Don’t Ask “How Can I Paint ___ in Watercolor?” Instead, Flip the Question
Instead, explore different watercolor effects and “textures” and ask “What does this watercolor effect remind me of? What could I use it to suggest?”
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The Evolution of a Painting — The Moon’s Web
In this video, look over my shoulder and watch as one of my paintings evolves from initial concept sketch to the final version.
Paint Shapes, Not “Things”
Want your paintings to look unified? It helps to combine “things” into larger shapes, and then use smaller shapes to (partially) separate them. Here’s an exercise to help you practice. First, set up a still life with a couple of simple objects. Avoid anything that has a lot of pattern, texture, reflections or complicated edges—you…
Be a (Mindful) Tourist in Your Own Town
A great way to practice mindfulness and open your eyes to the world you live in every day is to play “tourist” in your own town. Often artists keep sketchbooks not so much to accumulate sketches as to provide a way to focus their attention on the overlooked interest and beauty in their everyday lives….
“Just-So” Stories (part 2)
WAIT! Have you done part 1? Important: Please do the activity described in “Just-So” Stories, part 1 before reading this post! Please take as much time as you need for part 1. You may want to spend more than one journaling session working on it, to give yourself plenty to work with in part 2….
Get Out of the Moment
Huh? Everything you read these days seems to extol the virtues of being “in the present moment”. I’m not questioning the value of being attentive, appreciative and aware. In fact, a few weeks ago, I suggested some ways to use art-making to deepen your appreciation for the beauty and wonder in your everyday routine and…
Sneaking Up on a Painting
Making small adjustments can help you paint more personally meaningful paintings based on photos. (Or, what happened when I tried to execute the plan we created for the boat on the river.)