Painting Honeymoon Bay, Tasmania

In this post, I walk you through my painting of the stunning Honeymoon Bay in Tasmania. This is a large-scale painting done on a 24×30 inch canvas in oils. I’ll cover: Reference Photo and Analysis Below is the reference photo I painted from. It was taken under the bright, midday sun. The water was a … Read more

How to Oil Paint Without Using Solvents or Mediums

One of the most common reservations artists have with oil painting is the use of harsh chemicals like solvents and mediums. To a beginner, these additional supplies can seem overwhelming. Painting is hard enough without the added confusion of mediums and solvents. But you do not need to use additional solvents and mediums in oil painting. … Read more

5 Things to Do Before You Start Your Painting

I previously wrote about 11 things you should do after you finish your painting, so I thought it only makes sense to also write about what you should do before you start. I am a firm believer that some of the most important work happens before you even pick up your brush. Below are some … Read more

5 Tips for Painting Faster and More Efficiently

When you watch some of the top artists paint, you may be wondering how they do it so fast! They seem to make every stroke without hesitation and the canvas quickly takes form and fills with color. The reason they are able to paint so fast is mostly due to experience. The top artists are … Read more

Oil Painting – The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Oil paints are one of the most popular artistic mediums, and for good reason. They are versatile, archival, and economical. But it can be a struggle to pick up. There are some “rules” you need to be aware of and the techniques can take some time to become familiar with. This guide covers most of the … Read more

Oil Paint Drying Time and How You Can Manipulate It

Oil paint is inherently slow drying compared to other painting mediums such as acrylic, watercolor or gouache paints. Because of this, you have much more time to manipulate oil paint on your canvas before it dries. This is one of the reasons why oil paint is so widely used by artists. So how long does … Read more

How to Start an Oil Painting

The most difficult strokes to make in an oil painting are the first and last strokes. The first strokes are because you may not know where to start and the last strokes are because you may not know when to stop. This post is all about how to start an oil painting to help you … Read more

Inspiring Seascapes by Frederick Judd Waugh

Frederick Judd Waugh (1861 – 1940) was a leading American artist known for his beautiful seascape paintings. He was the son of painter Samuel Waugh and studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Interestingly, he was a camouflage artist for the U.S. Navy during World War I. His seascape paintings are incredibly realistic, without being … Read more