this is what I learned over the course of the 12 days:- Finding a supportive community of likeminded people who are there to cheer you on is super important. In this era of social media, where you often feel like no one sees the work you post, it has been so lovely to know that when I post a photo of my artwork to the club, there will be caring eyes to see it and honest feedback given. It has been so refreshing and uplifting. Having a regular creative practice really does help to develop your skills, helps you discover where your artistic passions lie and is very freeing for the soul. During the challenge I further affirmed that I love to paint big “blousy” flowers and I really do have a passion for contemporary botanical painting which I can’t wait to pursue further. I also discovered the huge benefits of practicing mindfulness through art, and at one point even shed a few tears when I was painting my calla lily (clearly some emotions were released with that one). I have loved seeing how everyone interprets the brief in a different way and this has brought me a kind of acceptance with my art. It is ok to be me and to paint how I want to paint. We are all unique people, with unique histories and that will come across in our artwork. Finally, I learned that stepping out of my comfort zone can bring about new discoveries. I’m sure if it wasn’t for this challenge then I wouldn’t have painted many of these flowers, and so it was fantastic to explore something new. Here are a selection of the paintings and sketches from this challenge:- So what are you waiting for? Find an art challenge that resonates with you and go for it.

Hi Friends,   I wanted to talk a little bit today about how I photograph my art for posting onto social media or my website. Over the past few years of experimenting, I have developed a bit of preference for certain lighting and equipment and so I thought it might be useful to share this information to help you on your journey. Whether you are photographing paintings, products, or items you have crafted, hopefully this article will be useful to you.   Lighting   Firstly, let’s talk about lighting. I am a huge fan of photographing my art in natural light. If that is possible, I move all my equipment right next to the largest window in our house and take my photos there. However, unfortunately there are times that the beautiful English sunshine does not make an appearance for me, or I photographing my work in the evenings. In which case, I must get creative and rely on artificial lighting.   Natural light   If I am taking photos in natural light, then I tend to shoot my pictures with a large window at the side of me, This ensures that I do not obscure any of that beautiful light from my shot and then I will use a large piece of white card or my reflector on the side opposite the window to bounce the light back onto the layout. This will hopefully minimise any shadows.   Artificial light   As I said previously, I much prefer shooting in natural light, but sometimes I have to use artificial lights. Over the years I have experimented a great deal with getting the right lighting set up to make my photos “pop”. In the past I have tried two small tabletop studio lights fitted with soft boxes, but I found these gave way too much glare and the appearance of the final photos were far too harsh. Last month, I decided it was time to invest in something more suitable and so I treated myself to a Neewer 18 inch ring light . I have to say that I have found this so useful, and it is now my lighting of choice for those dark winter nights. The reason I chose such a large ring light (and it is quite a beast) is so that I could try to surround all of the flat lay in an aura of light. I already own a small 10 inch ring light (as you can see in the photo) which I still use to minimise any residual shadows, but as this is so small it really didn’t light my work adequately on its own. The great thing about the ring light I bought is that it is dimmable (be warned it is super bright when fully on), it comes with a diffuser so the lighting appears less harsh and it has two colour temperatures.   Equipment   Moving on to the other equipment I use, specifically cameras and tripods. I take all my photos with my trusty iPhone 13 mini, and I have found this absolutely fine and super convenient to use to produce flat lays for my website, social media and newsletters.   With regards to tripods and stands, much of the time I simply hold my phone in my hand to take quick photos. I find it more convenient to be able to speedily change positions if I am not limited by a stand. However, for those times when I want to have more stability, I have several stands that I rotate between. Firstly, I have a 20 inch Neewer mini tripod to which I have attached an iPhone clamp. I love this stand because it is so height adjustable and feels super sturdy. Sadly Amazon do not stock this exact tripod anymore but this one does appear similar. Secondly, I have a gooseneck desk mountable phone holder which I tend to use for any overhead shooting. Finally, my more recent purchase is a MOFT tripod stand which is so cute, compact and extremely portable. I use this mainly for filming my actual painting process, but I do use it occasionally for more up close photos.   Backdrops   I am a big lover of using backdrops in my photos. Some people may have the most picturesque art studios or antique desks where they work that could provide just the right aesthetic for their work, however I paint on an old white IKEA table and so I like to create the right mood in my photos with a backdrop. When you start looking at what is available out there it can be a bit overwhelming, and I admit I did fall into the trap of buying lots of different ones at first because they are all so interesting. However, as time has gone by, I find that I tend to always reach for the same two backgrounds a simple white wooden background and a darker vintage looking wooden one. I keep them close at hand in my studio, tucked safely down the side of a large cabinet, so I can simply grab one when I feel the need to take some photos. I have always bought mine from Black Velvet Styling because I love the quality of the backdrops they produce. Props   I love experimenting with different props in my photos, I even have a whole cupboard full of possible items I could use. I know this may be a bit excessive, but I just love to have a choice for every occasion. I have all manner of things in my cupboard of delights, including mugs, scarves, Christmas decorations, pinecones, a fur blanket and a wide variety of flowers. My go-to items are usually to use paint brushes, paint tubes, or whatever medium I used in the artwork to complement its style, plus a floral element of some description (whether that is real, artificial, or dried - I have them all). Really take your time and have fun with your props, choose items to match your style of art and objects that will show off your personality. Think outside the box too, some of the most intriguing props can be found simply lying around your house (think old pot pourri or candle sticks) and it’s amazing what can be found in your local charity shop.   Editing   There are two different ways that I may edit my photos. Firstly, I may simply edit them directly using the photos app on my iPhone. Secondly, I love to use lightroom. I previously used the paid version of lightroom as I used to take photos with my DSLR camera, but I have found the free app just as useful for doing those small adjustments to a photo taken with my iPhone before posting it. I won’t go into detail here about how I edit my photos as I think that may be best saved for a later blog post. So there you have it. A little glimpse into my process and how I take photos of my artwork to share with the world. Hope you found it useful x PLEASE NOTE: The links to products mentioned in this article are not affiliate links. I am not an affiliate of any company or brand and I am simply recommending these products because I personally use them and have found them helpful.

With December approaching quickly, I have been feeling thoroughly in the festive spirit. I opened our curtains last week to find a heavy downpouring of snow and as I was feeling super cosy I decided to paint a lush green sprig of holly with my new Winsor and Newton watercolour paints. I really wanted this month's calendar to help bring you those nostalgic winter vibes too and so I decided to turn my little holly leaves into a pretty pattern for you to put on your devices. Hopefully when you open your phones and computers, you'll feel all that winter loveliness too. And remember this design is only available until the end of December 2024. WHAT SIZES ARE AVAILABLE? These free desktop wallpapers are currently available in mac 24 inch, macbook 16 inch, 1366 x 768, 1440 x 900 and 1920 x 1080. These free phone wallpapers are currently available in iphone 13 mini, iphone 15, iphone 16, iphone 16 pro and Samsung 24. HOW DO I ACCESS THE CALENDAR? To access this free desktop and phone wallpaper simply enter your email in the box below to sign up to the Florrie Holiday Newsletter. This is your best way to gain first access to any freebies, discounts and updates to our collections. AVAILABLE PRODUCTS IN THIS DESIGN

Inspiration The inspiration for the charming country cottage pattern collection started when I was daydreaming whilst sat at my kitchen table (I do love a good daydream). Next to me was a pretty bouquet of flowers containing delicate cream roses, and it suddenly struck me how charming it is when girls are named after flowers. We have quite a few “flower girls” amongst our extended family and friends and so I set about creating a pattern as an ode to all the Rosie’s, Daisy’s and Poppy’s out there. Included in the design are also the berries and lush foliage that were found in my original bouquet of flowers.   Throughout creating this collection I knew I wanted to create a cosy cottage core aesthetic and I kept imagining a pretty lounge, similar in layout to that in the film “the holiday” (I’m a big romantic comedy fan). I was picturing a beautiful hand-drawn botanical wallpaper, with plenty of comfy cushions to sink into on the sofa, possibly sewn out of a sweet gingham fabric. And then all topped off with a snug blanket to curl up underneath whilst reading my favourite novel. I felt a lush foliage design would be perfect for adding accents around the room. Three words to describe the collection   Floral / modern-cottage / calming   Mood board Motif creation / materials   All motifs were lovingly hand sketched in pencil and then details were added with fine liners. The repeat patterns were then created using Adobe Illustrator.   Finalising colourways   I absolutely love muted and dusty colours, and I felt these would be perfect for this collection to give that cosy farmhouse feel. In the end I created 7 different colour versions for my fabric suppliers, including sage green, dusky pink, slate blue and gold.   Final Collection The final pattern collection consists of three patterns;