Drawing & Painting : The Wellbeing Case
We started The Little Art School Charity because we’d seen, first-hand, what happens when someone who thinks they “can’t draw” picks up a pencil in a room where nobody is judging them. Something shifts. Not just in the work on the page — in the person holding the pencil. That belief, rooted in experience, is now backed by a substantial and growing body of research. This report brings that evidence together.
5 Best Art Galleries in the World (and why they’ll make you want to paint)
The Little Art School’s Founding Partner, Joanne Robinson hasn’t visited every art gallery on earth — yet. This is her personal list, passionately held and openly debated. If you disagree, good. Tell us your top five in the comments; we would LOVE to know!
Formal Elements of Art
The Little Art School’s Joanne Robinson guides you through the ‘Formal Elements of Art’ by simplifying each element so they are easy to understand. There’s something slightly intimidating about the...
Gouache Painting
The Little Art School’s Joanne Robinson explains what gouache is and then guides you through what materials you need when you’re starting to paint with gouache and a few simple techniques to get you started.
Tone Definition in Art
The Little Art School’s Joanne Robinson guides you through tone definition in art and how to develop an eye which searches out tone as an artist.
How to Use Acrylic Paints: a Guide for Beginners
The Little Art School’s Joanne Robinson guides you through what materials you need and how to use acrylic paints. There are a few simple techniques to get you on your way.
How to Draw and Paint a Buttercup
In this blog post, we will draw and paint a gorgeous buttercup picture using watercolour. Don’t worry about getting it right the first time; sometimes, it takes a few tries. There is a video to accompany this written tutorial.
Equipment and Watercolour Techniques for Beginners
The Little Art School’s Joanne Robinson shows you the equipment you need and some watercolour techniques for beginners. You don’t need a studio or an easel or lots of space; just a few items and a small box to store it in.
How to Draw and Paint a Daffodil
We’re going for a spring theme today. What represents spring more than a daffodil? Grab your pencil and paper, and let’s draw and paint a daffodil together. There is a video to accompany this written tutorial.
Draw and Paint with a Growth Mindset
What is a ‘growth mindset? And how can developing a Growth Mindset help you when learning to draw and paint? Little Art School online course student, Mel Williams, an experienced teacher who has explored ‘growth mindset’
professionally and personally explains how shifting your mindset can transform your art journey.
Top Five Women Artists
When I was in primary school, I told my teacher that I wanted to be an artist. I remember one of the boys piping up, ‘Only men can be artists,’ so the teacher asked us to think of a woman artist. No one could. It was back in the early 80s when Thatcher was ascendent, and Kate Bush was topping the charts the first time around. Could I name a famous female artist, then? No, unfortunately not.
Learn to Draw & Paint – Five Top Books
Are you looking for a book to get you started drawing? Or are you starting out painting and wondering where you are going wrong? Searching ‘art books’ online will pull up hundreds of titles; some good, some not so good. I’ve taken the pain out of the search with my ‘tried and tested’ top 5 books for beginners learning to draw and paint.
A Relaxing Prescription for Colette
Colette Riach is a very busy lady. As a GP, wife, daughter, sister and mother to three teenagers, she has little time to herself. She’s been a great friend and student with us for 10 years now, and...
An Inspiring Journey for Jo
Jo Olive lives near the Kent Coast, as she describes it, ‘right near the edge’, close to Ramsgate. She has always lived in Kent but lives quite quietly and rurally now, enjoying life with her...
A Newfound Confidence
Norma Cullen is someone who, by her own admission, has always lacked confidence. She’s not sure where it started, but she was taught never to show off, never push herself forward, or think too much...
An Artistic Journey for Tracey
Tracey Hood has been with the Little Art School’s online art course for two years. During that time, we’ve seen her grow as an artist and complete some wonderful sketches and paintings that she had...
A Creative Retirement for Liz
Retirement is a huge life change, especially if you happen to retire just before a global pandemic! But last week, we sat down with our online student, Liz Tate, who is thoroughly enjoying herself –...
A New Hobby in Art
On social media this week, we’ve featured a beautiful painting, ‘Daffodils in Acrylic’ by Mel Williams. Mel lives in picturesque Vale of Clywd in North Wales and completed her painting during Level...
When Your Painting Goes Wrong
Little Art School Founder, Joanne Robinson, looks to Monet and Michelangelo for inspiration when a painting just isn’t coming together, and when it doesn’t work at all. This week I have been...
You’re Never to Old for Art
You're Never Too Old has been written by Marion White, an amazing Little Art School student who started with us several years ago and has kindly given us some insight into her journey...I started my...
Introducing a Little Art School Student
This month we are delighted to feature a Guest Blog from one of our graduation Little Art School Adult students. Fiona Dawson has attended classes in our Troon and Ayr studios for years. Fiona is a...
Online Adult Art Course Student Shares Her Experience
Before I signed up for the Little Art School course, I would look at other art courses in various colleges and private studios. My predominant feeling was excitement but also a sense of dread. Even...
Can Learning to Draw and Paint Increase Happiness and Well-being?
Little Art School co-founders, Joanne and Melissa, explain how research and experience have come together with the Little Art School to demonstrate how you can increase your happiness by learning to...
Our Amazing Walkers Raise Thousands for Charity
Last weekend our two charities, the Little Art Stars and the Dementia Arts Trust, walked the Kiltwalk. The Kiltwalk is a wonderful event backed by the Hunter Foundation. Every penny raised is topped...
Embracing Green as More Than Just a Colour – Green Values
As an organisation the Little Art School has always aimed towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We want to ensure that as a business, we have a positive impact on the local community where...
Launching the Little Art Stars SCIO – Our Children’s Charity
The launch of our children’s charity, the Little Art Stars, has been a spark of joy; we want to keep making a difference in our community.
Living by Our Values; the #DailyDraw
By Joanne Robinson & Melissa Haddow, Little Art School Founders.During the 2020 Lockdown we designed, filmed, edited and released over 150 ‘How to Draw’ videos on our just launched YouTube...
Bring it All Together with Love at Christmas
By Joanne Robinson & Melissa HaddowLast week our team delivered hundreds of beautiful hand drawn Christmas cards to care home residents across Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire. Each card had been...
Top Five Useful Art Gifts for Children Who Love to Draw and Paint
Which art materials should I buy for a child who loves art? We have been asked this question many, many times. When you walk into an art or stationary shop the choice can be overwhelming and the...
How Little Art School Adapted to Lockdown
The Little Art School 2020 Story - Reaching Out with YouTubeThe Nightmare Day – Lockdown and a Leap into the UnknownOn the 23rd of March 2020, we closed our Little Art School studio doors with no...
Spreading Christmas Cheer
This week we have an exciting new project underway. Working with both of our charities we are creating Christmas art masterpieces for delivery to our amazing Care Home partners, for their...
Creative Christmas, Love from Little Art School
With the festive season fast approaching and the likelihood of all our celebrations having to be a little different this year, the Little Art School has decided to add something a bit special to one...
Can Peacocks and Lemons Really Change Your Life?
Written by Barbara Hawken, Little Art School graduating student.I can’t paint and I definitely can’t draw. It’s hard to believe now that there was once a time in my life when I wasn’t particularly...
Location, Location, Location
T,Like every other individual and business around the world, The Little Art School has been profoundly affected by the pandemic we are still in the throes of. Our whole ethos of ‘Building...
Can Anyone Learn to Draw and Paint?
There is a myth that the ability to draw and paint is something that you are born with. We have tackled that myth over the last seven years at the Little Art School. Little Art School Founding...
A New Chapter at The Little Art School
Welcome to the Little Art School's first blog post! My name is Joanne, and I'm the Founder of the Little Art School. My aim is to develop a blog here which becomes a forum for a variety of subjects...
Contact the Little Art School Charity
Our team are here to help with any enquiries. Just complete the form below and we'll get back to you.