Impressionism
(My “On the Easel” posts give you a behind-the-scenes look at what I am working on, what went well, what went wrong, and things I learn.) Let’s take a look at how I painted Maryvale, Overcast. It’s a simple landscape with rich greens, dark trees, and a moody sky. Dan Scott, Maryvale, Overcast, 2022 Reference … Read more
Read More“For me … a painting should be something to cherish, joyous and pretty, yes pretty!” Pierre-Auguste Renoir Let’s take a look at how to paint like Pierre-Auguste Renoir. I’ve never been much a fan of Renoir’s work. That was until I saw one of his paintings at the European Masters exhibition. A Young Girl With … Read more
Read More(My “On the Easel” posts give you a behind-the-scenes look at what I am working on, what went well, what went wrong, and things I learn.) Below is Caloundra, Shimmering Light. It depicts a high-contrast scene, with the shadowed foreground framing the shimmering Caloundra estuary. Dan Scott, Caloundra, Shimmering Light, 2022 Reference Photo Here’s the … Read more
Read More“Monet is just an eye, but God, what an eye.” Paul Cézzane on Claude Monet If you forced me to choose an all-time favorite artist, I would have to go with Claude Monet. Discovering his work led me down an endless rabbit hole of color, light, and the challenge of capturing life’s fleeting effects on … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a closer look at Vincent van Gogh’s Grass and Butterflies. I’m always impressed at how well van Gogh was able to inject life into even the most simple subjects. There’s a sense of movement and activity about it. I’ll cover: Vibrating Colors Light and Shadow (Value) Brushwork, Movement, and Texture Key Points of … Read more
Read MoreLet’s take a look at Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Café Terrace at Night. I’ll cover: Key Facts and Ideas Striking Contrast and Color in the Night Value (Light and Shadow) Brushwork and Outlining Composition Key Takeaways Vincent Van Gogh, Café Terrace at Night, 1888 Van Gogh describes it well: “On the terrace, there are little figures … Read more
Read MoreI wrote about Erin Hanson’s work in a recent email. It was a popular one. She’s a remarkable landscape artist based in California. Her work has a distinct style she calls “Open Impressionism”. I’m pleased to have her answer a few questions about her life, philosophy, and work. Erin Hanson, Tahoe Dawn, 2018 Q: I … Read more
Read More“It is absurd to look for perfection.” Camille Pissarro In this post, I take a closer look at his interesting life and art of Camille Pissarro. His work is colorful, adventurous, and played a pivotal role in the development and popularity of Impressionism. However, he is often overshadowed by fellow artist and friend, Claude Monet. … Read more
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