While reconfiguring my studio shop, I emptied the contents of my paint cabinet onto my work table. My son saw the table and exclaimed, “Wow, that’s a lot of paint!” I hadn’t noticed what he was talking about but when I looked at the table, I had to agree. That is a lot of paint.…
Amusement Park series, Drawings, Studio Corner, Uncategorized
More painting designs
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•I finished the drawing for this painting which is the latest in my Amusement Park Series. I’ve pushed the drawing on the canvas farther than usual to clarify the complicated relationships among the 16 or so figures. The drawing is lead pencil which allows more precision than charcoal. You might wonder why I spend so…
Drawings, materials, Uncategorized
What I have been up to
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•Not only haven’t I posted much lately, I haven’t painted either. But I have been busy. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks drawing and completing painting designs. Normally, when I finish the design for a new painting, I can’t wait to pick up the brushes and pitch in. As an exercise, I’ve been pushing…
Turpentine diaries, Uncategorized
Woodshop by the lake
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•materials, Reviews
Review: Tombow lead pencils
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•Amusement Park series, Paintings, Studio Corner
Amusement Park Series update
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•computers, materials, Uncategorized
Drawing tablets
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•A reader asked if I use a drawing tablet. Before I answer that question, let’s talk about what a drawing table is for those who might not be familiar with the technology. There are three types of technology collectively referred to as drawing tablets. For each type, the artist uses the supplied pen to create…
How to, materials, Studio Corner, Tips and Studies, Uncategorized
Starting a painting
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•Everyone knows how to start a painting, right? You take up your brush and begin–what’s the problem? Joking aside, if you want to create a sketch or study, that IS exactly how you start. That approach is fine until you want to create something more ambitious. If you intend to create a piece that’s large,…
How to, materials, Uncategorized
Premixing tones
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•Amusement Park series, cameras, Uncategorized
Good photo day. Finally.
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•Cedar Point is known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World.” It is one of the oldest and largest amusement parks in the United States. In addition to the roller coasters, the park has beautifully landscaped areas and stunning white beaches on Lake Erie. I regularly visit Cedar Point with my Nikon z7. This…
Amusement Park series, anecdotes, cameras, Uncategorized
Unforced user error
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•aesthetics, Culture, Uncategorized
Do not be an art appreciator
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•When I hear someone say, “I appreciate art,” I cringe. The speaker means, “I understand that this boring subject is somehow important to you,” or, “I see how much effort you put into this pointless activity.” If you say, “But that’s not me! I really do appreciate art; I visit museums,” I still quarrel with…
materials, Shop Talk, Uncategorized
Basic oil painting medium
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•There is a lot of information about painting mediums on my site but if you’re new to painting, an abundance of information is the same as no information. Where to start? The good news is that you can easily have a medium that supports ambitious work and serves as a baseline for exploring other mediums…
aesthetics, Art history, Culture, Uncategorized
Turn toward realism?
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•Realism is becoming popular once again in painting studios. This development is welcome but it’s also sobering. Looking at the growing number of realists demonstrates how much has been lost. Much of it is Impressionism-adjacent which is not a good path. And for many new realists, Sargent has an oversize influence, which is also a…