Tuesday Art Chat with Kerri

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 inspiration
The value of learning from multiple artists to find your personal techniques
Using YouTube for quick answers to technical questions (like drawing white fur or photographing art)
Researching art supplies through honest reviews and demonstrations
Creating playlists for organized, targeted learning modules
Understanding wildlife and subjects to enhance realism and believability in art
Balancing passive learning with active creation to improve skills
The three stages of learning: inspiration, education, and practice
The importance of structured courses and workshops for step-by-step guidance
How memberships and online courses support detailed, slowed-down learning
Creative Barn Membership – Online art courses and community support

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.

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Why Facebook remains valuable for artists despite being viewed as outdated
The difference between Facebook profiles, pages, and groups for art businesses
How joining niche communities enhances engagement and sales
Using Facebook groups to find wildlife reference photos and permissions
The importance of Facebook Live for building trust and accountability
The role of Messenger in establishing personal client relationships
The variety of niche and regional Facebook groups for artists
Precautions for social media safety: owning your website and email list
A social media challenge: join three groups, share relevant work, comment thoughtfully
Final encouragement to see Facebook as a community hub for genuine relationships

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.

In this episode, wildlife artist and educator Carrie Dixon dives into the fascinating world of abstract realism—a style that blurs the lines between accuracy and expression. Discover how moving beyond photographs can unleash your artistic voice and evoke emotion in your art.
Main Topics:
What is abstract realism and how does it differ from pure realism and abstraction
The importance of artistic voice and emotional communication in art
How history and movement like impressionism and cubism influence abstract realism
Techniques for integrating abstraction into realistic subjects, especially in pastel
The role of image gathering, inspiration boards, and decision-making in developing a unique style
The idea that mastery in realism enables artists to know what to leave out for more impactful work

SOFT PASTEL WEEK JOIN HERE starts 12th July 2026