Inspire your Creativity

What Colours Do You Really Need? Starting out with acrylic paints can be exciting – but also a little overwhelming with all the colour choices. Do you need every shade on the shelf? Not quite! With a smart starter palette, you can mix a surprising range of colours and get painting straight away. Here’s our tried-and-true guide to building your first acrylic palette – with two options depending on how simple or versatile you want your setup to be.   Option 1: Essential 6-Colour Starter Kit (Left to right) Titanium White Use it to lighten colours, create tints, or paint...

Whether you're applying for a grant, exhibiting your work, or creating an online portfolio, a well-written artist bio and statement are vital. These tools don’t just tick a box; they’re your chance to help others understand your creative world and what drives it. Let’s break down the best tips for writing an engaging and professional artist bio and statement, inspired by advice from the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA). What’s the Difference Between an Artist Bio and an Artist Statement? Your artist statement is a short piece of writing that explains the ideas, themes, and methods behind your work....

Hand lettering has made a massive comeback in recent years – and it’s not just a trend. The beauty of it lies in how personal and expressive it can be. Whether you're jazzing up wedding invitations or creating Instagram-worthy quote art, hand lettering allows you to ditch the fonts and let your creativity shine. If you’re just getting started or want to level up your lettering skills, there are a few key techniques that will give your pieces that polished, professional look. Let’s break them down! The Foundations: Brushstrokes & Structure Before we get fancy with flourishes, let’s talk basics....

Looking to create dreamy, flowing watercolour effects? A mop brush is your best mate when it comes to mastering the wet-on-wet technique. Its soft, rounded bristles are ideal for laying down big, even washes – no streaks or hard edges in sight. Here’s how to make the most of it: Start by loading your mop brush with plenty of water and a diluted mix of your chosen watercolour. Work onto damp or wet paper; that’s where the real magic happens. The wetter the surface, the more the paint will bloom and blend. Use broad, gentle strokes to spread the colour....

If you’ve ever waited days (or even weeks!) for an oil painting to dry, you’re not alone. While oil paints are known for their rich colour and smooth blending, they do have one major downside: drying time. Straight from the tube, oil paint can take several days to become touch-dry, sometimes longer in humid or cool conditions. The good news? You can speed things up without sacrificing that beautiful oil finish. Let’s explore a few options to help your oils dry faster; from smart paint choices to mixing in the right mediums. Speed Things Up with Alkyd Mediums One of...

Not sure which Mont Marte acrylic is right for you? Watch this quick video to compare Acrylic Colour, Satin Acrylic and Dimension ranges side by side!

A fantastic opportunity for young artists in Years 7–12 to showcase their talent and win amazing prizes! STAEDTLER’s Artist of the Year Secondary School art competition is back for its 8th year, and it's bigger than ever! Open to all students in Years 7 to 12, the competition offers a platform for young creatives to share their artwork for the chance to win from a pool of 15 major prizes. There are two categories to enter: Junior (Years 7–9) Senior (Years 10–12) Each category will award prizes to the top 3 entries; with the first-place winner in both Junior and Senior...

Tips for Pouring, Collage & Texture Looking to try acrylic pouring but not sure where to start? In this video tutorial, acrylic artist Marla Morrison walks you through the process of creating stunning poured paintings while combining collage and textured elements. Whether you’re brand new to fluid art or looking to take your acrylic pouring to the next level, this video is packed with practical tips for developing your technique and adding depth to your work. Acrylic Pouring Techniques to Try Marla explores several creative acrylic pouring techniques, from simple fluid pours to more controlled applications. She also shares tips...

Top Tips for Clear, Vibrant Washes Watercolours are known for their luminous, transparent quality; but if you've ever tried layering colours and ended up with a murky mess, you're not alone. Muddy colours usually happen when pigments mix unintentionally or when layering isn't fully dry. Here are our top tips to keep your layers fresh, not flat. 1. Let Each Layer Dry Completely This is rule number one. If you paint over a layer that's still damp, colours will bleed and blend, often resulting in dull or muddy hues. Use a hairdryer if you're in a rush, just keep it...

Experience the Beauty of Matisse Fluids – A Journey Through Colour & Flow Unleash your creative potential with Matisse Fluid Acrylics in this vibrant video showcase. ‘Experience the Beauty of Matisse Fluids’ offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of Australia’s finest acrylic ranges – known for its exceptional pigment load, fluid consistency, and dynamic versatility. From paint pouring and calligraphy to airbrushing and marbling techniques, this visual guide demonstrates how Matisse Fluids glide across surfaces, blend seamlessly, and interact with various mediums. See them in action on canvas, paper, and more – with insights into drying times, layering potential, and...

Winsor and Newton Oil Paints: Artists’, Artisan or Winton? With so many oil paints on the market, finding the right one can be overwhelming – especially when they all come from a brand as trusted as Winsor & Newton. Whether you're a professional artist looking for premium performance, someone wanting a safer studio setup, or you're just starting out and exploring oil paints, Winsor & Newton has a range suited to every style and skill level. In this post, we’ll break down the key features of the three main ranges: Artists' Oil Colour, Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour, and Winton...

When most people think of fluid acrylics, their minds go straight to pouring, but these versatile paints can do so much more! Whether you’re a fine detail lover, a mixed media experimenter or somewhere in between, fluid paints deserve a spot in your toolkit. Here are our top 5 ways to use them creatively, no pouring cup required. 1. Ink Like Washes Fluid acrylics can be thinned with water or acrylic medium to create stunning transparent washes, just like watercolour or ink. They’re perfect for laying down luminous backgrounds, soft gradients or glazing over dry paint to add depth. 2. Fine...

Handmade With Heart Looking to give Mum something heartfelt, handmade, and full of creativity this Mother’s Day? You’ve come to the right place! Whether she’s a keen gardener, an avid artist, or just appreciates a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind pressie, we’ve rounded up six beautiful DIY projects you can make yourself – with love. Each idea comes with its own tutorial, so click through to get step-by-step instructions and gather your supplies from Art Shed Brisbane!

Looking for a gift as inspiring as Mum? Whether she’s a seasoned artist or just discovering her creative spark, we’ve handpicked a range of gifts to match every kind of mum. From portable paint sets to studio essentials, our Mother’s Day Gift Guide is packed with thoughtful, artful ideas; all available in-store and on our website. Read on for the full guide and make her day a masterpiece.

Get Creative with Weird & Wonderful Paintbrush Shapes! Feeling a bit uninspired by your usual brushes? Mixing things up with some quirky shapes can really bring new life to your artwork. Here are 5 fun brushes to try next time you're painting: Deerfoot Stippler Known for its angled shape and compact, stiff bristles, this brush is a favourite for painters who love texture. It’s ideal for dabbing on foliage, rendering furry textures in animals, or creating rugged, organic surfaces. Use a light, stippling motion for best results. Dagger Striper This uniquely shaped brush features a long, slanted tip that comes...

Easy Mother’s Day Tote Bag Project (Thanks to Mont Marte!) Looking for a sweet; handmade gift for Mum this Mother’s Day? We've got just the thing; a custom tote bag that’s heartfelt; easy; and a whole lot of fun to make. This project uses the Mont Marte Fabric Marker Art Set; and we’re following along with their brilliant tutorial (thanks Mont Marte!). What you’ll need: HB pencil Mont Marte Signature Fabric Marker Art Set 22pc The Fabric Art Set comes with everything you need: A blank canvas tote bag Fabric markers and paint sticks T-shirt markers 3D puffy paint pens...

Read on for step-by-step painting tips and tricks! Looking to add a pop of colour to your garden or home décor? Painting terracotta pots is an easy, creative DIY that lets your personality shine through. Whether you're going bold and abstract or soft and floral, here's everything you need to know to get started.   What You’ll Need: Terracotta pots (clean and dry) Fine grit sandpaper Primer or white acrylic gesso Acrylic paints or paint pens Paintbrushes (various sizes) Painter’s tape (optional, for clean lines) Outdoor varnish or sealer (matte or gloss finish) Drop cloth or newspaper to protect surfaces...

Mother’s Day DIY Gift Idea: Foil Canvas Fun! Looking for a sweet, creative gift for Mum? The Zart DIY Foil Mother’s Day Canvas is a beautiful way to make something meaningful by hand. Sold individually, each 15 x 15 cm canvas features a pre-printed “MUM” design in either gold or rainbow foil. Paint around the shimmering motif to create a unique, heartfelt gift Mum will treasure. Simple, sparkly and full of love! Personalise it your way: Use acrylic paint pens to add colourful patterns, flowers or sweet messages Create a background wash using watercolours for a soft, dreamy look Glue...

Craft a core memory for Mum with a heartfelt and creative gift you can make yourself. These DIY watercolour bookmarks are simple, meaningful, and a beautiful way to show her how much she means to you. Best part? You probably have most of the supplies already! What You’ll Need: 1 x A5 sheet of watercolour paperWe used Mont Marte Watercolour Pad (300gsm, A5) Watercolour paintsWe used Kuretake Gansai Tambi pan watercolours 1 x mop brushWe used Mont Marte Premium Watercolour Mop Brush Hole punch & ribbonFor that classic bookmark finish Fineliner penFor outlines or a personal message on the back...

A colour swatch chart is a fantastic tool for artists, helping you quickly reference and organise your favourite art supplies. Whether you're working with watercolour, acrylic, oils, or pencils, making your own swatch chart is easy - and fun! We've created a handy free printable colour swatch chart to get you started right away: Download Here Materials Needed: Printer (Inkjet recommended for watercolours) Your preferred art medium (watercolours, acrylics, oils, pencils) Suitable paper (see tips below) Step-by-Step Guide: 1. Select Your Paper: Choosing the right paper is crucial: Watercolour: Ideally use 200-300gsm watercolour paper for best results. Shop Watercolour Paper...

We’re excited to announce six brand-new Daniel Smith Extra-Fine Watercolours launching in 2025! Each colour is available in 15ml tubes. Cobalt Green Deep Cobalt Green Deep is a semi-transparent colour that creates captivating woodland scenes. With its granulating properties, it adds unique depth and texture, especially when mixed with colours like Neutral Tint or Indigo for dramatic stormy effects. Coral Reef Coral Reef is a delightful semi-transparent pink that's ideal for floral artworks. Evocative of tropical beaches, it's beautifully complemented by shades like Cobalt Teal Blue, capturing sunny Caribbean vibes. Jaune Brilliant No. 1 This sunny, soft yellow captures the...