Art, Outdoors, and Creative Living
What is acrylic paint and where did it come from? In this article we're going to go over the history of acrylics and why artists use them today in their artwork. A brief history Acrylic paint is a relatively new medium...
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Oil ground and acrylic gesso are both used as a primer or base coat for oil painting, but you might be wondering what to use and why. In this article we'll discuss the differences between the two primers are and hopefully...
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Painting fire is not as tricky as one might think. Whenever I approach something like a campfire or source of light, I think of it as I would any part of the painting. At the end of the day, it's...
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There are several ways to approach grass and foliage in your paintings depending on the outcome you desire. In this post I'm sharing one of the more simple ways one could approach grass and foreground details that produces impressive results. At...
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Growth in what I do is always at the forefront of my thoughts. Deciding how to navigate my progression as an artist is what I often think about. Recently, I decided to set out and challenge this way I think about my...
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Painting realistic wildlife, particularly birds, has always been a real challenge for me. I used to spend weeks and even months on a painting just trying to get the feathered details right or the fur details right. I would use layer...
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Loose or tight with detail? That's a question that is asked a lot by painters and I find myself wondering that as well all the time. Lately I've been really pushing the boundaries of how I paint and asking myself why I...
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How to varnish artwork and what type of varnish to use for oil paintings, acrylic paintings, or even other media is important for all artists to know. Varnishing a painting is a critical step in preserving the life of your...
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Glazing can be a great technique to bring more depth and vibrancy to certain areas of your painting. There are several different use cases for glazes, but in this post I'm going to focus on how to increase luminosity in areas like...
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The highlights in a painting are one of the most important aspects. Without lively light, a landscape won't have as much life. Here's one simple trick that you can apply to your highlights to make them glow bight and really...
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One common question I'm consistently asked is what do I need for plein air painting? As you probably already know, plein air painting is the practice of painting outdoors and on location. Typically artists try to finish their painting in...
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As a professional painter, the right tools for the job make all the difference in my art. Sometimes different jobs call for different tools in order to produce our best work. Although regardless of what's on my easel, there have...
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