Sophie Ploeg
Welcome!
I am a Dutch-born artist, art tutor, writer and art historian, based in the UK. I run my online Art School with courses in oil and pastel painting. On my blog I write about everything art: painting tips and tricks, exhibition and book reviews and so much more. Check out The Art Cafe for a free and supportive community of like-minded arty folks
In my own painting I try to find a dynamic between the past and the present in my painterly depictions of lace, silk, and velvet as well as my portraiture. My portrait work has been exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the BP Portrait Award and elsewhere. I paint in oils and pastel and am available for commissions.
Which Pastel Paper Suits Me Best?
When it comes to sanded pastel papers there is a lot of choice and variety. Any beginning pastel painters would be forgiven for not knowing where
Vlog: How to Mix Colour on your Canvas
One thing I have learned from working with pastel for so many years, is how to mix your colours on your painting. So many painters struggle
Best Flower Paintings
Flower painting has been a strong favourite for artists and art lovers for centuries but they really became a subject in itself in the early 17th
Vlog: 6 Tips for Painting Portraits from Photos
Many of us paint portraits from photos. We can’t afford to hire a model, we don’t always have commissions, a model makes us feel awkward, or
A Review of Rublev Oils
Rublev oils are a unique paint in that they set out to only use historic pigments and provide us with the paints of the old masters.
Vlog: The Art of Pastel Magazine
I just found a new magazine (well, for me it is new) on pastel painting in a local newsagent. It's called The Art of Pastel and
How Does Artwork Archive Work? A Review
Artwork Archive is a database program especially made for artists, collectors and galleries. Because it is made for artists it is different from the usual database programs
My Favourite Book on Drawing
Why Draw?If you draw a lot you get better at painting. If you draw a lot you'll learn to see. If you draw a lot you
the past is not so far away after all
finding new meaning
through snippets of History
Busting some Painting Myths along the way
25 Oil Painting Tips
Improve your painting with this free ebook!
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