When I ask readers what they are struggling with most in painting, one of the most common replies is a struggle to paint looser and more relaxed. This is a common problem in painting. We tend to overthink and overcomplicate things. The end result is usually a tight and overly refined painting (which is fine if … Read more
Early in your painting journey, you need to decide what kind of artist you want to be. The artist’s artist, or the critic’s artist. The artist’s artist lives to impress and inspire other artists. They do not care for the opinions of self-appointed critics and gallery owners. They do not care about art trends or society’s fickle … Read more
Most of the time I focus on colorful landscapes and seascapes, but this post is a change of theme. I will be taking a closer look at some of the most dramatic paintings I have come across. These paintings demonstrate just how powerful art can be and how much emotion we are able to depict … Read more
We all understand the importance of lines in art. A line is the first thing we learn to draw. But we tend to overlook the importance of implied lines. These are lines that are not actually there but rather implied or suggested by the context of the artwork. In this post, I will go into more detail on … Read more
The seascape can be a challenging subject to paint. Water is unpredictable by nature and has translucent and reflective qualities which can be a pain to deal with. In this post, I’ll give you several tips to help you effectively paint seascapes. These are aimed at beginner artists, but more advanced artists may also find … Read more
I get a number of questions from readers asking if “X” is considered cheating in art. My answer is usually the same across the board – nothing is really cheating as long as it helps you create what you want to create and that your integrity remains intact. Below are some of the questions and … Read more
I watched a fascinating documentary the other day about an Australian Impressionist artist named John Russell. This was my first time hearing about this artist, despite him being a fellow Australian and also being connected with many prominent artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. It seems like there is an endless pool of … Read more
Expressionism originated in Germany in the early 20th century. It is a difficult movement to define as it seems to overlap with many of other movements (Cubism, Surrealism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism). No wonder art history can be so confusing to an outsider with the vast number of “isms”. As its name suggests, Expressionism is characterized by … Read more
Color studies are perfect for exploring different arrangements of color without having to worry about other aspects of painting like accuracy and composition. In this post, I will walk you through how to go about doing color studies and what you can learn from them. I’ll cover: What Is a Color Study? A color study … Read more
Learning how to draw or paint is such a rewarding and fulfilling journey. There is nothing like watching color fill the canvas and the subject start to take form. But it doesn’t come without frustrations. Here are 5 things which I think you should know before you embark on your own art journey. 1. You … Read more
Back during the old master times, if you wanted to become an artist it was expected that you attend a prestigious art school or atelier so you could learn from the best in person. Outside of this, one would struggle to develop as an artist due to a lack of available information. Times have changed … Read more
The top Impressionists have had a tremendous influence on my personal development as an artist. They tested the boundaries of what is possible with color and demonstrated that subject matter is not the be-all and end-all in painting. They showed you can paint something just because it is pretty, without any deep underlying meaning, and you … Read more