Over the years, I’ve noticed that when artists struggle outdoors or in the studio, they don’t need another dense, three-hundred-page academic tome dissecting mathematical grid formulas. When you're standing in front of an easel watching the light rapidly shift across a field, you don't have time to wade through art theory.
You need practical, direct answers.

That is why I wrote Composition Field Notes. Built for the Field, Not Just the Shelf. This is deliberately a concise book. It is stripped of filler, trend-chasing concepts, and unnecessary jargon. Instead, it gathers the core observational principles and composition habits I rely on every single day in my own painting practice.

Inside, you will find:

• Clear, actionable principles on value structure, massing, and focal points that give an image immediate strength.
• Troubleshooting cues to help you diagnose why a design feels cluttered, stagnant, or unbalanced before you waste hours detailing it.
• Practical mindset shifts that keep your visual storytelling simple, bold, and readable.

I specifically designed the paperback edition with working painters in mind. It is lightweight, compact, and built to take a beating. It’s meant to live in your backpack, your pochade box, or the glove compartment of your car—ready to pull out when you’re standing in a field or setting up along a riverbank, trying to decide where to place your horizon line. As a last resort, it will come in handy to see off those pesky bugs that seek to interrupt your outdoor painting.

You can dog-ear the pages, make your own notes in the margins, and treat it as a working tool rather than an ornament for your coffee table. 

Ground Your Fundamentals:
Good composition is rarely about inventing complex tricks; it is about eliminating clutter so the light, the shapes, and the subject can speak clearly. Once the underlying design is solid, everything else—colour harmony, mark-making, and atmospheric depth—falls into place with far less effort.

Whether you paint plein air in oil, sketch with gouache, or work quietly in a home studio, my hope is that these notes serve as a calm, reliable companion whenever you need a quick reset at the easel.
Composition Field Notes is available now in paperback and digital formats.

Grab a copy, toss it into your kit, and let’s get out there and paint.
Order Your Copy of Composition Field Notes Here

​The Holy Grail in Pastels: Value Without Compromise:
On the high end, a box can set you back hundreds of dollars; compare that to the Lightwish set, which rings in at about $45 for 72 colors—a price point that screams “student-grade,” but with performance closer to its expensive rivals. This makes it possible for artists to own a wide spectrum of hues without feeling each stroke is costing them dearly.

All too often artists face this compromise: more colors usually mean lower quality, while quality brands force you to make do with fewer hues due to cost. However, the set of Lightwish pastels that I tested dispelled my skepticism—these pastels proved vibrant, offered good pigment intensity, and layered well, all without excessive crumbling or mess. For someone looking for value in both pigment and usability, this set hit a sweet spot.

What to Look for in Soft Pastels
Common issues with cheap pastels—weak color, crumbling, and a frustrating painting experience can leave you feeling cheated. The following list sums up what I look for in soft pastels and what I discovered while painting with the Lightwish pastels.

• Pigment Quality: Seek pastels that claim high pigmentation. While budget sets historically lag, the Lightwish set delivered surprisingly vivid results, rivaling higher-end products in chromatic strength.
• Texture and Handling: Effective pastels should glide onto the page and allow for layering without falling apart. Many expensive “artist” pastels crumble under pressure, but these stayed intact, offering confidence during application.
• Color Range: Even with 72 colors, this set covered landscape and atmospheric shades, earth tones, primaries, and shadows without obvious gaps. This is essential in a single purchase—no one wants to discover mid-painting that the vital sky blue or deep violet is missing.

Tips for Vibrant, Loose Still Life Painting
Soft pastel is a unique medium. You don’t mix colors on a palette; instead, you layer, juxtapose, and let the eye do some blending—a method known as optical mixing. Here are practical tips covered in the video for those aiming for looseness and energy in still life work:

1. Layer Boldly, but Mind Sequence: It’s tempting to pick up appealing colors at random, but remember to layer light over dark for the most luminous effects. Pastels excel at this, allowing you to punch in highlights atop shadows.
2. Embrace Imperfection: Unlike oils, soft pastels are about “deconstruction.” Leave gaps, let underlayers show through, and fight the urge to over-render. Vibrancy often comes from restraint and visible mark-making.
3. Let the Support Help: Use a quality paper. The pastelmat utilized in the demo had just enough tooth, allowing two to three layers before the surface filled up. Too grainy, and you’ll lose control; too smooth, and the layers slip.
4. Accent with Contrasts: Shadows and highlights are your best friends for excitement—don’t be afraid to lay down a wild blue or a powerful purple to push your contrasts and inject energy.
5. Keep Things Moving: Avoid fussiness. The most dynamic pastel still lifes are loose, with honest, quick marks. Try to finish a painting in one or two sittings; the speed will translate to vitality.

The Lightwish 72-color pastel set provides a rare blend of quality, color range, and value for money—especially for those starting out or expanding beyond their basic palette. By paying attention to pigment, texture, and color selection, and by cultivating a loose, impressionistic approach, you can make your pastel still lifes sing with vibrancy without breaking the bank. It’s a great moment to loosen up, load up on color, and discover the joys of expressive pastel painting.
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Amazon or from Lightwish direct (use the code Malcolm10 TO GET 10% OFF)

In the course, you will also discover twelve pivotal Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, along with some of their most iconic works. These artists helped shape the direction of modern painting, and understanding their contribution can deepen your appreciation for art while also inspiring your own creative journey.

To make the experience even more engaging, there is a short quiz at the end so you can test what you have learned and enjoy the process a little more. Whether you are completely new to Impressionism or simply want a clear introduction to the movement, this mini course is designed to be informative, accessible, and fun.

You can take the free course here or dive in with the embedded course below.

​We’ve all been there: you start a painting with grand intentions, but somewhere around the two-hour mark, you find yourself “noodling”—fussing over tiny details, over-blending, and scrubbing away the energy you captured in your first few marks.
Suddenly, your vibrant, impressionistic vision feels tight, muddy, and stiff.
Looseness isn’t a lack of discipline; it’s the result of absolute control. If you want to paint with the confidence of the masters, you have to stop “polishing” your work and start making deliberate statements. Here are my top five secrets for mastering loose, expressive brushwork, plus one bonus technique to give your paintings that “Bravura” wow factor.

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1. Reach for a Bigger Brush
Most painters fail at looseness because they reach for a small brush too soon. Small brushes are for details, and if you start with details, you’ll never see the big picture. Start with the largest brush you own—or one size larger than you feel comfortable with. A large brush forces you to simplify shapes and prevents the temptation to paint every leaf on a tree or every window on a building. A bigger brush makes better decisions for you.

2. Hold the Brush at the End of the Handle
When you choke up near the ferrule, you’re using your fingers. Fingers are for writing—they are tight and precise. When you hold the brush toward the end of the handle, you are forced to use your wrist and your entire arm. This naturally creates wider, more fluid, and more rhythmic marks. If you feel like your work is “cramped,” your grip is likely the culprit.

3. The “One Stroke, One Placement” Rule
Tension in a painting usually comes from trying to “blend” or “fix” colors on the canvas. Instead, treat every mark like a piece of mosaic tile. Lay the color down, move to the next area, and leave it alone. If you go back to “nudge” or blend a stroke, you are robbing the painting of its freshness. Trust your initial placement. If it’s slightly off, adjust it with the next stroke, but don’t scrub the original.

4. Squint Until the Details Vanish
We often tighten up because we are distracted by visual clutter. Squint at your subject until the details blur away. What remains are the big, simple shapes of light and shadow. If you can’t see the detail while squinting, it doesn’t belong in your painting. Use this “squint test” to simplify your values, and you’ll find your brushwork naturally becomes more honest and direct.

5. Use Broken Color (Let the Canvas Mix)
If you pre-mix your colors to perfection on the palette, you’ll end up with a smooth, plastic-looking result. Instead, lay distinct, adjacent strokes of color side-by-side on the canvas. Don’t worry about them touching; let the viewer’s eye do the “optical mixing” from three feet away. This is the essence of Impressionism—it keeps the painting luminous, vibrating, and full of life.

Bonus: The “Bravura” Stroke
After you’ve laid down your structure and established your colors, you need a heartbeat for the painting. This is your “Bravura” moment—a display of confidence.
Load your brush (or palette knife) with a thick, saturated knob of paint. Pick your focal point—the path of sunlight on a wall or a highlight on a figure—and apply it with one fearless, decisive swipe. Don’t blend it, don’t smooth it, and never touch it again. The texture of that thick paint will catch the light, creating a “wow” factor that brings your entire scene to life.

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1. Underpainting
What is it?
Underpainting means starting your painting with a single color or a few simple colors. I suggest using earth tones like Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine, thinned with white spirits or your favorite medium. This helps you quickly set up the main shapes and values in your painting.

Why is it important?
Beginning with an underpainting takes away the fear of a blank canvas and helps guide your painting. It lets you plan your design early and make changes before adding color, so your finished piece feels balanced and harmonious.


2. Glazing
What is it?
Glazing means brushing a see-through layer of color, made by mixing medium with transparent paint, over dry parts of your painting. While this technique is often associated with the Old Masters, you can use it in impressionist painting, too. For example, you might warm up cool areas with transparent yellow, but avoid adding white, since that would turn it into a tint.

Why is it important?
Glazing lets you change the warmth or coolness of colors, add depth, and create gentle changes in mood or atmosphere. It’s also great for fixing colors later on without hiding the details you’ve already painted.


3. Alla Prima
What is it?
Alla prima, which means “at first attempt” in Italian, is when you finish your painting in one sitting while the paint is still wet. This approach brings energy and spontaneity to your art, making it ideal for small paintings and practice pieces.

Why is it important?
Painting alla prima helps you become more confident and decisive. You’ll get better at seeing and mixing colors, making bold brushstrokes, and enjoying the expressive nature of oil paint.


 4. Impasto
What is it?
Impasto is when you put paint on thickly so you can see the marks from your brush or palette knife. I often paint wet over wet paint to build up rich, three-dimensional color. It’s important to put thicker paint on top of thinner layers, a method called “fat over lean.”

Why is it important?
Impasto gives your painting real texture, drama, and a sense of movement. It makes your artwork feel lively and encourages people to notice the surface of the paint.


5. Scumbling
What is it?
Scumbling means brushing a thicker layer of paint over a dry or almost dry layer underneath. This creates a broken look where the colors below peek through. I use scumbling to show things like sparkling highlights, sunlit grass, or shimmering water.

Why is it important?
Scumbling creates lovely broken color effects that look natural and add detail, light, and atmosphere to your landscapes or still life paintings.


Final Thoughts
Practicing these five techniques often will help you feel more confident and improve your oil paintings. Even experienced artists go back to these basics to stay sharp and keep their work interesting. So grab your brushes and give them a try. Happy painting!

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Every artist knows that the creative journey is about more than just brushes, paints, or clay. It’s about inspiration, discovery, connection, and sharing ideas. That’s exactly why I’m excited to announce the launch of Create Art Magazine, a brand-new digital publication designed to showcase creativity and bring artists together in a vibrant, supportive space.
The very first issue will launch on 1 September 2025, and I’d love for you to be part of it. Best of all, subscriptions are completely free. When you sign up, you’ll receive a beautiful flipbook edition of the magazine delivered straight to your inbox, with new editions arriving every two months.

​What You Can Expect in Issue One
We’re starting with a splash of creativity and fun. The first issue includes:

• A double-page spread of art inspirations: everything from must-read novels with art themes to a few fun materials every artist should try.
• Did-you-know insights into master paintings, starting with a look at Matisse and his bold, joyful use of color.
• Tips and articles for artists at every stage, whether you’re painting for pleasure or beginning to think about selling your work.
• Artist Profiles to keep you inspired with stories from real artists, like you, who create for the love of art.

We want Create Art Magazine to feel like the friend you can always turn to for encouragement, new ideas, and a burst of motivation when you need it most.

More Than Just a Magazine
Subscribing to Create Art Magazine means joining a creative community. Our goals reach beyond simply publishing articles. As a subscriber, you’ll be able to:

• Send correspondence to the editor and share your own creative journey—we want to feature the voices of our readers.
• List your exhibitions, workshops, or events in our classifieds section, helping you spread the word to fellow artists and art lovers.
• Receive invitations to special gallery exhibitions and community features in future editions.

The heart of this magazine lies in connection: connecting artists with ideas, with opportunities, and with each other.
Why Subscribe? In a busy, distracted world, carving out time for art can be a challenge. We want to make sure you receive each edition when it is published. 

Create Art Magazine is here to remind you why creativity matters—and to make that journey a little easier and a lot more inspiring. With articles, features, and a growing sense of community, each edition will give you something new to spark your imagination and keep your creative practice alive.

Since it’s free, subscribing is a simple way to ensure you don’t miss out. Think of it as a creative care package, arriving in your inbox every two months.

Join Us From the Beginning
We’re just getting started, and that makes this moment all the more exciting. The first issue of Create Art Magazine is your invitation to be part of something fresh, uplifting, and rooted in the joy of creativity.

👉 Sign up for your free subscription today and join us for the launch on 1 September 2025.

Together, we hope to build a magazine that feels like home for artists everywhere.

PS: Share with your friends and social media to help spread the word 😍