Tuesday Art Chat with Kerri

Kerri Dixon
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Join artist Kerri Dixon each week for a down-to-earth, inspiring chat about all things art—from creative confidence and pastel tips to studio routines, selling your work, and finding inspiration in everyday life. Whether you're a hobby artist or dreaming of going pro, grab a cuppa and tune in for practical advice, real talk, and a supportive creative boost every Tuesday!

  1. 4d ago

    From Photo to Artwork

    How to Take Reference Photos With a Painting in Mind In this episode, Kerri Dixon explains how wildlife artists can move beyond “good photos” and start collecting reference images that actually support a stronger painting. She shares a practical way to see, capture, and design compositions, using her own zoo photography and studio editing process as examples.The focus is on reference photos, composition, and lighting, with a clear message: the camera records the scene, but the artist makes the painting. Key topics In this episode, Kerri Dixon introduces the idea of taking reference photos with the final artwork in mind, not just snapping a nice wildlife picture.She explains why it helps to look beyond the animal and scan the full frame for distractions, background shapes, light, poles, fences, and other elements that affect composition.Kerri shares a meerkat example from Australia Zoo, where moving slightly to the side removed a boab tree that looked like it was growing out of the animal’s head.She emphasizes collecting options rather than hunting for one perfect image, including wide shots, close-ups, verticals, horizontals, and different angles.Kerri talks about photographing details like fur, ears, feet, tail, shadows, grasses, and environmental textures so later studio work has more information to draw from.She explores how lighting can make or break a reference photo, especially directional light, edge highlights, eye highlights, and strong shadows that reveal form.She also notes that soft overcast light can be valuable too, depending on whether the goal is mood, form, color, or clarity.In the studio, Kerri describes using a rule of thirds template in Canva, Photoshop, or Procreate to test different crops and placements before drawing.She reframes the rule of thirds as a guide rather than a rule, encouraging artists to experiment with centered compositions, negative space, and subject placement.Kerri closes with a simple three-step mindset: see it, capture it, design it, then use multiple photos to build a stronger artwork and a stronger artistic voice.

  2. Aug 25

    Portrait Artists of the Year Australia and the Myth of Making Art the Hard Way

    KerriDixon talks about what she learned from watching Portrait Artists of the Year Australia and why it challenged her assumptions about how “proper” portrait art is made. The episode is a reminder that tools like photos, grids, iPads, tracing, and mixed media are not shortcuts to avoid real art, but practical parts of the creative process.In this episode, Kerry connects portraiture practices to wildlife art, showing how the same principles apply when your subject moves, changes light, or won’t cooperate. She also shares a simple challenge to try one reference three different ways and see which method supports your best work. Key topics Kerri explains why she started watching Portrait Artists of the Year Australia and what surprised her most about the artists’ processThe episode challenges the idea that professional portrait artists must work only from lifeKerri discusses how artists use photos to capture a specific moment, expression, or angle before the subject changesShe connects portrait techniques to wildlife art, where taking your own reference photos is often essentialKerri explains the difference between simply finding a photo and creating a reference by making artistic decisions firstShe describes the use of grids, measuring, loose sketches, tracing, and digital overlays as tools for accurate proportionsThe episode reframes grids and transfers as scaffolding, not the artwork itselfKerri highlights how different artists use the same medium, especially pastels, in very different waysShe encourages experimentation with pastel sticks, pastel pencils, broad marks, layering, and mixed media to discover personal styleThe main takeaway is that there is no single “proper” way to make art, only the method that helps you create the artwork you wantChoose one reference photo and draw it freehand, with a grid, and with a squiggle gridNotice which method feels most accurate, most freeing, or most frustratingFocus on strengthening your foundations before adding detailAsk whether a tool helps you make the artwork you want rather than whether it is the “proper” methodExperiment with materials and mark-making to discover what naturally shapes your style

  3. Aug 20

    Are Muddy Colours a Bad Thing

    In this episode, Kerri Dixon breaks down muddy colours, why they happen, and why they are not always a problem. She uses practical examples from wildlife and nature art to show how complementary colours, value, and careful observation can make colour mixing feel much simpler. Kerri also gives a clear method for choosing colours without memorizing the whole colour wheel - start with the right colour family, then ask what is wrong with the colour you have and make one small adjustment at a time. Key topics Carrie introduces the episode as a response to a student question from Aster about muddy colours and colour mixingWhat muddy colour actually means - usually a loss of brightness or intensity, not automatically a bad colourThe difference between a colour becoming muted on purpose and becoming muddy by accidentWhy overworking pastels and adding too many colours can fill the tooth of the paper and make colour harder to controlA simple colour wheel refresher covering primary colours, secondary colours, and complementary pairsWhy complementary colours work like a volume control for intensityHow orange and blue, green and red, and purple and yellow can neutralize each other into more natural-looking tonesWhy realistic painting depends on observing what is actually there, not what the brain thinks should be thereThe importance of value - lightness and darkness - when a colour looks wrong even if the hue seems rightHow muted colours help bright focal points stand out in wildlife and nature paintingsWhy leaving some colours unblended can create richer texture, especially in fur and feathersA practical exercise for making deliberate muddy colours and finding those same hues in nature referencesTwo simple questions to use while painting: what colour family am I in, and what is wrong with the colour I have?

  4. Aug 11

    Social Media for Artists - Pinterest

    Pinterest for Artists: Inspiration, Style Clues, and Copyright Kerri Dixon wraps up her social media for artists series by showing how Pinterest can work as a visual search engine, an inspiration board, and a practical tool for artists who want to refine their taste and support their creative process. She also covers the big copyright caution with Pinterest and explains how artists can use the platform without confusing inspiration with reference or copying. In this episode, Kerri Dixon shares how she uses Pinterest to collect colour ideas, composition studies, lighting references, and style clues, while also reminding artists that social media should serve the art, not the other way around. If you want a simple, thoughtful way to use Pinterest more intentionally, this episode gives you a clear framework. Key topics Pinterest is better understood as a visual search engine than as traditional social mediaArtists can use Pinterest like a digital inspiration scrapbook, similar to old magazine tear-outs and foldersOrganizing boards by purpose makes ideas easier to find later, such as colour, composition, lighting, wildlife, still life, textures, and studio inspirationPrivate boards are useful for planning a specific artwork or collecting mood board material before you start paintingPinterest images are not copyright free, even if they appear on the platform, so reference use still needs permission and awareness of ownershipInspiration and reference are not the same thing, and Kerry encourages artists to ask what they like about an image rather than copying it directlyStudying composition on Pinterest can teach artists to notice cropping, negative space, focal points, contrast, and visual balancePinterest can help artists explore colour palettes such as rust and teal, coastal tones, autumn palettes, and earthy neutralsKerri suggests a style-finding exercise using two boards: one for work you do not like and one for work that feels like youPinterest can also help people get discovered if they share finished work, work in progress, sketchbook pages, tutorials, or blog content through their own online spaces

  5. Jul 28

    Social Media For Artists - Youtube

    Why Artists Should Embrace YouTube as a Learning ToolDiscover how YouTube can revolutionize your art practice—not just through tutorials but as a source of inspiration, research, and community. Kerri explores practical strategies for integrating YouTube into your artistic growth and warns of common pitfalls to avoid. Key Topics How YouTube removes geographical barriers to art learning and inspirationThe value of learning from multiple artists to find your personal techniquesUsing YouTube for quick answers to technical questions (like drawing white fur or photographing art)Researching art supplies through honest reviews and demonstrationsCreating playlists for organized, targeted learning modulesUnderstanding wildlife and subjects to enhance realism and believability in artBalancing passive learning with active creation to improve skillsThe three stages of learning: inspiration, education, and practiceThe importance of structured courses and workshops for step-by-step guidanceHow memberships and online courses support detailed, slowed-down learningCreative Barn Membership – Online art courses and community support

  6. Jul 23

    Reflections from Soft Pastel Week

    This episode explores how artistic growth is about much more than improving technique — it’s also about building confidence, finding a clear learning path, and staying motivated through routine and community support. Kerry reflects on the real “wins” from a week of pastel practice and Soft Pastel Week, sharing how small achievements, encouragement, and playful goals can help artists keep creating, especially after workshops end. The episode also highlights the importance of connection and self-belief in overcoming creative doubt and sustaining long-term progress. If you'd like to continue your art journey with Kerri, head to The Creative Barn Membership to learn more.

  7. Jul 7

    Social Media for Artists - Facebook

    Discover how Facebook can be a powerful tool for artists, not just for sharing work but for building meaningful connections, finding reference resources, and creating new opportunities. Wildlife artist Carrie Dixon shares practical tips, success stories, and strategies to leverage Facebook’s community features effectively. In this episode: Why Facebook remains valuable for artists despite being viewed as outdatedThe difference between Facebook profiles, pages, and groups for art businessesHow joining niche communities enhances engagement and salesUsing Facebook groups to find wildlife reference photos and permissionsThe importance of Facebook Live for building trust and accountabilityThe role of Messenger in establishing personal client relationshipsThe variety of niche and regional Facebook groups for artistsPrecautions for social media safety: owning your website and email listA social media challenge: join three groups, share relevant work, comment thoughtfullyFinal encouragement to see Facebook as a community hub for genuine relationships

  8. Jul 1

    Social Media for Artists - Instagram

    Wildlife artist Kerry Dixon discusses how Instagram can serve as a digital portfolio for artists, emphasizing the importance of sharing artwork for visibility and community building. www.kerridixonart.com Points of Interest Artists often create artwork that remains unseen; Instagram offers an online gallery space.Instagram as a visual diary to track artistic progress and milestones over the years.The platform helps connect artists globally and build a supportive community.How to differentiate inspiration from comparison; learning from others rather than feeling discouraged.Success stories of artists gaining opportunities like product endorsements through genuine engagement.Different Instagram features explained: posts, carousels, stories, reels—each with unique purposes.Advice for beginners: start simple, create an account, upload a few artworks, and focus on sharing authentically.Encouragement to join or showcase within the Creative Barn community, fostering mutual support.The ultimate goal is creating and sharing work that reflects your story, not chasing fame.

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About

Join artist Kerri Dixon each week for a down-to-earth, inspiring chat about all things art—from creative confidence and pastel tips to studio routines, selling your work, and finding inspiration in everyday life. Whether you're a hobby artist or dreaming of going pro, grab a cuppa and tune in for practical advice, real talk, and a supportive creative boost every Tuesday!

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