This is a detailed guide on gouache painting. I’ll cover: What is Gouache? Gouache (pronounced ‘gwash’) is water-soluble paint that has a matte finish. It is similar to watercolor but is opaque instead of translucent. Gouache paint consists of color pigments bound in gum arabic or dextrin. White pigment or chalk-like material is added to … Read more
Hashtags help social media users discover new content related to a specific theme. For this reason, the right use and combination of hashtags will help to expose your work to a larger and more relevant audience. In this post, I share some tips for choosing the right hashtags for your posts, and I include some … Read more
(My “On the Easel” posts give you a behind-the-scenes look at what I am working on, what went well, what went wrong, and things I learn.) Below is Creek After Flood. It has been flooding heavily throughout Brisbane over the last few months. With that, many of the tiny creeks are flowing strong and the … Read more
“For me … a painting should be something to cherish, joyous and pretty, yes pretty!” Pierre-Auguste Renoir Let’s take a look at how to paint like Pierre-Auguste Renoir. I’ve never been much a fan of Renoir’s work. That was until I saw one of his paintings at the European Masters exhibition. A Young Girl With … Read more
Expert from the introduction: “This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Ordinary art means something like: all art not made by Mozart. After all, art is rarely made by Mozart-like people; essentially-statistically speaking-there aren’t any people like that. Geniuses get made once-a-century or so, yet good art gets made all the time, so … Read more
(My “On the Easel” posts give you a behind-the-scenes look at what I am working on, what went well, what went wrong, and things I learn.) Below is Caloundra, Shimmering Light. It depicts a high-contrast scene, with the shadowed foreground framing the shimmering Caloundra estuary. Reference Photo Here’s the reference photo I painted from: Feel … Read more
Let’s go over some of the different art styles you can use. I’ll cover: What Does Art Style Mean? Style in art refers to an artist’s unique combination of techniques, processes, and decisions. It develops and evolves over the lifetime of an artist. A distinct style can help with an artist’s branding and recognition. Many … Read more
I recently painted the garden outside my parents’ home. Surprisingly, this was my first time painting a garden scene like this. A good challenge and I think it turned out ok. Below is the finished painting plus some progress shots. I also put together a few garden painting tips for you: Want to Learn More? … Read more
In this post, I’ll cover: What You’ll Need To sharpen your pencil for drawing, you’ll need: A razor; Pencils (graphite or charcoal. I use charcoal); A sanding pad (you should be able to buy this at your local art store); Paper towel; and A hard, smooth surface to work on. Step-by-Step Process Let’s take a … Read more
Rosemary and Co brushes are my preferred brush providers. This review relates to their Ultimate Bristle line of oil paint brushes. Manufacturer A note from Rosemary and Co’s founder: “I’ve been making brushes for 38 years and supplying artists by mail order. I’m fortunate that my trade has allowed me to travel the world both … Read more