In this post, I take a closer look at Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers series which he painted in Paris and Arles. The series highlights van Gogh’s progression in color and style. It also provides some interesting links between van Gogh and another famous artist, Paul Gauguin. Vincent van Gogh, Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers, 1888…
A Closer Look at Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet
In this post I take a closer look at one of my favorite paintings, Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet – the painting which gave Impressionism its name. Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872 Key Facts About Impression, Sunrise Impression, Sunrise was painted in 1872, when Monet was 32. It depicts the port of Le Havre in France,…
Mary Cassatt – Artist Spotlight
Mary Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker who became one of the most prominent members of the Impressionist group. She is best known for her artworks which depict the daily lives of women and the relationship between mothers and children. Cassatt was one of the very few women who managed to achieve critical and…
A Closer Look at “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
In this post I will be taking a closer look at “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh, which he painted in 1889. With swirling lines and dramatic colors, this dreamy depiction is one of van Gogh’s most iconic works. “I don’t know anything with certainty, but seeing the stars makes me dream.” Vincent van Gogh…
How to Paint like Claude Monet
Claude Monet in Front of His House at Giverny, 1921 In this post, I will be taking a deeper look into one of my favorite artists, Claude Monet. Monet and many of the other great Impressionists have been instrumental to my own development as an artist, particularly in relation to color and brushwork. Like many…
John Russell – The Great Australian Impressionist
John Russell, The Garden, Longpre-les-Corps-Saints, 1887 I watched a fascinating documentary the other day about an Australian Impressionist artist named John Russell. This was my first time hearing about this artist, despite him being a fellow Australian and also being connected with many prominent artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. It seems like…
Impressionist Art Movement – Masters Of Light And Color
The top Impressionists have had a tremendous influence on my personal development as an artist. They tested the boundaries of what is possible with color and demonstrated that subject matter is not the be-all and end-all in painting. They showed you can paint something just because it is pretty, without any deep underlying meaning, and you…
William Wendt – Inspirational Landscape Paintings
William Wendt (1865 – 1946) was a German-born American painter who was known for his bold and colorful landscapes. He spent much of his life painting the California landscape and his prominence earned him the title “the dean of Southern California artists”. Many of his paintings feature lush trees, rolling hills and a beautiful sense…
Seascape Painting Tutorial – Learn How To Paint This Simple Tasmanian Seascape
In this post, I will walk you through this very simple seascape based on a photo from Tasmania. I will say firstly that just because a subject is simple, does not mean it is easy to paint. In fact, it can sometimes be even more challenging to turn a simple subject into an interesting painting than…
Willard Metcalf – Beautiful Impressionist Landscapes
Willard Leroy Metcalf (July 1, 1858 – March 9, 1925) was a prominent American painter known for his beautiful impressionist landscapes. He initially started with portraits and illustration, during which time he would have developed his accuracy and drawing ability, but it was his landscapes which brought him to fame. Willard Metcalf – American Painter The…
