London Art College Blog Posts.....

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

We only had a small number of entries for this weekend’s challenge, as a technical issue meant the post did not go out on time. That said, the submissions we did receive are well worth sharing. The first painting by…

Jacqueline Prothero

We are delighted to share some colourful and imaginative illustrations by student Jacqueline Prothero, who completed our Illustrating Children’s Books Diploma. Jacqueline’s work captures a joyful energy and a clear sense of storytelling. We love ‘The Tortoise Who Wanted to…

Jayne Cornforth

We are pleased to feature the delicate and detailed work of Jayne Cornforth, who is studying on the Botanical Coloured Pencil Diploma Course. Jayne recently completed Assignment 5, producing two beautifully composed still life studies—one of onions and one of…

Did You Know Marcel Duchamp Signed a Urinal and Called It Art?

In 1917, artist Marcel Duchamp caused quite the stir in the art world — and all he did was sign a urinal. It was a standard porcelain urinal, the kind you might find in a hardware shop back in the…

Weekend Art Challenge – Your Favourite Artwork

For this weekend’s art challenge, we are inviting you to take a moment to reflect on your creative journey so far and choose a piece of artwork that holds a special place in your heart. It could be something you…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

This weekend’s art challenge was to draw or paint something beginning with the letter J. Students had complete freedom with subject, style and medium, as long as it clearly linked to the theme. We had a great mix of ideas…

Kimberly Hunter

We are thrilled to feature student Kimberly Hunter’s first assignment on the Coloured Pencil Drawing Certificate Course. Kimberly has submitted a series of observational studies using both graphite and coloured pencils, including everyday items like a mug and spoon, a…

Susan Douglas

We are delighted to showcase the beautiful work of student Susan Douglas, who is currently working her way through the Chinese Brush Painting – Sumi-E Course with the London Art College. Susan has recently completed Assignment 2 and shared a…

The Golden Ratio in Art: Why It’s Called the Perfect Proportion

The golden ratio, often referred to as the “divine proportion,” has fascinated artists, architects, and mathematicians for centuries. This mathematical formula, approximately equal to 1.618, is believed to create aesthetically pleasing compositions that occur naturally in art, nature, and even…

Weekend Art Challenge – Alphabet Challenge – J

Welcome to our Alphabet Challenge. Every month this year we are giving students a different letter of the alphabet so that they can draw or paint anything beginning with that letter. Its the last challenge of June and it’s the…

Weekend Art Challenge Results Butterflies

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork on the subject of butterflies. Students could choose any style or medium and have a bit of fun with the theme. The artwork…

Iris Russell

We are very pleased to showcase the beautiful watercolour paintings of Iris Russell, submitted as part of the Watercolour Diploma Course. Iris brings a thoughtful approach to her work, with each piece showing careful attention to texture, composition and colour…

Jude Coleman

We are thrilled to showcase a wonderful selection of drawings by student Jude Coleman, completed for the Pet Portraits Diploma Course. Jude explored a range of mediums across the exercises, from coloured pencil and graphite to soft pastel. Each study…

The Role of Animals in Art: From Symbolism to Companionship

Animals have been a central theme in art for thousands of years, serving as symbols, storytellers, and even personal companions. Whether depicted in ancient cave paintings or modern sculptures, animals offer a unique way for artists to explore human emotions,…

Weekend Art Challenge – Butterflies

Welcome to our newest weekend art challenge! This week we would love for you to get creative using the theme butterflies. We have added some photos below if you would like to use those. They are full of colour and…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

This weekend’s challenge was simple: draw or paint something orange. No strict rules, just pick a subject where orange takes centre stage. We had a fantastic mix of entries this week. From vibrant flowers and fruit to goldfish, cats and…

Anita van Lent – van de Klashorst

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Anita van Lent-van de Klashorst, who completed the Botanical Painting Course with Merit in November 2024. Anita had a very distinctive artistic style – her compositions were consistently vibrant, lively…

Samuel Froelich

We are delighted to feature artwork by student Samuel Froelich, who has recently completed the Illustrating Children’s Books Diploma course. Samuel has enjoyed the challenge and his playful, character-driven artwork brings a lovely sense of energy and expression to the…

How Colour Changed the Course of Art History

Colour is one of the most powerful elements in art, influencing how we perceive and connect with a work. From the earthy tones of prehistoric cave paintings to the bold palettes of modern abstraction, the use of colour has evolved…

Weekend Art Challenge – Something Orange

This weekends art challenge is simple! All you need to do is draw or paint something orange – or the main part of the image should contain the colour orange similar to the photos below. There are plenty of ideas…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

This week for our art challenge we asked our students to draw or paint wildflowers and they didn’t disappoint. From bold poppies and cheerful daisies to delicate foxgloves and intricate plant studies, the results were full of colour, variety and…

Students Illustrate a Spooky Poem

Our talented students on the Illustrating Children’s Books Diploma Course have recently completed one of the more atmospheric and imaginative assignments in the course. They were asked to illustrate a poem in black and white using bold shapes, ink, contrast…

Karen Jones

We are delighted to showcase the fantastic work of Karen Jones, a dedicated student currently studying on our Pet Portraits Diploma Course, tutored by the wonderfully supportive Heather Jolliffe. Karen has recently challenged herself with a series of focused animal…

Your Own Art Story: What Would Your Masterpiece Look Like?

Every artist has a unique story to tell, and their creations often serve as a window into their personal experiences, emotions, and perspectives. From Vincent van Gogh’s turbulent self-portraits to Frida Kahlo’s symbolic explorations of identity, art is a powerful…

Weekend Art Challenge – Wild Flowers

Welcome to this weekends art challenge all about wild flowers. We would like for you to look at the wild flowers you find around you in your local area and try to draw or paint them and let us know…

Weekend Art Challenge Results – Alphabet Challenge W

This weekend’s art challenge continued our alphabet theme, this time we asked our students to draw or paint something beginning with the letter W. As expected, we had a ‘Wonderfully Wide’ range of entries. From wildlife and witches to watering…

Tao Barry

We are pleased to feature student Tao Barry’s work from our Botanical Coloured Pencil Diploma Course here at the London Art College. Tao has submitted a beautiful sequence of drawings based on a single tulip study, showing her exploration through…

Carey Berning

I chose the digital illustration course through London Art College after being introduced to the basics of digital design and taking an interest in the new artistic possibilities that came with it. I am an artist in my own right…

Why We Still Study Art History: Lessons from the Past

Art history is more than just studying beautiful works of art—it’s about understanding the cultures, values, and events that shaped them. From ancient cave paintings to contemporary installations, art history provides insights into how humans have expressed their ideas and…

Weekend Art Challenge – Alphabet Challenge – W

Welcome to our Alphabet Challenge. Every month this year we are having a different letter of the alphabet and students can draw or paint anything as long as it is beginning with that letter. Its the last challenge of May…

Weekend Art Challenge Results – View from your Window

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork on the subject to draw or paint the view from your window. Whether it was a garden, a street scene, or the neighbour’s…

Raffaella Somma

We are thrilled to share the fabulous artwork of Raffaella Somma, who has recently completed our Pet Portrait Diploma Course here at the London Art College. Raffaella has produced an incredible body of work during her time with us and…

Mark Miffin

We ae delighted to showcase the artwork of Mark Miffin, a student currently working through our Still Life Certificate Course. This course is all about encouraging students to observe closely, think carefully about composition and build up their skills in…

Art History Through Fashion: From Toga to Tuxedo

Art and fashion have always shared a close relationship, with clothing often reflecting cultural values, societal roles, and historical shifts. From ancient times to modern-day styles, fashion depicted in art provides a fascinating lens through which we can explore the…

Weekend Art Challenge – View from Your Window

Welcome to our latest Weekend Challenge. We would love to see a drawing or painting of the view from your window. Perhaps you have a lovely view into your garden or maybe you can see lots of rooftops from an…

Weekend Art Challenge Results – Tigers!

This weekend’s challenge was to draw or paint a tiger, and our students really rose to the occasion. From pen and ink wash work to bold colour studies, each artwork had its own character. Some captured the strength and movement…

Catherine Thompson

This is another painting inspired by the article 10 famous artworks you can recreate at home.It is a copy of “Field with Flowers near Arles” by Vincent Van Gogh. I have painted it to go alongside my previous “Irises” painting….

The Joy of Reading Aloud

A recent article in The Guardian titled “I’m still not tired of it”: The best books to read aloud to kids, according to parents offers a delightful and insightful roundup of children’s books that have stood the test of time…

What Is Perspective, and How Did It Change Art Forever?

Perspective is one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of art. By creating the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface, artists transformed how we view the world. From Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary landscapes, perspective has helped…

Weekend Art Challenge – Tigers

Welcome to this weekends art challenge – and what a challenge this week. Tigers! We have collated some magnificent photos for you to work with below which are all copyright free. Alternatively if you have your own photos you are…

Weekend Art Challenge Results – Black & White!

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork on the colours of black and white. No colour, no distractions, just the fundamentals of shape, tone, and contrast. It’s a great exercise…

Nurgul Ozkeser – Part Two

Following on from yesterday’s blog post, we’re back with the second half of Nurgul Ozkeser’s work for our black and white weekend challenge. When we received her full submission, we knew straight away it needed splitting into two parts. The…

Nurgul Ozkeser – Part One

Each week we set a challenge for our students to encourage them to try something new or look at things a little differently. It’s a chance to step away from their course work, explore a theme, and create something just…

What Makes Art Valuable? Exploring History’s Most Expensive Paintings

Art has long been a symbol of culture and creativity, but why do some artworks sell for hundreds of millions of pounds while others remain relatively unknown? The value of art is determined by a combination of factors, including historical…

Weekend Art Challenge – Black and White

Welcome to this weekends art challenge where we would love for you to create anything of your choice in Black and White. It could be in graphite pencil, black and white pastel or chalk, black and white paint with all…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork on the subject of Marine Life. The results are nothing short of spectacular! From elegant jellyfish to playful dolphins, the creativity below is…

Ni Ni Aung

We are thrilled to share more lovely work from our student Ni Ni Aung! She’s been experimenting with gouache, ink and watercolour, creating a fantastic mix of styles and effects with famous paintings. It’s been great to see her trying…

Art Heists in History: Stories Behind Stolen Masterpieces

Throughout history, art has been the target of thieves and looters, from wartime plundering to daring heists worthy of Hollywood films. While some stolen works have been recovered, others remain lost, shrouded in mystery. The theft of these masterpieces isn’t…

Weekend Art Challenge – Marine Life

Welcome to our weekend challenge all about marine life. We would love for you to have fun with all things under the sea and experiment with shape and colour, texture and form, wet in wet washes, bold strokes and soft…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

This weekend’s art challenge was simple: draw or paint something beginning with the letter C. We didn’t mind what it was—car, cloud, crab, coffee, or anything else that sprang to mind. The idea was to keep things loose and let…

Lisa Dickson

We are delighted to feature the beautifully detailed work of Lisa Dickson, a student currently studying on the Botanical Painting Diploma Course with us here at the London Art College. Lisa’s final assignment showcases her technical ability and growing confidence…

Ainsley Bloomfield

We are pleased to showcase this beautiful and imaginative illustration by Ainsley Bloomfield, a student currently studying on the Illustrating Children’s Books Diploma Course with us here at the London Art College. This delightful piece, inspired by the nursery rhyme…

How to Decode Symbols in Medieval and Renaissance Art

Medieval and Renaissance art is rich with symbolism, where every detail—whether a colour, gesture, or object—carries meaning. Artists used these symbols to convey complex ideas, often tied to religious, moral, or social themes. For modern viewers, understanding these symbols can…

Weekend Art Challenge – Alphabet Challenge C

Welcome to our Alphabet Challenge. Every month this year we are having a different letter of the alphabet and students can draw or paint anything as long as it is beginning with that letter. Its the last challenge of April…

Weekend Art Challenge Results – Art Materials!

Welcome to this weekends art challenge where we set our students a very straightforward brief – draw or paint your art materials. Just the tools you love and use every day. Pencils, brushes, paint tubes, palettes. The things that often…

Ariana Harkiolakis

Ariana Harkiolakis, a student at the London Art College, has created a second set of drawings in her Disney Character Outfits Collection. After her first collection that was featured on our blog, Ariana was inspired to continue the series with…

Catherine Thompson

We are thrilled to showcase this stunning piece by London Art College student Catherine, who took inspiration from our blog feature “10 Famous Artworks You Can Recreate at Home”. Catherine recreated the Irises painting by Vincent van Gogh and we…

The Weirdest Art Movements You’ve Never Heard Of

Art history is filled with unusual movements that challenge conventional ideas of what art can be. While some movements, like Impressionism and Surrealism, are household names, others remain less well-known yet equally fascinating. These offbeat styles often reflect the eccentric…

Weekend Art Challenge – Your Art Materials

Welcome to this weekends art challenge, where we thought it would be fun for you to draw, paint or even take an arty photo of your favourite or most treasured art materials for this weekend challenge. Choose ones perhaps that…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork on the subject of cute creatures. Our students have done a marvellous job here and this was definitely a popular challenge! From cats,…

Serena Carter

Serena Carter, one of our London Art College students, has tackled something a bit different for her latest piece. A large scale wall drawing and painting! She’s taken a practical and creative approach to scaling up her artwork, using sticky…

Georgi Holyoak

I have always dreamed of being a Children’s Book Illustrator and the content of this course seemed to perfectly align with skills I would need to learn to achieve that! Now having graduated, I can say I found the whole…

Why Artists Love Nature: A Look at Landscape Paintings

Nature has captivated artists for centuries, offering endless inspiration through its beauty, mystery, and power. Landscape painting, as a genre, goes beyond simply depicting scenery; it explores themes of harmony, human connection to the environment, and the vastness of the…

Weekend Art Challenge – Cute Creatures!

Welcome to this weekends artwork challenge. Its cuteness overload here! We would love for you to create a drawing or painting of a cute creature similar to the photos you see below. Invariably they will be some sort of baby…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork on the subject of Rainbows! What a joyful collection we have received! From paintings and drawings using watercolours, bright pastels, coloured pencils, acrylic…

Hannah Carey

We are thrilled to showcase this imaginative illustration by student Hannah Carey, who is currently studying on our Illustrating Children’s Books Diploma Course. This piece is part of a set Hannah submitted for one of her assignments. We love how…

Ariana Harkiolakis

This imaginative piece, created by young student Ariana Harkiolakis, showcases a fun and colourful “Disney Character Outfits Collection” for the Science Fiction & Fantasy Certificate course. Each character has been drawn with great attention to detail and personality, showing Ariana’s…

History of Self-Portraits: Rembrandt to Instagram

Self-portraits have been a vital form of artistic expression for centuries, allowing artists to explore their identities, document their lives, and showcase their skills. From the detailed works of the Renaissance to today’s ubiquitous selfies, self-portraits reveal not just the…

Weekend Art Challenge – Rainbows

Welcome to this weekend’s Art Challenge where the theme is Rainbows! We thought we would brighten your day by looking at colour and how rainbows are made, the colours within them and the transitions between each colour too. In a…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork where the subject begins with the letter H. Our students have excelled! From hedgehogs to highland cows, horses to hyacinths and even a…

Ingrid Van Duikeren

We are delighted to feature three beautiful paintings today by student Ingrid Van Duikeren, who is currently working through our Watercolour Diploma Course with tutor Steven Hersey. Ingrid’s work is full of atmosphere. She enjoys placing people within interesting everyday…

Tao Barry

We are thrilled to showcase the stunning botanical pencil and coloured pencil work by one of our students, Tao Barry, who is currently taking the Botanical Coloured Pencil Diploma Course. Tao has submitted a beautiful selection of studies during the…

What Is Perspective, and How Did It Change Art Forever?

Perspective is one of the most important concepts in art, revolutionising how artists depict the world around them. Before its introduction during the Renaissance, most artworks appeared flat and lacked depth. By learning how to create the illusion of three…

Weekend Art Challenge – Alphabet Challenge H

Welcome to our Alphabet Challenge. Every month this year we will have a new letter of the alphabet and students can draw or paint anything as long as it is beginning with that letter. Its the last challenge of March…

Weekend Art Challenge Results!

Welcome to our latest weekend art challenge where we set our students the task of creating artwork on the subject of Pandas! This week’s challenge brought an outbreak of panda-monium (Thank you to Catherine T for her panda-monium artwork!) in…