I come from a background in Agile software development which has instilled in me a habit of running small, low-cost experiments to learn new things quickly. I take those new things I learn, and then iterate on their solution until I get something that works just right. It allows me to move quickly and cheaply.… Continue reading The iterative studio watercolour palette
Author: Matt Shanks
Don’t start your painting with ‘values’
I’m an avid listener of the Plein Air Podcast – a podcast that spends a good hour or so with an individual artist who shares some of their deep insight from a career in art. Yes, it’s decidedly and narrowly American, but there’s some good advice there. And recently, I’ve come to read some of… Continue reading Don’t start your painting with ‘values’
Event: Workshop at Brimbank Writers’ and Readers’ Festival 2018
I’m looking forward to running a workshop with forty lucky kids as part of the Brimbank Writers’ and Readers’ Festival 2018 in Victoria. It’ll be happening on Saturday, 10 Nov 2018 starting at 2pm. Here’s the gist: Do you want your own personal letter from Matt’s CBCA Notable award-winning character, Eric the Postie? Matt will… Continue reading Event: Workshop at Brimbank Writers’ and Readers’ Festival 2018
Sketches of Uluru and Central Australia
In 2017, I travelled with my family to the middle of Australia. And when I say middle, I mean that. Riiiight in the middle. The heart of the country. A place where the sand is as red as blood. No matter how much you prepare for it, it always takes your breath away. It took… Continue reading Sketches of Uluru and Central Australia
How I got ‘movement’ in my work (without realising)
Sometimes, it takes someone else to unlock an insight in your work that was so intuitive to you that you couldn’t see it. And then, it’s like a rocket booster.
On measuring success on social media
Click rates, followers, engagements, opens, subscribers, unsubscribes, likes, laughs, loves. We’re living in a quantitative world. No matter which social media platform you’re using, the numbers supposedly don’t lie. It’s how we measure our success. Every one of these platforms offers ‘analytics’. A way to track your success and effectiveness of what you’re posting. The… Continue reading On measuring success on social media
Am I missing out on Art School?
I’m a self-taught professional artist. I’ve only just recently started saying that to myself, and it feels really good. I’m proud of it. I managed my way into an industry by taking a different path; one that’s far less trodden but more accessible than ever. But. I haven’t done ‘official’ training, and that still worries… Continue reading Am I missing out on Art School?
How to: Paint a mural
Having completed my first five-metre mural on glass, I wanted to share this little how-to guide to help other artist and illustrators shortcut the process if they ever want to try this themselves. At the time, I found it very difficult to piece together disparate pieces of information across the internet on how to do… Continue reading How to: Paint a mural
Are you selling art or stories?
As an artist, it’s easy to think you’re selling art, right? That thing you spent hours or months slaving away at. That final piece that someone will hang on their wall in their home and call their own? The layers of paint, expertly placed just so. It’s taken years of experience to get to this… Continue reading Are you selling art or stories?
There’s no such thing as Creative Block
I have a confession to make – I’ve never suffered from creative block. What’s my secret? I think it’s acknowledging that creative block doesn’t exist. “What?!” I hear you say. Please, bear with me. One of my favourite thinkers is Seth Godin. He’s been running a blog for years and posts Every. Single. Day. They… Continue reading There’s no such thing as Creative Block