In the following soft pastel demonstration I’ll be taking you through my process for painting the female figure. I hope you enjoy it!. . . read more
Today's list of resources will help anyone interested in learning about color theory (or the use of color in art) at a college level. It’s also the fourth post in my series on getting an art education for free.. . . read more
There are several small changes that artists can make which will add up to big improvements - and these changes can be made in virtually no time at all. Here are 8 which I have personally tested:. . . read more
Spring is in the air, and for many artists that means it’s time for us to renew our acquaintance with the outdoors. The list below will remind you what equipment you’ll need to bring, as well as what to focus on while painting in order to make painting "en plein air" a pleasure.. . . read more
The following list of resources are for anyone interested in learning to paint at a college level without paying an expensive tuition. It’s also the third post in my series on getting an art education for free.. . . read more
To abstract something means to “take from” or to “separate out from something else.” It can also mean to “summarize” or “minimalize.” In truth, we abstract each time we capture an image, whether or not we intend to leave something out or change it or exaggerate its. . . read more
Thumbnail sketches are agonizing for me to create. It’s just too much like homework! Instead, I’ve found that if I start from a digital photo I can do my pre-painting planning using photo editing software and eliminate those tedious thumbnail sketches once and for all.. . . read more
Foreshortening happens whenever we view at least two sides, or planes, of an object. Depicting foreshortened objects accurately can be managed through a rather odd little scheme involving plumbing, charting, and angling.. . . read more
As artists, creating visually “active” or “passive” paintings determine how the viewer will perceive it, and what their response will be. To help illustrate this concept, take a look at the two paintings below.. . . read more
For ages artists have found parallels between visual art and music, and the technique of counterpoint is no exception. It has been used for centuries by artists as a natural way to find balance and create emphasis in a painting.. . . read more
Colorist artists produce incredibly vibrant, color-drenched paintings. If you haven’t tried a painting using the Colorist method yet, keep reading for a brief explanation of the stages involved.. . . read more
Nobody wants to be boring. . . not in life, and not in art their art. The good news is that we can avoid boring passages in our paintings simply by remembering to add variation in four specific ways while we paint.. . . read more
Today’s post contains quite a few resources for anyone interested in learning to draw at a college level without paying an expensive tuition. It’s also the second post in my series on getting an art education for free.. . . read more
Rhythm can be found in the movements of a dancer, in songs and melodies, and even in the painting of an artist. Here are three tried and true strategies for creating visual rhythm:. . . read more