When I paint, sometimes I use a vignette. So what does that really mean? Simply put, it means I don’t paint anything at all. I allow just the white paper to run off to the edge of the picture. It’s another part of the composition. If you look at the Quail picture, you will see… Continue Reading
What’s the point?
The focal point. In general, most paintings have a focal point. This is the area in the painting that your eye is drawn to first, and , of course, that’s intentional. If there is no focal point, the painting is not as good. There are exceptions to this, so this is only a general rule.… Continue Reading
Artistic License
Artistic License. What’s that? Use of the term “Artistic License” is pretty common, however I wonder if everyone understands what it means. So, here is a example. I was asked to paint a picture of the clients’ house. It is a nice contemporary home in a wooded setting. Naturally, he wanted an accurate depiction of… Continue Reading
Color Insight
I’m often asked why I paint in transparent watercolors instead of some other medium. Transparency is the main reason. Unlike oil which is opaque, it’s not possible to cover a mistake just by painting over it. It has to be right the first time. And the fun part is that in watercolor painting, the result… Continue Reading