This post is all about how to paint the illusion of detail. That is, how can we trick the eye into thinking there’s more going on than what’s actually there. I’ll cover: What It Means and Why It’s Important First, let’s go over what exactly the illusion of detail means and why it’s important. A … Read more
Here’s another painting based on one of my brother’s photos from his hike across America. It’s a showcase of nature’s light, color, and texture. Reference Photo and Study Here’s the reference photo I painted from (thanks again Tim). Feel free to paint it yourself. Tim doesn’t mind. Just let us know how it turns out. … Read more
Below is the first finished painting from my new studio, American Mountains. I’ve been struggling for inspiration lately, so I reached out to my brother for help. A few years ago, he spent about six months hiking through the American landscape. He took some wonderful photos and has allowed me to paint them (thanks Tim!). Reference … Read more
Below is Morning Lookout. It depicts Toowoomba’s landscape (Queensland, Australia), just before the sun peered above the horizon. All of nature’s pastel colors were out to play. Reference Photo and Color Studies Here’s the reference photo I painted from: I also painted a few watercolor studies on location (see below). I haven’t touched watercolors in … Read more
This is a detailed guide on how to paint color gradations. I wrote this in light of a recent painting, Morning Lookout (shown below). It’s a study of the early morning’s subtle color gradations just before the sun peers above the horizon line. I cover: Color Gradation Meaning Color gradation refers to the transition from … Read more
I’ve been experimenting lately with color ranges and techniques. I’m particularly interested in high key value ranges, where all the colors are pushed towards the light end of the value scale. Below is a recent high-key painting based on Maleny’s beautiful landscape. The idea was to capture the midday sun’s shimmering colors and sense of … Read more
Let’s take a look at my recent painting, Maleny, Late Afternoon. It captures the tranquil landscape as the sun’s warmth battles nature’s cool greens. Reference Photo and Study Below is the reference photo. Feel free to try and paint it yourself. I also painted the following small study in preparation. Though it ended up being … Read more
I recently put the finishing touches on Tree, Dappled Light. A simple painting with some challenging aspects. Reference Photo I painted from the following reference photo. I believe it was taken in Tasmania some time ago, but the location is hardly relevant. This is a study of trees and nature rather than a specific location. … Read more
Below are two recent but vastly different paintings based on the jetty at Kingfisher Bay. Together, they remind me of chaos and harmony. So much of art can be distilled down to a basic conflict between chaos and harmony. Chaos is unexpected, unwanted, unknown. It’s that burst of activity amongst a quiet background. It’s your … Read more
In this post, I’ll discuss how you can critique your own art. Critiquing art is no easy task, especially when it’s your own. We’re either far too critical or far too generous. But it’s a valuable skill that allows you to identify areas for improvement and to give yourself a pat on the back when you … Read more