Art Blog
by Southampton Artist Donna McGhie
How my daily doodles and The Camino Way
Daily Doodles In March 2024 I will be walking 87 miles of The Camino Way to raise money for the Royal Papworth Hospital Charity. What part does my daily doodling play in me deciding to do this? For some years now a daily doodle has been part of my morning routine. It...
Local Artists Team Up For Hampshire Open Studios
I am delighted to have been asked to partner up with Winchester based artist Charlotte Rose for this year's Hampshire open Studios art trail event. I always learn something from chatting with other artists, and thought it would be fun to do a mini interview with...
My Diary As A Make Do And Mend Artist
At the start of January I made a pledge to attempt to become a make do and mend artist. Why Did I Pledge This? When I was lucky enough to take part in the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneur Scheme, I met a lady called Jen Gale. Jen is a hugely respected...
Labradoodle Doodles and My Mental Health
I have always known that my dog is beneficial to my mental health, but it took a January art challenge to really bring it home to me. I have blogged before about how helpful I find my daily doodles I have to admit however, that finding daily inspiration can sometimes...
My Pick of The Best Independent Art & Craft Venues In And Around Southampton
Now that the world is finally (fingers crossed) opening up again, I'd like to share a list of my favourite independent art and craft venues based in and around Southampton. I know all of the artists mentioned, which means that I can vouch that they are all amazing at...
Why I am happy to get my covid vaccinations
June 10th is a very special day for my family. It marks the anniversary of the day my husband received the gift of life, because he underwent his successful heart transplant surgery. Each year I write a blog marking how far we have come on his journey. Last year I...
Why we should think before jumping in to criticise other people’s art work
Everybody is an art critic – according to American journalist Judith Martin – and yes, I guess we are. But I think we can also remember to be kind. I 100% believe that everyone is creative in some way. We may not all be artistic geniuses. But we can all create...
How Daily Doodling Helped With My Mental Health Wellbeing
A DOODLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOLDRUMS AT BAY Throughout lockdown, like so many other people, I have found myself sinking into the doldrums on a regular basis. As an artist I am used to banging the drum about how creativity can help us all with our mental health wellbeing....
Why I Said Yes To Illustrating A Book
2020 was a year of change for so many of us. For me it was the year of saying yes without hesitation. Such as the time the body confidence coach Vie Portland contacted me asking if I would be willing to illustrate a book she had written. Prior to lockdown, I know that...
Why Art is Essential
ART IS ESSENTIAL A few weeks ago I was invited to a webinar to launch the Art is Essential movement. I have to be honest, I initially had my doubts about tuning in. Don't get me wrong, the message Art is Essential is preaching to the converted here. But a tiny part of...
The Golden Thread Sketch Book Artists Lockdown Project
How an idea by The Travelling Artist Deb Jones blossomed into a collaborative lockdown journal 'The Golden Thread Sketch Book' The Golden Thread Sketch Book is a beautiful collection of artwork responding to Lockdown 2020, and, as the name suggests is connected...
A Blog About Kindness
WORLD KINDNESS DAY Apparently November 13 is World Kindness Day. I am a huge fan of kindness. And the acts of kindness that fill me with the most joy are random acts of kindness. You know the type of thing, that small gesture from another human being, often a...
An unexpected sense of loss during Lockdown 2020
How the loss of my small art studio hit me during lockdown 2020 Like almost everyone I know I have been feeling a multitude of mixed emotions during the period of lockdown 2020. In the past, when I have been asked to describe myself, resilient has always been one of...
Free Wizard Wand Tutorial
POWERTEX MAGIC WAND By Donna Mcghie SCHOOL HOLIDAY IDEAS TO KEEP THE KIDS OCCUPIED Fancy making an amazing Wizard Wand with the children this during the School Holiday? When lockdown first happened, (all those months ago) I was asked to create some simple step by step...
Special Discount on Powertex Tutorial
Powertex Online Angel Tutorial - Special Offer Discount I am delighted to be able to introduce special offer discounts on my new online tutorial to people who suscribe to my email newsletter. During Lockdown I have been doing free blog tutorials for simple projects...
Exciting New Art Business In The New Forest
Brush & Timber - An Ethical New Forest Art Business I am always interested in getting to know about other artists who live and work locally to me. So when I saw Susannah Bond's beautiful artwork popping up on a Hampshire Arts Page I was eager to...
Mental Health Wellbeing Project for Young People in Hampshire
Wellbeing Creatures Project for Young People in Hampshire One upside of the lockdown for me personally has been the opportunity to spend time getting to know some of my fellow creative people who live and work in Southampton and the surrounding areas. One young woman...
Thank You Letter to an Organ Donor
A Love Letter to An Organ Donor Every year on 10 June I share this letter I wrote to my husband's heart transplant donor. Obviously 'D' will never read this - whether their family will I have no idea. But it just felt important to write - I share to raise...
HOW TO UPCYCLE A COSMETICS POT USING POWERTEX
By Donna Mcghie - Powertex Tutor and Trainer Like most of us, my creativity stash is becoming sparser and sparser during this period of lockdown. However, what I do have lots of is old cosmetic pots. I find that it is around Springtime that I start to run out of all...
Simple Powertex Highland Cow Canvas
By Donna Mcghie, Powertex Trainer and Tutor The idea of doing a textured Highland Cow Canvas using the medium of Powertex has been in my mind for some time now. As always with these blogs, I am deliberately keeping the step by steps simple and hopefully easy to...
How To Upcycle An Old Paintbrush Into A Wand
By Donna Mcghie Powertex Trainer and Tutor In this blog I will show you how to upcycle a stubby old paintbrush into an ornamental magic wand. I also decided to give instructions on how to make a wand using just paint, as I am aware that some people may be...