This post features 7 colorful landscape paintings to hopefully spark your inspiration, as they have done for me. In these paintings, the dominant feature is color rather than composition, value, brushwork or any other element. It is actually very challenging to pull off a painting where color is the dominant feature because if you are … Read more
I previously wrote about 11 things you should do after you finish your painting, so I thought it only makes sense to also write about what you should do before you start. I am a firm believer that some of the most important work happens before you even pick up your brush. Below are some … Read more
It is no secret that art is a tough way to make a living. Part of the reason is that creative people are often lacking in the marketing department. If you find yourself struggling to sell your art, then you might want to take a step back and consider why exactly that is the case. … Read more
The classic still life is one of the few subjects you can paint that you have almost full control over. You are not vulnerable to changes in the environment or the subject just moving. As a result, still life subjects have allowed artists to really test what is possible in terms of brushwork, color and … Read more
This is a buyer’s guide for the best drawing pencils for artists. But before I get into it, you should note that none of these pencils will make you a better artist. You may find some pencils more comfortable to use, but they all do essentially the same thing and they are all capable of … Read more
When you watch some of the top artists paint, you may be wondering how they do it so fast! They seem to make every stroke without hesitation and the canvas quickly takes form and fills with color. The reason they are able to paint so fast is mostly due to experience. The top artists are … Read more
The background in a painting is by nature out of the spotlight. But that does not mean it is not important! In fact, the background has the incredibly important role of providing context and contrast for the main subjects. Remember, painting is all relative. Without a dull background, how would your stunning colors and delicate … Read more
The sad reality of painting is that you will make mistakes, especially if you are just starting out. Things rarely go as planned. The drawing might look slightly awkward, the colors might not work together or you might have just made one too many strokes. In this post, I want to discuss how you can deal with making … Read more
When I ask my readers what their single biggest struggle is in painting the most common answer by far is…. “I want my paintings to look more realistic”. I think it is always important to have some quality of realism to your paintings no matter what style you paint in. Otherwise, people will be left … Read more
Oil paints are one of the most popular artistic mediums, and for good reason. They are versatile, archival, and economical. But it can be a struggle to pick up. There are some “rules” you need to be aware of and the techniques can take some time to become familiar with. This guide covers most of the … Read more
As some of you already know, I ventured on the Overland Track in Tasmania recently. The scenery there was stunning and of course I managed to take many reference photos to paint back in the studio. I recently put the finishing touches on a painting based on the following reference photo. Here is a step-by-step … Read more
The seascape is a fantastic and versatile subject for painting. You could paint the glassy water on a calm day, or the crashing waves of the ocean during a storm. One of the reasons the seascape is such a popular subject is because of the unique way water seems to capture and reflect all the … Read more