What Are Color Schemes in Art? A color scheme is used to describe the overall selection of colors in an artwork. The major color schemes in art are analogous, complementary, split-complementary, triadic, rectangular and monochromatic. These color schemes utilize colors at certain locations on the color wheel. Before I get into it, I should point…
How to Paint Rocks and Cliffs
Rocks and cliffs form a key part of landscape painting, but many people seem to struggle with painting them. This is probably due to the organic and irregular shapes they come in, combined with a lack of understanding about light and shadow. In this post I walk you through how to paint rocks and cliffs,…
What You Can Learn from These Master Winter Landscape Paintings
In this post I will be taking a look at several master winter landscape paintings. Sadly, I don’t get much of a chance to paint snowy, winter landscapes. There is not much snow in Australia as you would expect. But next time I travel to the snow, I will draw inspiration from the master paintings…
Alla Prima (Wet on Wet) Painting Tips
Alla prima refers to a direct painting approach where paint is applied wet on wet without letting earlier layers dry. In Italian the term alla prima means “at first attempt”. Paintings created in this approach are usually completed within a single session. This made it popular with the Impressionists, as they were able to more easily…
Forest Painting at Crystal Creek
I recently returned from a beautiful getaway at Crystal Creek in New South Wales, Australia. My partner and I stayed in a villa nestled within the forest. I used this as an opportunity to do some forest painting on location from the balcony of our villa. I usually paint from a studio, so this was…
How to Paint Looser and More Relaxed
Joaquín Sorolla, Return from Fishing, the Beach in Valencia, 1907 When I ask readers what they are struggling with most in painting, one of the most common replies is a struggle to paint looser and more relaxed. This is a common problem in painting. We tend to overthink and overcomplicate things. The end result is usually…
Seascape Painting Tips For Beginners
Frederick Judd Waugh, Winds And Seas The seascape can be a challenging subject to paint. Water is unpredictable by nature and has translucent and reflective qualities which can be a real pain to deal with. In this post I give some seascape painting tips for beginners. 1. Capture the Gesture of the Seascape Gesture in…
Using Color Studies To Explore And Test Different Color Arrangements
Color studies are perfect for exploring different arrangements of color without having to worry about other aspects of painting like accuracy and composition. In this post I will walk you through how to go about doing color studies and what you can learn from them. What Is A Color Study? A color study is usually…
How To Effectively Use Brushwork In Your Paintings
Virtuoso brushwork is a defining feature of many of the great artists. They wielded their brush like it was an extension of their arm and paint flowed effortlessly onto the canvas. They knew when to paint thick and when to paint smooth. When to paint with delicate attention and when to simplify the detail. When…
How To Oil Paint Without Using Solvents Or Mediums
One of the most common reservations artists have with oil painting is the use of harsh chemicals like solvents and mediums. To a beginner, these additional supplies can seem overwhelming. Painting is hard enough without the added confusion of mediums and solvents. But you do not need to use additional solvents and mediums in oil painting.…
