A good way to improve drawing skills is by drawing upside down.
Category: Techniques
How Many Times Can One Canvas Be Painted?
This painting isn’t one I take too seriously, and I have to smile each time I look at it. This particular canvas, you see, has had quite an interesting history.
Bits and Pieces
Why not appreciate the good things in our art? Why not see the potential…and not make such a fuss about the awful parts?
The Eyes Have It
You knew it, didn’t you? It was inevitable that once I attended that pastel portrait workshop and treated myself to … More
Art and Music – Memorization
As a pianist, I’ve always struggled with memorization. It doesn’t come easily for me. Recently I spent weeks memorizing Schumann’s Melodie, a … More
Hold It Right There!
I haven’t done a lot of serious drawing and painting recently, but I have done a lot of reading, a … More
Basic Brush Strokes – Blending Techniques
Over the next few weeks I’ll be learning about — and practicing — lots of different brush strokes for oil … More
Critiquing Our Art
Having studied art now for several years, I’ve learned that two specific things tend to give us problems: Knowing when … More
Finding Value in Acrylics
I’m never going to be an acrylic artist, but along with toning canvases, I’m finding another good use for all the acrylic paints I have sitting by my easel.
The Age of Innocence
When I was growing up, a beautiful framed reproduction of The Age of Innocence hung above my bed. Even as a young … More
The Dreaded Ellipse
The basic principle behind the art of drawing is simple and straightforward. We make lines which become shapes which become … More
How Art Speaks
“Concept is the reason that you’re painting the painting. It is the idea that you wish to convey to the … More
The Finer Things in Art
In my on-going quest to paint more realistic trees — meaning trees that actually look like trees — one of … More
Johannes Vermeer: So Much Mystery
One of the artists whose work I’ve studied recently is Dutch painter, Johannes Vermeer. Little is known of his life, … More
The Art of Practice – Tip #2
I can fully understand and appreciate today’s practice tip, although I don’t think we should swallow it whole. First, here’s … More
Sketchbooks are for Sketching
I’ve often recounted the story of buying my first sketchbook, how odd it felt to walk through the art supply … More
Setting the Tone
Lately I’ve been pondering an art question: Why do we tone canvases with acrylic before painting? Now, first, let me … More
A Work in Progress
I suppose up to this point, all of my art could be considered part of a large “work in progress.” … More
A Little Rough
Those of you who have become Facebook friends already know my exciting news. I’m going to be joining an art … More
The Old Gray Mare – Underpainting Value Study
As you know, lately I’ve been studying oil painting techniques, and my assignment yesterday was to take a photo reference and use it to complete an underpainting to show the values.
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