A short film looking back at my modern art highlights of 2012, the best and most successful year I have had so far as an artist.

Like anything worthwhile, the effort involved in producing something you care about is rarely appreciated until you understand the work that goes into to making it. Any kind of creative or skilled process demands great attention to detail, passion and belief. When these three things are in place the results can be truly inspiring. For an artist this is no different. Much of the work that's involved is done without you ever seeing it or knowing about it; painting can be a small piece of a large jigsaw - even if it is the most important by a mile. I have so many things to consider when I need to create that the actual process of creating with paint is but a small part of a very much bigger picture (no pun intended)... Find out what goes into every piece I paint...

OK, so I have a large carpeted studio that is roomy, spacious and has everything I need in it. However, when big projects are on the go I often run short of space. In this single shot of my top floor I have highlighted areas of importance in terms of paintings and materials and given a brief outline of what I do and why I do it. Hope you find the brief tour and insight into an artists' studio interesting! Get the low down on the tools and materials I use on a regular basis long with an explanation of other cool stuff too.

In a world of conformity and rules it’s sometimes necessary to let everything go. Imagine for a moment that you are under 16 and have little or no interest in reality outside of the opposite sex, drinking and smoking. painted drip art on education day. Imagine that your puberty-ridden world is about to be challenged by some guy who throws paint around for a living. The prospect of having to sit around on a cold floor listening to some 40- something has-been drone on about colour and stuff, in some tedious monotonal blurb is almost too much to bear. No wonder you hate school so much. Your teacher has been trying for weeks to get you excited about the arrival of an artist but still you can’t raise so much as a derisory scowl. And then, the day of days comes. You are instructed to bring your old clothes to change into (as you might get messy) but not even the thought of casting aside a uniform in a defiant demonstration of self-expression can get you suitably enthused.

One thing I have learned over the last year is that entering ‘open-submission’ art competitions is, on the whole, as fruitful as trying to empty the Pacific ocean with a pipette. One major UK event boasts spaces for 1200 artists’ works from anyone resident in the UK. It carries significant weight with a prestigious name, airtime on television and can be a sign of recognition for the lucky few who get accepted. However, all is not what it seems. The actual number of slots for people like me is far less than those claimed, partly due to the usual stagnation of a network of favourites and names that get to curate their own artists’ works instead. Those that are left get whisked past a panel of cobweb-ridden philistines who are out of touch with anything but the most shocking or most mundane of artforms and genres. Your entry fee and transporting costs would be better spent with a children’s charity or a local hospice than being squandered on the notion that you are going to be the next Hirst or Emin

I have been featuring guest artists across the site on occasions as a way of being able to promote those individuals who's work spans genres and boundaries - often because of the sheer quality of their art. Charlton Palmer (aka CP The Artist) is no-exception to that constant. I became a fan of his unique style over a year ago partly down to a single piece that took my breath away (What Now? Feb 2010) “CP the Artist” is a visual artist with an ever changing concept that is not restricted to any category of medium, type or style. He can be urban art, digital art, traditional, modern, commercial art, abstract, classical, etc. His forte is digital painting, graphic art, traditional oil and acrylic painting.

I can't believe it's been another year since I last did my review of 2009. In many ways I am staggered by how far my work has evolved in twelve months. I have painted in more styles, produced more pieces and sold more more art than ever before - despite being in the middle of a global economic downturn. The video below shows my highlights of the last year including installations, my favourite pieces and previously unseen studio pictures. The music is deliberately cheesy and an absolute classic for kids of a certain age... Enjoy.

If you could read some of the random mail I get from people I think it would make your hair curl. Somedays i can't believe the audacity of some folk. However, i always reply back and always politely so I thought I would list my top ten favourites for your reading pleasure and the kind of responses I give. Enjoy and share if you can... 10. If I wanted a painting like that I would paint my own Then be my guest. What paints are you going to use then? I take it you have used paints before to produce abstract art? Mmmmm…..Let’s see. You will need canvas. I assume you know all about the weave densities and primer properties? Leaving paint aside what kind of painting are you going to produce? You are obviously confident about what colours to put together so it should be easy for you to stand in front of a blank canvas and create something you will want to look at every day?

For the first time ever I am taking my entire collection of original paintings to Spitalfields Art Market in London on November 25th - 28th this year. This bustling and vibrant open air market is the perfect venue for my work - allowing anyone and everyone to get up close and personal with the art and also with me. I plan to paint whilst I am there too - probably choosing to use a giant flat piece of canvas thrown onto the pedestrianized bit of the thoroughfare. I'll be splash painting, drip painting and probably using chalks and charcoals in some of the work too. I have never done this kind of exhibition before so I'm gearing myself up for an adventurous experience! There will be information packs to take away, hopefully my new promo DVD will be ready and lots of other things besides. So if you are in London around this time then come and shake my hand and say hello. I love to meet people who engage with my work. Being able to talk about what I do is as much pleasure as painting it so come and find any excuse to talk to me. All my art will be available to buy so if there's a piece you have your eye on then it's probably best to get to me early on Thursday morning just in case!

I like to feature the work of artists I know and admire from time to time and I am particularly pleased to be featuring the work of Rachelle Antoinette on my blog. I have long been a fan of Rachelle's bold and expressive style of painting - combining stunning colour combinations and tremendously expressive forms. In a world of diversity it's easy to place modern day artists into pigeon holes or stereotype them into genres. Personally, I work hard at mixing styles so I don't let that happen to me. With Rachelle's work - I see glimpses of established styles in her forms but uniquely she has captured a technique that is all her own - something very difficult to do these days. One of the irresistible things I enjoy about engaging with her paintings is the relative ease with which you are able to indulge yourself within them. They entice and lure you into their very core enabling an instant connection to be found. I also enjoy the freedom of her expression - it's that ability to not have to think too hard about what she is conveying that marks her talent out as unique.