Claude Monet’s skies are a masterclass in color and movement. Vivid sunsets, pastel evenings, hazy mornings, booming clouds, and glimmering broken colors. I put together a collection of my favorites (see below). Here are some key observations from these paintings: He was a master of broken color. His paintings appear to vibrate with all the tiny … Read more
Most people know Edgar Payne for his vast and mountainous landscapes, but it seems he was also keen on painting sailboats. Below is a collection of his sailboat paintings, plus some key observations: Notice the strong use of shape. This is typical of Payne’s work. He had a knack for transforming complex subjects into basic shapes. … Read more
Let’s take a look at Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Café Terrace at Night. I’ll cover: Van Gogh describes it well: “On the terrace, there are little figures of people drinking. A huge yellow lantern lights the terrace, the façade, the pavement, and even projects light over the cobblestones of the street, which takes on a violet-pink … Read more
Below is Sunrise, Bribie Island. It’s a peaceful yet chaotic painting. Crashing waves, dramatic sunlight, and not another person in sight. Reference Photo and Study Below is the reference photo I painted from, plus a grid and grayscale version created using my free reference photo tool. I also painted a small study to clarify my … Read more
I wrote about Erin Hanson’s work in a recent email. It was a popular one. She’s a remarkable landscape artist based in California. Her work has a distinct style she calls “Open Impressionism”. I’m pleased to have her answer a few questions about her life, philosophy, and work. Q: I Understand You Are Deeply Inspired … Read more
The top Impressionists have inspired me since my late teens. Not just for their beautiful paintings, but also for their outlook on life, art, and their constant search for light, color, and life’s fleeting moments. Below are some of my favorite Impressionist quotes. There are some wise words here. “Everything that is painted directly and … Read more
This post is all about how to paint the illusion of detail. That is, how can we trick the eye into thinking there’s more going on than what’s actually there. I’ll cover: What It Means and Why It’s Important First, let’s go over what exactly the illusion of detail means and why it’s important. A … Read more
Below is Caloundra, Early Sunrise. It captures the initial moments of the sunrise. I was about to hit the water with my kayak. It was quiet and the sky was mostly dark, but warm light was starting to burst through the clouds. This follows on from my Caloundra, Dramatic Sunrise painting, which is based on … Read more
Below is Sierra Nevada. It’s perhaps my favorite recent painting. Let’s take a look at how I painted it. Reference Photo and Study Below is the reference photo I painted from. It was taken by my brother from his hike through America. Given the recent lockdowns around the world, I have been exploring other sources … Read more
Below is one of my more dramatic paintings, Dramatic Sunrise, Caloundra. Let’s take a look at how I painted it. Reference Photo Below is the reference photo I painted from. I had just hit the water in my kayak and was about to do some fishing. The glassy water reflected the fiery sky. A magnificent … Read more
Let’s take a closer look at Woman With a Parasol by Claude Monet. This painting embodies Impressionism and Monet’s work. A fleeting moment captured with light colors and fresh strokes. I’ll cover: (You can download a high-resolution version of the painting here. You get to see Monet’s strokes with remarkable clarity.) Key Facts and Ideas … Read more
First, thanks for all your support last year. If you read a post, commented, emailed, purchased, or shared-thank you. What a strange and turbulent year it was. Now is a great time to reflect on what went well, what didn’t go well, and what to do in 2021. What Went Well I’m excited to announce … Read more