Inspire your Creativity

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...

2025 Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Art Prize: $30,000 in Prizes for Stories Told Through Art The Royal Queensland Art Society (RQAS), in partnership with Queen’s Wharf Brisbane and The Star Brisbane, proudly presents the 2025 Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Art Prize (QWBAP), a celebration of place, creativity, and local storytelling through visual art. Running from 4 September to 28 September 2025, this highly anticipated exhibition invites artists to explore and reflect on what makes Brisbane and its surrounds so unique. Whether it’s an iconic location, a personal memory, or a cultural insight, the challenge is to tell the story of Brisbane through...

Galkyd Neo Megilp Repackaged as Galkyd Lite Gel – Same Formula, New Name Gamblin’s much-loved Neo Megilp has not been discontinued; it’s simply been repackaged and rebranded as Galkyd Lite Gel. You’ll find the exact same silky-smooth formula, just with a new name and updated packaging. This means you can keep enjoying all the beautiful handling qualities you know and love – from building up glazes and textures to holding brushstrokes with ease. Galkyd Lite Gel stays workable for hours and dries to a soft, shimmery finish in about four to five days. It’s designed as a painting medium (not...

Make a Magiclay Easter Bunny – A Fun DIY for Kids! Looking for a fun and easy Easter activity to keep little hands busy? Try making this adorable Magiclay Easter Bunny! It's a great project for kids (and grown-ups!) that doubles as a cute little egg holder. All you need is some Magiclay, a pair of scissors, and a little creativity. Watch the full tutorial below, then follow the step-by-step instructions to create your own:   How to Make a Magiclay Bunny Step 1:Start by rolling your Magiclay into an egg shape. Once you're happy with the shape, use scissors...

April 2025 Colouring-In Fun for Little Artists Celebrate the school holidays with our April colouring activity, perfect for kids aged 12 and under! Pick up a sheet in-store or download it here to print at home. Once your little artist has finished their masterpiece, bring it back to our West End store to be featured in our Little Artist Gallery and receive a free creative gift. It’s free to join and a great way to keep creativity flowing these school holidays.Available until 30 April 2025.

Find Your Perfect Acrylic Paint Match Not sure which acrylic paint suits your style? Here's your cheat sheet to choosing the right one, based on how you love to paint: Smooth Consistency + Vibrant Colour Try: Matisse Flow or Langridge Fluid Matisse Flow is a premium artist-quality acrylic, ideal for everything from murals to detailed portrait work. Its smooth consistency makes it perfect for photo realism, geometric art, and watercolour-style techniques. It’s designed for artists who need intense, clean colour with an effortless flow. Langridge Fluid acrylics are Australian-made and deliver rich, saturated colour with exceptional clarity. With a professional-grade...

Understanding Gloss, Satin and Matt Varnish Finishes When it comes to finishing a painting or creative project, varnish is more than just a protective coat – it can completely change the look and feel of your work. One of the most common questions we get in-store is about the difference between gloss, satin and matt varnishes. So, here’s a quick guide to help you pick the finish that best suits your style. Gloss Finish Gloss varnish gives your artwork a bold, shiny finish that really brings colours to life. It reflects light, which can make details and textures pop –...

Mud 2 Mug and More is a vibrant, family-friendly pottery studio located in Carina, Brisbane. Offering a warm and welcoming environment for people of all ages and skill levels, the studio invites families, couples, groups and individuals to relax, unwind and get creative with clay. With a combination of pottery painting, immersive courses, and playful workshops, Mud 2 Mug has built a space where creativity comes alive. The studio has been thoughtfully designed to encourage creativity and connection, whether visitors are painting ceramics, trying their hand at wheel throwing, or just enjoying a fun day out.   Why Visit Mud...

The Lethbridge 20000 Small-Scale Art Award is back for 2025 and calling for entries from artists across Australia and around the globe. With a $20,000 top prize on offer, this prestigious award celebrates creativity in compact form. Now in its 15th year, this award is dedicated to small-scale artworks, showcasing both 2D and 3D pieces no larger than 61cm (24 inches) in any direction. Open to emerging and established artists alike, the competition is judged equally on creativity, originality, and technical skill. What’s in it for artists? Major Prize: $20,000 Highly Commended Prize: $1,000 cash (sponsored by Bienarté) Commended Prizes include:...

One of Australia’s most exciting contemporary art awards is back. The 2025 Sunshine Coast National Art Prize is now open for entries, welcoming Australian artists working in 2D and new media. Since 2006, this prestigious acquisitive award has showcased the diversity and excellence of Australian contemporary art. Each year, 40 finalist works are selected for a high-profile exhibition at Caloundra Regional Gallery, drawing attention from collectors, curators and the public alike. Open to all Australian residents, this national award celebrates bold and thought-provoking work in painting, drawing, printmaking, digital, video and other new media formats. The winner of the Major Prize...

The Royal Queensland Art Society (RQAS) is proud to present its 135th Members Annual Art Exhibition in 2025 – a celebration of artistic excellence and community spirit spanning more than a century. This annual event is a showcase of creativity and talent from across our membership, featuring artwork in seven diverse categories. From painting and drawing to sculpture, photography and mixed media, members are invited to submit original works exploring a theme of their own choice. To accommodate the wide range of submissions, this year’s exhibition will be presented in two parts. Each part will run for three weeks and...

After the success of its debut exhibition in 2017, Fairholme College is once again opening its doors to artists far and wide with the return of FACETS – the Fairholme Open Art Prize. Now in its eighth year, FACETS has become a highly anticipated event on the cultural calendar, showcasing a curated collection of two- and three-dimensional artworks. From painting, sculpture and drawing, to digital art, video and photography, this boutique exhibition offers artists a unique platform to connect with audiences through creativity and conversation. FACETS is more than an art prize; it’s a celebration of artistic excellence, education and community....

Celebrating one of Australia’s most iconic painters, the Doyles Art Award is back for 2025 – and entries are officially open! Named in honour of renowned artist d’Arcy Doyle, this respected award shines a spotlight on landscape art while also championing talent in portraiture, still life and youth categories. Known for its professional presentation and exceptional sales, the Doyles typically feature over 500 artworks, making it one of Queensland’s biggest and most successful art exhibitions. Award Categories & Prizes: Landscape (Major Prize – Acquisitive): 1st Prize: $20,000 2nd Prize: $5,000 3rd Prize: $1,000 Portrait / Figurative: 1st Prize: $2,000 Still...

Adapted from the original blog post by Uni Pin UK Black and white artwork doesn’t have to be plain. In fact, a touch of monochrome can bring a sleek, contemporary edge to your projects. This is particularly true when you try zentangle-style patterns on current shapes and motifs. Why not give it a go with PIN pens? Try zentangle-inspired art with PIN pens Bugs and beetle illustrations never go out of style and look amazing when paired with black and white drawing techniques. In this project, you’ll learn how to create bug-themed pieces that look incredibly professional. Don’t fret, they’re...

Art Spectrum was founded in Melbourne in the early 1960s by Gay and David Keys Snr, an artist and RMIT lecturer. Over time, it has become Australia’s leading fine art brand, producing oils, watercolours, gouache, pastels, inks, primers, mediums, varnishes, and solvents. Known for its distinctive Australian colours and traditional European manufacturing techniques, Art Spectrum offers a wide range of products to meet any artist's needs, including the innovative Colourfix pastel surface paper, professional papers and pads, Belgian linens, canvas, stretcher bars, brushes, palette knives, easels, and various studio accessories. It remains 100% Australian-made and family-owned, with David’s son, David,...