Since my first online course launched, I’ve been taking input from students and have made improvements. I’m always striving to make the online experience the best it can be!   You’ll see constant closeups of the painting process so that you don’t miss a brush stroke, as well as closeups of every color mixed on the palette.   My demos are in oils, but the substitute colors for acrylics will be announced and/or displayed on the screen.   I’ve added a growing library of content with downloadable PDF’s and 50 + bonus videos on subjects from studio organization to artist co ..read more

My Top 10 Favorite Gift Ideas for Artists     If you're like me, you love giving gifts, but sometimes find yourself stumped on what to give! I decided to make a list of my top 10 favorites for that artist in your life. Trust me, they'll thank you!   *You can find the first 8 items at Dick Blick, and I've already organized them into one group so they are easy to find. If you use this link, I do get a small commission, but it doesn't cost you any extra. Thanks!   Chris's Gift List For Artists at Dick Blick   1. Paint Brushes! My favorite brand is Royal SableTek by Langn ..read more

This is part 4 of the adventures on my recent retreats in Italy and France...be sure to check out part 1 , part 2, and part 3! Day 8 The villa we stay in for my retreats in Tuscany, is only about 20 minutes from the Renaissance walled in city of Lucca. It's on the Serchio River near the Ligurian Sea. You can actually walk or ride your bike on top of the walls, and look down at the city.         We spent the morning shopping, taking photos for future paintings, and then having lunch at a Michelin Restaurant inside the wall. As always, the food was top notch!     ..read more

This is part 3 of the adventures on my recent retreats in Italy and France...be sure to check out part 1 and part 2!   A Day in Tellaro     Day 6:   If you have ever been to Cinque Terre ("5 Lands" ), you probably know they are 5 beautiful villages on the Ligurian sea...the only problem is, they can be VERY crowded with tourists.   Let me tell you about a little village around the bend, also on the Ligurian sea that is very reminiscent of the Cinque Terre towns, but much less touristy!    It's called "Tellaro", and there is a legend about this little villag ..read more

If you missed part 1 about my journey retreats 2023, you can read about it here.   The Beautiful Village of Barga       Day 4:   On my retreats, some days are for painting, some are for excursions to gather more inspiration, and on some days we paint and tour! Barga is known for being one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. It's a very small village with not a lot of tourists. There are opportunities for paintings around every corner. It's also one of the most "Scottish" towns in Italy. There are many Scottish settlers there.       After walking ..read more

I think one of the hardest parts about painting is just getting started. How many times have you sat down to paint, staring at a blank canvas with a little fear and trepidation, only to walk away and put it off until "later" because you don't know how to begin?   I've been there! All you need is a little guidance and some practical tips to help you jump right into your painting. If you have a consistent process and routine, it makes it so much easier to dive in and paint. In this video, I will show you 3 steps that I use every time I start a painting. I believe if you implement these ste ..read more

Is there a certain song, scent, or taste that immediately triggers a fond memory for you?  Tangerines do that for me. “Santa” used to leave them in our stockings every Christmas when we were kids. Sure, we got chocolate Santa Clauses and peppermint candy canes as well, but that immediate aroma that escapes the tangerine as soon as it is peeled immediately triggers memories of Christmas’s past. “Tangerine Tango” was one of the lessons I taught in my monthly online course (Unlocking Color Secrets), and as I painted it, I thought about those childhood Christmas’s with my family. I love how ..read more

Buon giorno! I just returned from Italy 2 days ago after having to cancel retreats several times over the last 2 years due to the pandemic. One of my favorite aspects of my job is getting to travel and teach painting classes around the world. Of course, that was halted when the pandemic hit. I feel incredibly blessed to have finally been able to travel internationally again after everything we have been through! I thought I would share my experience with you in case you are having reservations about traveling again. (Note: I am writing this on October 20th, 2021 so information will probably c ..read more

Have you ever felt un-motivated, uninspired, and just not in the mood to create? As artists, I think we’ve all been there! Here are some ideas that might help you overcome that Artistic Block. If you’re in the middle of a painting and you begin to feel blocked, just remember, your art is not finished! Many times for me, a painting doesn’t come together until the very end once the highlights and fun pops of color go in! Just keep pushing forward. If you have been focused on your painting for a long time, you need to take short breaks to get a fresh perspective. This would be a great time to ..read more

Painting in Plein air is a really enjoyable experience if you’re well prepared and you get a little bit of luck with the weather! As always, failing to prepare is preparing to fail – if you want to get the most out of your Plein air painting experience – make sure you take care of all the intangibles and everything that’s ‘unrelated’ to painting. Then, you can focus on the actual painting side of things. I know that plein air painting can be an intimidating prospect for many beginner painters (as can many other things). But be brave and enjoy the process! Here are my top 10 tips for plein air ..read more