John Singer Sargent (1856 – 1925) was a remarkable and prolific artist, having created over 900 oil paintings and 2,000 watercolor paintings during his life. You will notice that I use his work to illustrate many of the posts on Draw Paint Academy. In this post, I take a closer look at his work to…
Photoshop for Traditional Artists
Photoshop is a remarkable tool which can complement the work of traditional artists. I don’t claim to be a Photoshop expert, but I use it on an almost daily basis to help me explore compositions, identify colors, and alter reference photos, and so on. In this post, I will run through some of the ways…
A Closer Look at Ophelia by John Everett Millais
In this post, I take a closer look at the remarkably intricate Ophelia by British artist and founding member of the Pre-Raphaelites, Sir John Everett Millais. John Everett Millais, Ophelia, c.1851 Key Facts, Ideas, and Subject The figure in the painting is Ophelia, a character from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act IV, Scene VII. She is depicted lying…
How to Paint Waterfalls
Waterfalls are a fantastic subject to paint, particularly as a study of edges, color, and movement. But they can be challenging, with all the twists, turns, breaks, reflections, and turbulence as the water crashes down through the rocks. In this post, I will provide you with some guidance for how to paint waterfalls, using master…
Sir Winston Churchill – Painter and Prime Minister
Most people know Sir Winston Churchill for his role as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945. But few know that he was also an avid painter. In this post, I take a closer look at some of his paintings and his life in the arts. “Painting is a companion with whom…
A Closer Look at Portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent
Portrait of Madame X, or Madame X, is an elegant portrait by John Singer Sargent featuring a young socialite named Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau. Sargent ranked this as one of his best works, but it was also one of his most controversial. John Singer Sargent, Portrait of Madame X, 1884 Key Facts Here are some…
Plein Air Painting Setup
Since my last post on simplifying a complex scene, I have had several readers ask about my plein air painting setup. So, in case anyone else is curious, I have put together this post about what I have in my setup and why I have it. Requirements of the Plein Air Setup I had several…
How to Simplify a Complex Scene
I recently spent a night at the beautiful Secrets on the Lake in Queensland, Australia with my partner, Chontele. We stayed in a secluded lodge, nestled amongst the dense rainforest. I used this trip as a chance to test out some of my new plein air painting equipment. But, despite the stunning nature which surrounded…
A Closer Look at The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer
The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer is a stunning demonstration of realism, color, and composition. In this post, I take a closer look at the painting to see what you can learn and apply to your own art. Johannes Vermeer, The Milkmaid Key Facts, Ideas, and Subject The Milkmaid is thought to have been painted around…
Dappled Light
Dappled light refers to that spotted light which typically comes through gaps in a tree canopy. Below is a great example by Claude Monet—notice the spots of light orange amongst the dark purple shadows. Claude Monet, Garden Path, 1901 The shapes created by the dappled light vary based on: The position of the sun; The…
