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 and cover the following in this post: Color Wheel Using Just the … Read more
There are two systems that 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. In this post, I cover: Subtractive Color Subtractive color is how we see color in … Read more
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to mix your own vivid orange using different red and yellow paints. The purpose of this exercise is to deepen your understanding of color mixing, color bias, and the limitations of our paints. What Colors Make Orange? Let’s take a step back to color mixing 101. Orange … Read more
This is a comprehensive guide for absolute beginners looking to get started in painting. In writing this, I considered what I would do if I had to go back and learn painting all over again. I have broken the guide into 7 simple steps you can follow: (If you enjoy learning about beautiful art and … Read more
In this post, I walk you through my painting of the stunning Honeymoon Bay in Tasmania. This is a large-scale painting done on a 24×30 inch canvas in oils. I’ll cover: Reference Photo and Analysis Below is the reference photo I painted from. It was taken under the bright, midday sun. The water was a … Read more
This is a detailed guide on color schemes. I’ll discuss what they are, the different types, and provide master examples. 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. … Read more
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, … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more