When I first started creating landscape paintings on the computer, back around 2005, 2006, I thought digital tools would solve everything. I had the undos, the infinite possibilities, the comfort of working without consequence. I’d been a commercial illustrator for 13 years, comfortable...
There’s a paradox at the heart of painting that every serious artist eventually confronts: the pursuit of perfection will either propel you forward or paralyze you entirely. The difference hinges on a single concept, functioning perfectionism, and understanding it might be the most...
Welcome to Easel Talk 43. The topic for Easel Talk 43 is: Using nature, not Imitating it. This goes for reference photos, working plein air, whatever you’re trying to do. Imagination Without Reference In the absence of reference or working outside, you could...
Every color on your palette should earn its place Welcome back. This is part two of our palettes and pigments deep dive, we’re picking up where we left off with the oranges and reds. I’ve got two solid outlines to get us through...
The colors you choose matter profoundly. They’re not just tubes of paint sitting on your palette, they’re the foundation of every decision you’ll make during the painting process. Today I’re the foundation of every decision you’ll make during the painting process. Today I...
We covered a lot of ground in part one—the essence of Tonalism, its defining characteristics, the role of figures, time of day, scene selection, finding beauty locally, and the historical context. We also talked about how Tonalism is more subjective than objective, and...
I often joke on the channel that I’m a card-carrying member of Vignetteers Anonymous. I got a problem. I got a real bad problem. I love to vignette. I think it’s so powerful. And this talk probably won’t be that long because it’s...
Welcome to Easel Talk #36! Big shapes. This is going to be good, and it ties directly to our last talk on modulation. They go hand in hand, though big shapes are way more important. We’re talking composition today, while modulation handles value...
What Is Modulation? The definition: also known as gradation. It is always desirable in painting to modulate colors from cool to warm, from dark to light or from one hue to the next. Instead of just laying down a flat, unmodulated color, you...
This is the introductory post & video for my new channel and website. Here I’ll share music, thoughts on philosophy, AI, creativity, and whatever’s going on. No niche, or algorithm-chasing. This page is a window into what I’m making and thinking. Warts and...