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The Painting Purge
Getting rid of studio clutter to achieve new directions. Unfinished, underdone, unrealized, over realized, overworked, overdone, exhausted or bedraggled, paintings don’t spoil like eggs in the fridge....
View Article10 things to keep in mind when taking an art workshop
How to get the best results from your next art workshop. 1 - De Soto said so. Be open to new ideas, exploring lands and uncharted waters. The worst thing an instructor hears from a student is… “I...
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Identifying and Painting Tricky Values Accurately
Light colours in shadow & dark colours in light • Art Lesson by Doug Swinton Here is where the lesson begins: Notice that the value of any colour, from the darkest to the lightest can live in...
View ArticleColour - Understanding vs. Perception
Developing superior colour sensitivity • by Michael Downs Hardly any person would argue that to be an expert sommelier a key skill is superior flavor perception, or that to be an excellent conductor a...
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In Praise of Painterly Painters
by Charles Movalli by Charles Movalli Some so-called “painterly painter” are devoted to outdoor work. Some do still lifes, some figures. But all share certain attitudes. Not all of these attitudes are...
View ArticlePhoto Reference • Print vs Monitor
Painting from a reference in your art studio. Printed photographs depict a three-dimensional object in a two-dimensional representation. When working from photos we need to take this 2d image and work...
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Why do I get worse the longer I paint?
How do you know if you're making progress? Has this happened to you? You did your first few paintings and you thought to yourself "Gee, I can do this. It looks OK. I need more practice, but I'm...
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Painting Beyond Chaos - Simplification and Massing
How to simplify your subject to produce a better painting. The tendency to start painting every detail right from the get go will produce a painting that is busy and confusing. The answer is to read...
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The Magic of the 70/30 Split
Using opposites to create a dynamic painting. You achieve the desired impact only by using a large amount of one effect and a much smaller amount of the opposite. Anything less than 70/30 and you’re...
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The Secret Curve
Using convex vs. concave lines in life drawing. When things cease to grow they begin to collapse and we see concave lines forming. Just look at a sick un-watered plant all shriveled and withered....
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The Painting Purge
Getting rid of studio clutter to achieve new directions. Unfinished, underdone, unrealized, over realized, overworked, overdone, exhausted or bedraggled, paintings don’t spoil like eggs in the fridge....
View Article10 things to keep in mind when taking an art workshop
How to get the best results from your next art workshop. 1 - De Soto said so. Be open to new ideas, exploring lands and uncharted waters. The worst thing an instructor hears from a student is… “I...
View Article10 Lifelines To Help When Your Painting Is In Crisis.
What to do when your painting is not at it's best. 1. You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Remain Calm! If you ask the correct questions you will find solutions. First and foremost, ask yourself...
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"I Thought I Had Lost You" - Finishing A Good Start
By Chantel Lynn Barber Allow 20-30 minutes to begin a painting and then step back and evaluate your start. If I don't force myself to do this, I inevitably end up ruining a strong start. I am not...
View Article10 ways you benefit from taking an art workshop.
by Doug Swinton and our students. Improve. A workshop will make your artwork more magnificent than it already is. The skills you pick-up from experienced artists add up to mastery. Energize. You will...
View ArticleTop 200 Things That Will Make You a Better Artist.
The award goes to Doug Swinton. Most of these 200 gems are my thoughts from time spent at the easel and some are the thoughts of countless others, acquired from their books, workshops and time spent...
View Article10 Things I Know About Red
by Doug Swinton 3. Keep it bright. Red turns pink when you add white to it. White will not only desaturate the colour, it will bring out the red's true nuance, its pinkness. You have two options when...
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Creative Vision
by Erica Neumann We might at times feels like a fraud, not real artists, because we haven't been blessed with this gift. We muster up a huge amount of courage and continue to make art because we love...
View Article10 things to consider before taking a reference photo for your painting.
by Doug Swinton The better the camera, the better the photo. These days “smart” phone cameras are amazing. Even the cheap point-and-shoot cameras take decent pictures. But if you want amazing photos...
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