Being as how later this month, I'm scheduled as the instructor for an upcoming workshop that has the word 'composition' right there in the title, thoughts on this all-encompassing topic are taking up a lot of space in my brain right now. My understanding of the word composition more or less covers two phases. The first is the planning stage where format and placement are being contemplated and the artist is attempting to form a strong visual image of what the finished piece will look like. A few examples of the concepts many artists, photographers and designers employ to help gu ..read more

As all of you who have painted for a while are probably aware, some subject matter can be a challenge to translate onto the canvas while other subjects might seem to almost paint themselves. We all wish the later would happen more often, but nonetheless, there are a few methods we can employ to tip the scales in our favor. An example I'll use to illustrate this is cats -- which is a favorite topic of mine anyway. The classic dark brown and cream patterns that are common in cats with Siamese markings are so familiar to most people that they're instantly recognizable. Even when painted very loo ..read more

   A few weeks ago I received this query in my inbox;  " I would love to see a blog post on small, simple compositions that one might set up for practice. You had some in the course that were so nice. "        This struck me as being a terrific example of why I find suggestions so valuable. I can always think up something to say about art but approaching it from somebody else's point of view will hopefully result in my advice being less nerdy.  Thank you Lisa, for bringing this topic to my attention!       While the basics of go ..read more

    ---- This is a repost that was originally published in 2017, but I thought was worth another read. After finally upgrading to a new computer, everything is working fine now..... right up until I get ready to put something together and realize none of the files are where I remember them being. Hopefully I'll get it all sorted and be back up to speed next month. Thanks to all of you who follow my blog posts and I wish every one of you all the best in 2024!       Well, I think we all agree the very best reason for doing anything is just because we enjoy it! But ..read more

  This topic is something that's been on my mind a lot lately but the words haven't come easy. The question comes up often  --- How does a person acknowledge the suffering and sadness going on in the world without becoming completely overwhelmed? It's a temptation when seeing something horrific and no solutions in sight to totally turn away and yet that can be counter-productive as well. So, what is the answer? I'm not sure artists, regardless of how well they paint, should be looked up to as life coaches. As a group they are often just as clueless about life as everyone else. That ..read more

For this September blog I'm going to switch gears a bit and tell some of the backstory behind a painting that has just made its launch from the studio. Earlier this year I was contacted by Astoria Fine Art about whether I would consider participating in an event planned for the summer and fall featuring large scale paintings. They were asking for something from me in the 30x40 range or larger, with most of the show likely to be even bigger works of art and mostly landscape or wildlife. It had been a while since I tackled anything quite that size but I decided to take on the challenge. Althoug ..read more

Anyone who has browsed the paint aisle of an art supply store recently is well aware of the confusion. So many brands, so many colors, so many names, and quite a few will be calling out to you, promising that they are the missing ingredient for your next masterpiece. Learning about the various pigments and how to properly research them can save you a lot of befuddlement and expense though. There are far fewer pigments involved in the various tubes of paint than anyone would guess looking at the rows upon rows of options. The names are all over the map and without comparing the ingredients it ..read more

    In my recent newsletter I mentioned a few of the obstacles to concentration that have popped up in my life recently. That seemed to hit a chord with some readers and indeed I think it's a fairly universal issue. Sometimes these bumps in the road get resolved quickly but other times, when they drag on for a while or too many plates start to fall at the same time, it can definitely be a challenge to pick up where you left off even when getting back to the easel is your fondest wish. Speaking for myself, nothing realigns my brain cells in their proper order quite like painting but ..read more

       In last month's blog I mentioned that some artists may be put off by trumpet shaped flowers due to issues with foreshortening. When we are looking at something our brain has a certain knowledge about but the visual cues don't match what it knows, the first reaction is often to panic and avoid dealing with it if possible. However, these situations are going to keep coming up regardless of what you choose to paint or draw so a far better solution is to make a game of it and tackle the challenge head on. The good news is this: The solution here is so simple and effecti ..read more

                                                    After buying 6 Easter Lily plants this past month and multiple attempts at painting them, there isn't a lot else on my mind right now besides lilies. Each Spring I look forward to another opportunity at trying to top myself. Because the buds keep opening over the course of several weeks, this year I was able to try some larger arrangements, which was really fun. Some blossoms I leave attached to the plants, w ..read more