 Every artist has a favorite way to start a painting. This is part of the creative process and it is honed down over years of practice. But how many beginners focus on making a good start to their paintings? Most beginners focus on the ending and hope that the painting is good for framing. Instead I want to encourage you to focus on the start with these simple four steps. There is also an infographic to download that will help you in your studio. Let’s get started.  Do you think you are meant to be an artist, but doubt your sanity? Your talent? Is art simply a hobby that must be put aside for everything else? Do you feel empty and jaded after another weekend at the shopping mall? Is creativity selfish?
If you have these questions and doubts then this article is for you. Let’s dig in and see what we can find out.  Do your paintings look flat and lifeless? Do you struggle to visualise your painting from a photograph? Do you need to see another artist's work to get ideas for your paintings? If you cannot confidently transform your painting ideas into something beautiful on canvas you are not alone.
This article will help you escape from being stuck to creating paintings with life, light and that are unique to you. Read on. 
Do you want to improve your painting quickly? You can with plein air painting. Even if you are unsure about plein air you will learn so much from this approach. To make your outdoor painting easier I am going to give you top painting tips. There is a fun video showing you around the Karoo area where I painted recently painted plein air.
Plus a link to my Free Plein Air Painting Guide. Let's dive in! 
Do you find it difficult to use thick paint? Does the thought of textured brush marks make you nervous? This article and video lesson is all about using thick paint without fear. It is about breaking away from flat, blended painting surfaces. Painting in a generous, impressionistic manner.
Is your painting’s success being frittered away with fiddly details? You may recognize the reference to Henry David Thoreau’s famous quote. “Our life is frittered away by detail”, he said. Instead we should simplify, simplify. I could not help thinking how on point that statement is for artists too. How often has a strong painting composition been overworked with little brush marks and excessive details.
In this article and demonstration I am going to show you how to simplify a landscape into shapes and color. Take a look. 
Is two better than one? In the world of mixed media it usually is and my favorite mixed media combination is watercolor and pastels. In this article I will show you a ten step approach to painting a light filled painting in watercolor and pastels. There is also a slideshow of each step to help you.
Let's get started.  What is the best way for artists to sell their work? This question is debated by artists all the time. Everyone will have an opinion, but wise artists will use several avenues to market their work. When it comes to seeing the work face-to-face the best method is to participate in an art market. Galleries still have their place, but nothing beats a market for for that personal connection with buyers.
In this article I will cover ten important tips to ensure your next art market is a huge success. Let’s dive in!  Are you taking your art seriously? Do you want to go professional either full time or part time? If so then you do need a professional online gallery to display your work. Your online gallery stays open all of the time and must show your work in the best way possible. Ideally you want to have your work seen by collectors internationally. Plus other art professionals in order to network with and seek new opportunities. On top of this you do not want the hassle of designing the website. Oh yes ... some help with your marketing would be nice too.
If this sounds like something you need then a FASO website will be ideal. Read on and find out how you can also get $200.00 of free advertising for your art. 
Is a work in pastels a drawing or a painting? I have come across this debate many times. It depends and I tend to leave it at that. Are you doing a line drawing or are you applying layers of color? The latter would be a painting as far as I’m concerned. In a recent work it struck me that the techniques I was using reminded me of painting. Except I was using a dry pigment instead of wet. Aside from that difference I was going about it in the same way as a painting.
In this article and video I am going to demonstrate how you can paint a beach scene using a few pastel techniques. |
AuthorMalcolm Dewey: Artist. Country: South Africa 
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