In the fine art world, painters aren’t just making random standalone pieces—they’re building bodies of work. This article breaks down what “body of work,” “series,” and “one-offs” really mean, how artists like Christian Hook and Nick Alm use them, and how you can shape a cohesive, evolving practice of your own.

Artist labels like “emerging,” “mid-career,” and “established” show up everywhere—open calls, residencies, grant applications. But what do they actually mean? In this post, I break down how the art world uses these terms (and how flexible they really are), with examples from artists like Kelogsloops, Agnes Cecile, and Christian Hook. Whether you're new to painting or deep into your practice, this guide will help you understand where you are on your journey—and why the labels matter less than you think.

Today marks my first blog post, where I share why I painted cairns. It wasn’t just for beauty; it was to push through a creative block.

Many artists hit this wall and stop, but I chose to paint something simple and familiar. As I persevered, my work transformed, and I created a piece I’m proud of. The lesson? Embrace discomfort and use it to explore new possibilities. This applies to life too. Keep creating and exploring, and remember, feeling lost can lead to amazing and beautiful outcomes.