Let’s explore some of the most significant modern art movements and their key characteristics. 1872 – 1892 Impressionism Masters of color and light. Marked a radical departure from the realistic academic painting that had dominated the eras prior. Key artists: Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Mary Cassatt. Learn more about Impressionism… “When … Read more
I completed two paintings in June 2022: Brisbane City, Mist and Brisbane City, White Light. The first follows a more impressionist style, with dynamic brushwork, exaggerated color, and simplified detail. The latter follows a more realistic style, with fine rendering, restrained colors, and careful detailing. Note: If you are new to painting, don’t worry yet about style. It … Read more
Watercolor is one of the oldest and most ready-to-use mediums. Experts date its existence as far back as the Paleolithic times. However, watercolors started to be recognized as an art medium until the Renaissance and from then on have continued to be used by some of the most talented artists of all times. In this … Read more
The sky is a challenging and dynamic subject. This guide will provide you with guidance on how to paint it. I’ll cover: Shape and Form The sky is transient and fleeting by nature, but that doesn’t mean you should depart from all ideas of structure, shape, and form when painting it. If anything, these concepts … Read more
This follows on from my recent email: Why Theory Is Important. A few readers asked what my go-to resources are for learning theory. Below are a few off the top of my head. Books Alla Prima II by Richard Schmid – A must-read for aspiring artists. Covers technique and fundamental principles. The Art Spirit by Robert … Read more
Your inspiration for today is The Letter by Frederick McCubbin. (Click here to download a high-resolution photo of the painting.) Some key notes and observations: If you enjoyed this, you might be interested in Composition Breakdown. I feature another stunning painting by McCubbin in that course. Happy painting! Dan Scott drawpaintacademy.com
Earlier this year, I had to let this painting go to a new home. It’s bitter-sweet when you sell a painting. Especially when it’s a personal favorite. On one hand, you sold a painting! No easy task as I’m sure you’re aware. On the other hand, it’s hard to let a painting go after all … Read more
I was out driving earlier this week and one of my favorite songs came on the radio. It used to be my go-to for study and workout motivation back in university. This song sparks the same uplifting feelings in me today as it did back then, some 15 years ago. It also sparks memories of … Read more
I’m writing to share with you an artist by the name of Henry Hensche. A reader let me know about his work earlier this week. I spent the last hour exploring his website. His work is stunning and unique. His website is also quite informative, if you can look past the dated design. You can … Read more
I often write about the broken color technique. Which basically refers to using a brush or palette knife to create a patchwork of distinct, interwoven colors. You’ll see it up close in many of the top Impressionist paintings. Like Claude Monet’s Haystacks. Or Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Chestnut Tree in Bloom. Broken color is one of my … 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.) Let’s take a look at how I painted Maryvale, Overcast. It’s a simple landscape with rich greens, dark trees, and a moody sky. Reference Photo and Study Here’s the … Read more
Let’s take a closer look at Claude Monet’s Poplars series. I’ll cover: Key Details Monet painted the Poplars series in 1891 and 92. He did paint poplars on a few earlier occasions. The first was Meadow with Poplars painted in 1875. Another was Poplars in the Sun, 1887 (shown below). These early paintings are not … Read more