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
Here’s another painting based on one of my brother’s photos from his hike across America. It’s a showcase of nature’s light, color, and texture. Reference Photo and Study Here’s the reference photo I painted from (thanks again Tim). Feel free to paint it yourself. Tim doesn’t mind. Just let us know how it turns out. … Read more
I was reading about Frans Hals the other day, a remarkable portrait painter from the 1600s. I got the feeling he was torn between money and passion. On one hand, he needed to satisfy the needs of the wealthy individuals he painted. They paid the bills after all. On the other hand, he was an … Read more
“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, and some fantasy.” Edgar Degas Let’s take a closer look at Edgar Degas’ ballet dancers. It’s a large body of work, containing around 1,500 paintings, sketches, pastels, and sculptures. Degas sums them up nicely in the above quote. I cover: A Study of Movement and Life Degas … Read more
One of the great painters of the Golden Age of Dutch painting, Frans Hals was known for his group and individual portraits, but more particularly, for a uniquely individual style that incorporated obvious brushstrokes, and realistic facial expressions to bring life and character to his subjects. I’ll cover: Key Details Birth: Variously reported as 1580, … Read more
Below is the first finished painting from my new studio, American Mountains. I’ve been struggling for inspiration lately, so I reached out to my brother for help. A few years ago, he spent about six months hiking through the American landscape. He took some wonderful photos and has allowed me to paint them (thanks Tim!). Reference … Read more
Konstantin Korovin (1861-1939) was a notable Russian artist of the impressionist, art nouveau and realism periods, and a prominent theatre designer and writer. Key Details Birth: Date: 5 December 1861, Place: MoscowDeath: Age: 77, Date: 11 September 1939, Place: Paris, FranceEducation: Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1878-1886); St Petersburg Academy for ArtMedium: OilStyle: … Read more
Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) was a Flemish artist known for his dramatic Baroque style. Key Details Birth: Date: 28 June 1577 Place: Siegen, Germany Death: Age: 62 Date: 13 May 1640, Place: Antwerp, Belgium Education: Classically educated and apprenticed to art teachers. Medium: Oil Style: Baroque Education Peter Paul Rubens received a Roman Catholic … Read more
Below is Morning Lookout. It depicts Toowoomba’s landscape (Queensland, Australia), just before the sun peered above the horizon. All of nature’s pastel colors were out to play. Reference Photo and Color Studies Here’s the reference photo I painted from: I also painted a few watercolor studies on location (see below). I haven’t touched watercolors in … Read more
This is a detailed guide on how to paint color gradations. I wrote this in light of a recent painting, Morning Lookout (shown below). It’s a study of the early morning’s subtle color gradations just before the sun peers above the horizon line. I cover: Color Gradation Meaning Color gradation refers to the transition from … Read more