A little dandelion painting tutorial: 1. I used a warm toned paper (in this case Indian red), since the dandelion itself is cool 2. Starting off with the big shapes, and keeping the first few layers as transparent as possible. I’m using just black and white gouache for this 3. Keep in mind that gouache dries several shades darker than when it’s applied. Build up the paint slowly, reiterating the lights 4. Once I have the semi-transparent lights and shadows down, I start picking out the individual seed pods, observing as closely as possible. If you want to study these techniques more thoroughly - I teach this in my Sketchbook Habit workshop- you can sign up through the link in bio
I have one spot left on my “Instagram for Artists” seminar tomorrow at 11am - register through the link in bio (and please send me a DM when you register so I can close enrollment). I have some testimonials on my website from artists who have taken the class - I hope that helps. Also - much thanks to @hato.po.ppo for letting me use one of your beautiful pigeons as a reference
If you like miniature art, please follow the @minimuseum , a project I’m collaborating on with the amazing miniature artist @lorraineloots . Join us in building a community of miniaturists from around the world! Who would you like to see featured in the @minimuseum ? Please tag your favourite miniature artist/s below.
A little twilight miniature painting demo: 1. I started by sanding the copper to give it a bit more grip 2. I start the painting with the background, in this case trying to get the color as directly as I can 3. The foreground is a mix of alizarin crimson and sap green, which creates a warm brown I can either paint into or subtract from 4. The first few sessions of the painting I add several layers to the sky to add luminosity and adjust the color 5. I only start the detail once everything else is in its right place (it’s much easier to repaint the sky then to wipe out and repaint every branch of a tree. This is a copy of a Maxwell Parrish painting I was always in love with. I’ve been struggling to capture a night sky in one of my own paintings, and thought a master copy might help me solve some things.
I have 3 spots left in my Instagram for Artists seminar this Sunday, January 29th at 11am- register through the link in bio. Did you know there are over 1,400 factors involved in the Instagram algorithm, which determine which of your posts get seen? Within a few minutes if your post, the AI behind the algorithm has already “decided” whether it’ll go viral, be seen by your usual number of followers, or be buried in the feed. Fortunately there are only 4 of them that really matter- we’ll break down all of these in my next Instagram for Artists seminar, along with everything else you need to know
Are you an artist frustrated by the current Instagram algorithm, which only shows your posts to a small percentage of your followers? Click on the link in bio to register for my “Instagram for Artists” seminar - I break down the factors that matter within the algorithm, and show you how to make sure your art doesn’t get buried in the feed (it also covers hashtags, presentation, and everything else you need to know in order to find a large audience for your work and connect with galleries and collectors)
Click on the link in bio to register for my next “Instagram for Artists” seminar on Sunday, January 29th at 11am EST. This class is for artists (painters, sculptors, photographers), who are confused by the constantly changing Instagram algorithm, and want to use the platform to find a large audience for their art. I’m also working on a free algorithm update for anyone who has taken the class before, since so much has changed recently (it’ll be in your account once it’s ready)
Recent corvids- which one is your favorite? Also, because I’ve had a lot of questions from artists whose Instagram engagement has plummeted recently - I made a free troubleshooting guide with the 7 most common reasons for why this happened - you can download it through the link in bio
One of the most common questions I get asked is “how do you have a career as an artist”. There are no shortcuts and no short answers, but I recently recorded an interview on @artgrindpodcast about this. My co-hosts @sweetmarshalljones , @tunmyaingart and I talk about all the different ways we’ve been able to survive (and occasionally thrive) as artists. The answers are complicated and all of our paths have been incredibly different, but we hope some of our conversation helps. Thank you for listening, everyone - you can hear the episode through the link in bio or here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/art-grind-podcast/id1339911888?i=1000591315859 - please let me know what you think in the comments.
My current favorite artist panels are from @mako_supply - it’s a small company founded by a classically trained artist that understands archival techniques and combines them with contemporary materials. This is mylar mounted on panel (I’ve asked several art supply companies if a mylar panel is a possibility, but Mako was the only one that actually tried it)
Beginning a miniature painting (this one is oil on mylar, to be mounted to either copper or plexiglas later) 1. I did the underdrawing with a .5 ballpoint pen (- this one is from Ohto) #2. I put a purple acrylic ink wash over the drawing - the painting is of a setting sun casting deep shadows on a Roman street, and I wanted the purple to inform the shadow colors. 3. I start painting with a full palette, first concentrating on the lights, and making them vibrant and opaque, then going into the shadows with semi-transparent greys, leaving a lot of the purple showing through. To be continued….
Click on the link in bio to register for my Sketchbook Habit workshop, a class I created over the course of the last year that covers materials, techniques, history and everything I’ve learned throughout the 22 years I’ve kept sketchbooks. This is an open-ended class for students of all levels, whether you’ve been drawing or journalling your whole life, or this is entirely new to you. Drawing is as much about the act of observing and being present, as it is about the final result. In addition to artists, this class is well suited for writers, scientists and entrepreneurs - anyone who wants to learn and grow.