In this post, I take a closer look at The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt. This is a masterful demonstration of composition and accuracy. It is also a change from the colorful impressionist landscapes which I seem to favor. Rembrandt, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes, 1632 Key Facts About The Anatomy Lesson…
Rhythm in Art – Master Painting Examples
Rhythm in art refers to the arrangement of shapes in a way which creates an underlying beat. It is similar to the rhythm of music, but instead of notes and sounds, we use colors and shapes. The best way to learn about rhythm in art is to see it in action. Below, I take a…
John Atkinson Grimshaw – the Inventor of Nocturnes
John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836 – 1893) was an English painter known mostly for his moonlit nocturne paintings. As James McNeill Whistler once said: “I considered myself the inventor of nocturnes until I saw Grimmy’s moonlit pictures”. In this post, you will learn more about his life and paintings. Just be mindful that he did not…
How to Paint Leaves (Without Getting Caught up in the Details)
In this post, you will learn fundamental tips for painting leaves. Many painters seem to get caught up in all the intricate details when painting leaves. They use a small brush to painstakingly depict every single leaf on a tree. But, despite the effort, the end result often looks overworked and tedious. These tips will…
Winslow Homer – Illustrator, War Artist and Master Painter
Winslow Homer (1836 – 1910) was a remarkable American painter who mastered several mediums, including oils and watercolors. He lived a fascinating life; working as a commercial illustrator, an artist-correspondent for the Civil War, being published on commemorative stamps and achieving financial success as a fine artist. He did all this as a largely self-taught…
Tonalism – Key Facts, Ideas and Artworks
Tonalism was an art movement which emerged in the United States during the 1870s and was characterized by hazy and atmospheric landscapes and muted color palettes. In this post, I will discuss some of the key facts, ideas, artists and take a closer look at some master Tonalist paintings. Albert Pinkham Ryder, The Lovers’ Boat,…
Split Primary Color Palette – Using It to Mix Vivid Secondary Colors
A split primary color palette refers to a palette of colors with both warm and cool variations of the primary colors (being red, blue and yellow). The purpose is to mix a wider gamut of colors. I explain this in more detail below. Color Wheel Using Just the Primary Colors Mixing a color wheel using…
A Closer Look at A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat
In this post I take a closer look at Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Georges Seurat, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, 1884 Key Facts About A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte It was painted between May 1884 and March 1886 and is…
Subtractive and Additive Color – Different Systems for How We See Color
There are two systems which determine how we see color – subtractive and additive color. As an artist, it is essential that you understand these two color systems so that you can make informed decisions about the colors you use. Subtractive Color Subtractive color is how we see color in paints. It is the result…
James Gurney – Artist, Teacher and Creator of Dinotopia
I am pleased to have James Gurney share some of his thoughts on art, business and learning. James created the illustrated book series Dinotopia, wrote Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter, writes a daily blog on Gurney Journey and is a skilled artist and teacher, among many other things. How did you…
