Edgar Payne’s Sailboat Paintings

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

A Closer Look at Vincent van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night

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

Konstantin Korovin: The First Russian Impressionist

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

Peter Paul Rubens: Key Facts, Paintings, and Style

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

A Closer Look at Vincent van Gogh’s Irises

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Vincent van Gogh Let’s take a closer look at Vincent van Gogh’s Irises. A beautiful display of shape and color with an illustrator-like feel. I’ll cover: Key Facts and Ideas For a painting simply of flowers, there’s a lot of meaningful history behind it. Here … Read more

A Closer Look at Claude Monet’s Waterloo Bridge Series

Let’s take a closer look at Claude Monet’s Waterloo Bridge series. A beautiful display of color and atmosphere, as you would expect from Monet. The series includes over 40 paintings created from 1899 to 1904. Though many have since been sold to private collections, lost, or destroyed; only a handful remain visible to the public. … Read more

A Closer Look at the Umbrella by Marie Bashkirtseff

In this post, I take a closer look at Marie Bashkirtseff’s The Umbrella. A subtle yet powerful painting. Bashkirtseff painted it in her early 20s, just a year or so before she died at 25. I cover: Who’s the Girl? There’s little information surrounding this painting; I picked it based on technique rather than any … Read more

Ivan Shishkin – “Czar of the Forest”

“Russia – country of landscapes… I hope the time will come, when all Russian nature, alive and penetrated by spirit, will look from canvases of Russian artists…” Ivan Shishkin Few have captured nature’s delicate beauty like Ivan Shishkin. A Russian master who tasted the rare fruits of an artist’s success but also bitter tragedy. I … Read more

Joaquín Sorolla – Luscious Brushwork and Seductive Color

There are a handful of artists I turn to whenever I need inspiration or motivation. Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923) is one of them. His luscious brushwork and seductive use of color always prompt me to pick up a brush and tackle the next painting. Key Facts, Events, and Ideas Sorolla was a prolific painter and one … Read more