Starting a painting
Everyone knows how to start a painting, right? You take up your brush and begin--what's the problem? Joking aside, if you want to create a sketch or study, that IS exactly how you start. That…
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Premixing tones
Artists spend a lot of time thinking about their palettes; how many colors, which colors, how big, and so forth. My palette is too large to hold in my hand so I keep it on…
Good photo day. Finally.
Cedar Point is known as the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World." It is one of the oldest and largest amusement parks in the United States. In addition to the roller coasters, the park has…
Unforced user error
Friday afternoon I grabbed my camera and headed to Cedar Point. The summer has been unusually rainy here and this was a rare chance to visit the amusement park during strong sunlight. I normally carry…
Do not be an art appreciator
When I hear someone say, "I appreciate art," I cringe. The speaker means, "I understand that this boring subject is somehow important to you," or, "I see how much effort you put into this pointless…
Basic oil painting medium
There is a lot of information about painting mediums on my site but if you're new to painting, an abundance of information is the same as no information. Where to start? The good news is…
Turn toward realism?
Realism is becoming popular once again in painting studios. This development is welcome but it's also sobering. Looking at the growing number of realists demonstrates how much has been lost. Much of it is Impressionism-adjacent…
How to save your brushes
Many oil painters keep their brushes upside down in turpentine or thinner. This practice is horrible; it's the worst thing you can do to your brushes. In defense of painters who do this, I used…