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
The idea of the starving artist is nothing more than a myth. We live in a period when you can monetize literally anything. I don’t really like talking about money but it is an important topic. Without money, it can be difficult to practice your craft. My thoughts on art and money are this…. Do … Read more
I recently put the finishing touches on a painting based on a photo from my Bali travels. It was an overcast day and we were walking through a temple which was claimed by monkeys. The temple was situated amongst the trees on the top of a cliff. The winding path around the side of the cliff … Read more
In this post, I discuss how you can paint under different light sources. This post is a follow-on to my post about color temperature. Introduction The single most important factor which determines what colors we see is the light source. It is light which allows us to experience color. Light is also what unites all … Read more
William Holman Hunt (2 April 1827 – 7 September 1910) was an English painter known for his incredibly intricate paintings and clever use of color. He also founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848, which was a group of artists who rejected the mechanistic approach adopted by artists who succeeded Raphael and Michelangelo. He was actually not all that … Read more
Color temperature generally refers to how “warm” or “cool” a color is. But if only it were that simple. It seems every artist has a different interpretation of what color temperature means in art. In this post I want to break down color temperature and what it means for us artists. What Does Color Temperature … Read more
During the many years I have been painting, there have been a number of simple practices which have helped me actually improve and keep going, despite the struggles I faced. These practices have helped when motivation was low, when inspiration seemed to elude me and when I procrastinated over that first stroke on the white … Read more
Willard Leroy Metcalf (July 1, 1858 – March 9, 1925) was a prominent American painter known for his beautiful impressionist landscapes. He initially started with portraits and illustration, during which time he would have developed his accuracy and drawing ability, but it was his landscapes that brought him to fame. The Ten American Painters Willard Metcalf … Read more
One area I have been really interested in lately is gesture drawing. I have found it to be a fantastic way to improve how I see as an artist and train my understanding of form and anatomy. Over the past few months, I have spent about 10 to 20 minutes a day doing some simple … Read more