I had this question from an Inner Circle member: “I have lost any painting confidence I had. I feel like I am going backward. Do you have any words of advice as right now I feel like giving up?” It’s common to feel this way, especially in those first few years of painting. Here are … Read more
This follows on from my post the other day: Throwback to My Childhood Paintings. I’m surprised how popular that post was. There were over 110 comments last time I checked. I appreciate all the kind words! Some of you pointed out that I must have had encouraging parents. That’s true. I had the passion and interest, … Read more
Many of the artists I write about have challenging lives. I’m always amazed at the incredible hardships some of them endure in the creation of their beautiful work. Claude Monet was the most recent example I wrote about, and he was not even one of the extreme cases. Vincent van Gogh also comes to mind, … Read more
A reader asked something along the lines: “One of my teachers says you should always do an underpainting at the start. I would love your thoughts on the subject.” My thoughts: There are few things I broadly recommend as “must-do” practices. Enjoying the process and not taking yourself too seriously are the only ones that … Read more
I just returned from the beautiful Sunshine Coast at Mooloolaba, Queensland. We spent a few days there for my cousin’s wedding. It was also Elora’s (our baby girl’s) first holiday. Here are a few reference photos from the trip. Feel free to paint from them. I also snuck in a few Elora photos. She just … Read more
Just a quick one today. I’m sharing an odd but surprisingly effective technique I stumbled upon in my latest painting. I had a bunch of old paint on my palette from the prior session. Instead of adding new paint, I took a shortcut and worked with the old stuff. It had a slightly dry, gummy … Read more
I watched I, Claude Monet the other night. It’s a simple documentary about Monet’s life narrated through his various letters to friends and family. I expected an inspirational and joyful watch, but I was rather saddened by the end. I never realized how much hardship Monet faced. Financial burdens, family losses, health issues. Yet he never stopped … Read more
I was reading about Frans Hals the other day. He was a remarkable portrait painter from the 1600s who spent most of his life doing commissions for wealthy patrons. He was a successful and accomplished artist, but I get the feeling he was torn between money and passion. On one hand, he needed to satisfy … Read more
As expected, time has been an elusive beast since becoming a parent. But work still needs to be done! Below are some tips and guidelines I have followed and you may find helpful: – First, don’t beat yourself up if you have an unproductive day. Life happens. You just need to work with the time … Read more
A reader asked about why I sometimes stain the canvas and how I determine what color to use for the stain. I wrote about this a few years ago but it’s a common question so I’ll revisit it. It’s harder to judge your colors when painting on a bare white surface. Every color looks dark … Read more