Art, Paper, Prints and Painting

AI is making it easier than ever to create unique, eye-catching pictures. With tools like MidJourney , you can type in a simple prompt—“a neon city floating in the clouds” or “a cat dressed as a pirate”—and get back detailed, professional-looking images in seconds. You don’t need drawing skills or expensive software, just your imagination and a few words are enough to spark incredible results.  The fun lies in experimenting, seeing unexpected outcomes, and letting AI help you capture ideas you might never have been able to sketch by hand. But the magic doesn’t have to stop with a still image. MidJourney now lets you animate those creations directly into short video clips. With a single click on the Animate button, your static picture can turn into a living scene—a camera slowly panning through your neon city, or your pirate cat swaying as if caught by the wind. You can keep it subtle with gentle motion or go bold with dramatic shifts, creating clips up to 21 seconds long. In just ...

  In recent years, creative practices have become increasingly recognised for their role in supporting mental health. Among these practices,  g el printing  — a playful and versatile form of mono-printing using a gel plate—has gained popularity not only for its artistic possibilities but also for the therapeutic benefits it offers. Unlike traditional printmaking, Gel printing requires minimal equipment and expertise, making it accessible to beginners and seasoned artists alike. Beyond creating vibrant textures and layers, the process can nurture emotional well-being in powerful ways. The tactile nature of rolling paint, placing stencils, and pulling prints from the gel plate invites us to fully engage in the moment. Much like meditation, Gel printing draws attention away from rumination and into the present. The rhythmic actions—rolling, layering, lifting—can help calm the nervous system and promote a sense of flow, where worries temporarily fade. Unlike traditional art f...

 I have lots of acrylic prints so here is a suggestion for using the prints to cover inexpensive recycled boxes made from carton. So long as your box is not too big, most standard gel prints will be big enough to cover a small box. I usually use a second print for the inside or some nice paper like old music sheets.  For example, choose your print for the outside and if you are careful with your measurements you will have enough for the whole box.  Sometimes you might need to add a little piece here and there, but if you choose well it will not be noticed. As for the inside you can have either a similar colour or pick a contrasting colour which makes the insides pop a bit.  I don't even throw out the scraps of paper, unless of course they are too small to do anything with. I have used up lots of cut up bit to make a sort of patchwork cover for bigger boxes. If I need a larger print, well, I make two prints using exactly the same colours, that way I know they will mat...

 Gelli Prints - on Gelli plate or silicone plate? If you want any sort of large size print you need to either join several prints together or Get a big gel plate. Now gel plates are expensive. There are lots of recipes for gel plates but I think most are either difficult to make or don't last long. I bought a Gelli plate that measures 20 x 25 cm and I find it excellent. If I clean it properly after use and store it properly then its as good as new for the next time.  However I want to try printing larger than 20 x 25 cm. So I have bought a silicone mat. Its 1.5 cm thick so should have a bit of "give" in it.