{"id":461,"date":"2026-08-19T04:35:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T04:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?page_id=461"},"modified":"2026-08-19T07:46:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T07:46:35","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?page_id=461","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-564 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=564\" target=\"_self\" >Where Light Gathers 7&#215;12 \u2013 15 Minute Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=564\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i6JjozDrAhg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights This is a riff on a painting by George Inness called Early Autumn Montclair, which is probably my favorite painting of all time. It\u2019s directly inspired by his painting, but it makes some very big divergences, namely it has a pond instead of a grassy area in front. The trees are&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-30T00:00:00+00:00\">August 30, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-556 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=556\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter\u2019s Guide to Painting Foliage \u2013 Easel Talk #56<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=556\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YikWsJDupxU?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights While trees always have foliage, at least in spring and summer, many other landscape elements do as well. There\u2019s a lot of overlap with trees here, but there\u2019s a lot of other just random foliage in the landscape. Just like every other aspect of landscape painting, there are challenges and tips&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-28T00:00:00+00:00\">August 28, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-537 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=537\" target=\"_self\" >Afternoon Stillness 6\u00d78 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=537\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s3wI_Nd79uY?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights We\u2019re doing a fall painting today, a six by eight. The reference came together through my process of working with master images and digital means to arrive at a composition. Fall scenes like this aren\u2019t exactly common here in New Zealand. Up north, it\u2019s all trees that don\u2019t change color, so&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-26T00:00:00+00:00\">August 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-554 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-uncategorized rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=554\" target=\"_self\" >Afternoon Stillness 6\u00d78 \u2013 15 Minute Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=554\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kJp_V_-XPSM?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights I painted this six-by-eight on three mil MDF, my favorite surface to work on. It\u2019s totally smooth, very secure, and very inert. I like working on hardboard, but it has a subtle lump depending on the sheet. MDF doesn\u2019t have that problem. Just don\u2019t get it around water, ame constraint you\u2019d&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-23T00:00:00+00:00\">August 23, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-448 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=448\" target=\"_self\" >The Quiet Passage 6\u00d78 \u2013 15 min Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=448\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KwHz16umJKw?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights First off, I want to mention that I had to do the underpainting twice because I didn&#8217;t focus the camera properly the first time. But the lesson here isn&#8217;t about camera work; it&#8217;s about our relationship with reference images. One of the main reasons I make these videos is for legacy,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-15T00:26:43+00:00\">August 15, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-445 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=445\" target=\"_self\" >The Quite Passage 6&#215;8 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=445\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3hyVQv2wQ0Q?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights We\u2019re going to make a painting today. I\u2019ve got my colors pre-mixed, and we\u2019re starting fresh with the drawing because the camera wasn\u2019t focused on the first attempt. The Reference and Setup This reference comes from a folder I keep of forest scenes, it\u2019s clearly my favorite type of scene. It\u2019s&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-15T00:22:58+00:00\">August 15, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-441 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=441\" target=\"_self\" >Northland Cove 5&#215;7 &#8211; 15 Minute Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=441\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qlBuJBqnCFY?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights Northland Cove is a five-by-seven oil painting I painted a few days ago. While this video is a sped-up version of the live session available in the members area (which includes the color mixing and reference image), what you see here remains faithful to the original process. The Core Concept: Geometry&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-09T02:18:31+00:00\">August 9, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-436 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=436\" target=\"_self\" >Northland Cove 5&#215;7 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=436\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H11uuhMnkPw?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights Good morning, evening, or afternoon. Here we are with a bit of potential right now: this board. We&#8217;re making paintings here, so let&#8217;s get into it. The Reality of Painting vs. Digital I downloaded this reference at random. It&#8217;s not really going to be tonal, except I can&#8217;t escape being tonal,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-07T09:36:43+00:00\">August 7, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-433 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=433\" target=\"_self\" >The Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Mastering Greens in Landscape Art \u2013 Easel Talk #54<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=433\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/si8AEO-2zuc?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights A primary challenge in creating an attractive landscape painting lies in the proper handling of the myriad greens present in the natural world. For many beginning painters, this represents a significant hurdle; nearly two-thirds of the colors perceived in a typical landscape are variations of green. The human eye possesses an&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-07T08:55:00+00:00\">August 7, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-428 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=428\" target=\"_self\" >Woodland Passage 6&#215;8 \u2013 15 min Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=428\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jaxiv09NsR8?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights The painting I\u2019m bringing you today is called Woodland Passage. It\u2019s six by eight inches; I painted this a couple of days ago and I really like it. Hopefully, you will too. What attracted me to this scene was the contrast, the light against the darks. That is one of the&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-02T03:56:54+00:00\">August 2, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-421 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=421\" target=\"_self\" >Woodland Passage 6&#215;8 &#8211; Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=421\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YaUywiS1Eak?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights It\u2019s your painter in residence, Michael Francis McCarthy. Today I think I\u2019m a little ahead of schedule because instead of scrolling through Reddit this morning, I decided to go through my mounds of reference material. I didn\u2019t know exactly what I wanted yet, so I went for it and came up&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-31T21:52:11+00:00\">July 31, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-417 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=417\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painters Guide to &#8211; Why There Is Nothing New in Painting \u2013 Easel Talk #53<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=417\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gtLRkqhc-D4?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights Welcome to Easel Talk number 53. I hope you enjoyed our anniversary episode #52 last week; it was perhaps a little rambly, sorry about that, but there are valuable insights all the way through. If you are here for painting information, you will always get a plenty of good tips. Fact&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-31T21:50:04+00:00\">July 31, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-412 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=412\" target=\"_self\" >Light Through the Trees \u2013 15 Minute painting session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=412\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qc_gEvoFpTc?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights The painting I\u2019m bringing you today is called Light Through the Trees. It\u2019s a 5&#215;7 painted last week, and I really like this painting. I hope you like watching me put it together. This is the sped-up version of the live session, available in the Members area with a color-mixing portion&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-28T03:29:24+00:00\">July 28, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-403 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=403\" target=\"_self\" >Light Through the Trees 5&#215;7 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=403\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y-FxyNlWBfg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I\u2019m creating a tonalist painting based on a California landscape reference I took almost 20 years ago. The original photo captured early morning light filtering through an oak forest, and I\u2019ve simplified the complex scene to focus on what matters, light, shadow, and atmosphere. Transcript and Key Insights The reference has a confusing tree placement&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-24T02:48:32+00:00\">July 24, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-395 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=395\" target=\"_self\" >River\u2019s Edge 7&#215;12 \u2013 15 Minute Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=395\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VfGl9UcH1Pc?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Welcome back to another installment of my 15-Minute Painting Sessions! In this edition, I\u2019m excited to share with you the process behind &#8220;River&#8217;s Edge,&#8221; a 7&#215;12-tonal landscape oil painting that I completed last week. The Inspiration and Challenges This piece is a revisit and refinement of an idea that has been floating around in my&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-24T02:46:23+00:00\">July 24, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-398 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=398\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painters Guide to 52 weeks on the Easel &#8211; Easel Talk #52<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=398\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VE_xP3Di4qE?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I\u2019ve been in this studio since 2011, roughly 15 years now. We\u2019re over 10 years into the channel, and this 52nd Easel Talk marks a full year of weekly conversations about painting. The Foundation: Process Over Mastery Painting isn\u2019t hard, and it isn\u2019t easy. It\u2019s somewhere between the two, leaning toward wherever your head is&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-24T02:30:23+00:00\">July 24, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-386 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=386\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter\u2019s Guide to Why You Need Black in Your Paintings &#8211; Easel Talk #51<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=386\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_PTwhB-JDPo?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">A lot of modern painters do not use black pigment in their process. This is a legacy handed down from the impressionists who famously banished black from their palettes. However, tonalism definitely employs black, and once I started using it wholeheartedly, my work became more authentically tonal. I learned with two guys who had no&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-17T02:19:00+00:00\">July 17, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-389 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=389\" target=\"_self\" >Rivers Edge 7&#215;12 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=389\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A92Fzt4xSmo?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights Good morning, evening, or afternoon. It&#8217;s your painter in residence, Michael Francis McCarthy. And I\u2019m going to be painting an all-in-a-row scene with some strategies for alleviating that. It&#8217;s a pond scene with trees, blue sky, give or take. The reference photo has been tinted yellowish, but it\u2019s unabashedly green. Although&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-16T05:42:59+00:00\">July 16, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-382 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=382\" target=\"_self\" >The Winding River 4&#215;6 \u2013 15 Minute Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=382\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JtSbu_3AAyY?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Hello and welcome to another Tonal Landscape Oil Painting Demonstration. Today, I\u2019m your painter in residence, Michael Francis McCarthy, bringing you a piece called The Wading River. This four-by-six-inch painting was completed last week and exemplifies the Tonalist style. In this demonstration, I\u2019ll walk you through my process, color choices, and philosophies behind creating this&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-11T10:03:17+00:00\">July 11, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-377 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=377\" target=\"_self\" >The Waiting River 4&#215;6 &#8211; Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=377\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OzCwr00O0dk?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights The reference image came from a multi-step process using modern tools. I used AI image generation to help compose what would otherwise just be an empty field that doesn&#8217;t work visually on its own. I cut out a section and asked for a country road, and the AI did a better&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-11T10:00:01+00:00\">July 11, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-371 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=371\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter\u2019s Guide to &#8211; Painting More and Caring Less &#8211; Easel Talk #50<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=371\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xR48zSPAGNg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Many aspiring painters fall into the same trap: they believe masterpieces simply emerge from natural talent. This misconception paralyzes them. They sketch grand visions, a 4&#215;6 painting of hedgehogs at an amusement park, meticulously planned, worked on for years, but never finish because the scope is too ambitious. Here\u2019s the reality: you can\u2019t lift 500&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-09T00:40:06+00:00\">July 9, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-357 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-music\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=357\" target=\"_self\" >My Latest Album &#8211; Morningstar<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Click on the Cover Art image to listen on Bandcamp or click Morningstar <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T05:57:05+00:00\">July 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-352 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=352\" target=\"_self\" >The Winding Way 6&#215;8 \u2013 15 Minute Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=352\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FrGY5gztJnc?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The painting I\u2019m bringing you today is called The Winding Way, 6&#215;8. I really liked this painting and couldn\u2019t wait to share it with you. The Ground Color Maybe you\u2019ve noticed the tone of the board is not quite the same as the rich soil we\u2019ve been doing for the last year. I had a&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T02:37:32+00:00\">July 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-348 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=348\" target=\"_self\" >The Winding Way 6&#215;8 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=348\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UVpl9AMFSrU?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights This photo is from about 12 to 13 years ago, just a basic image of a field with a couple of trees in the background. On its own, it\u2019s laughable. But I set it aside a few weeks back because I really liked those trees. Here\u2019s where modern tools come in&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-04T02:34:07+00:00\">July 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-345 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=345\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter\u2019s Guide to \u2013 Developing Your Own Style Easel Talk #49<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=345\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gn7EBhU0v4o?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Style is something I think a lot of painters starting out really care about: developing your own style. You can do it, and you will do it, if you stick with it. I relate artistic style and influences very closely together. Style is one of the aspects of a painting that we can most readily&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-02T01:07:46+00:00\">July 2, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-342 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=342\" target=\"_self\" >Matapouri Bay at Dawn 5&#215;10 \u2013 15 Minute Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=342\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gH5sJ0d2Iek?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">You don\u2019t need a bunch of different blues. You only need one blue, use your favorite. I like either phthalo blue or prussian blue. What I love about prussian blue is the history of it. It\u2019s the first synthetic pigment made available to people. Prior to prussian blue, the only blues available were extremely expensive,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-28T02:18:00+00:00\">June 28, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-337 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=337\" target=\"_self\" >Matapouri Bay Dawn 5&#215;10 &#8211; LIVE Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=337\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WnHiCA4tcJ4?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript &amp; Key Insights I\u2019m working on a 5&#215;10 today, and I want to keep it loose and impressionistic. The goal is that daylight, fresh morning quality without getting bogged down in detail. I\u2019ve done this many times, but I want it to have that impressionistic interpretation of the scene. Starting with the sky: very&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-26T07:37:48+00:00\">June 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-334 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=334\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Working with Color &#8211; Easel Talk #48<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=334\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JG_clSyNaLk?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The Sky: Blue With Intention The sky presents itself in layers of possibility. Blue at the top, lighter as it descends, this is your starting point, not your destination. As painters, we amplify what\u2019s there. That predominant blue you see isn\u2019t static. It\u2019s darker at the top, always, and lighter at the bottom. Play that&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-26T02:19:00+00:00\">June 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-329 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=329\" target=\"_self\" >Where Shadows Meet Light 7&#215;12 &#8211; 15 Min Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=329\" target=\"_self\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Where Shadows Meet Light 7&#215;12 &#8211; 15 Min Painting Session\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-scaled-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Live-Thumbnail-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The painting I\u2019m bringing you today is called Where Shadows Meet Light. It\u2019s a 7&#215;12, and I painted this last week. The Foundation: Board Prep We\u2019re working on hardboard primed with several coats of house paint and some transparent gesso. One of the main reasons that you want to prep your board with a color&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-21T02:24:36+00:00\">June 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-326 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=326\" target=\"_self\" >Where Shadows Meet Light 7&#215;12 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=326\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ltZOyhatGyE?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcription &amp; Key Insights This is a row of trees with a little path coming through. One, two, three, four trees here, then one, two, three, four trees there. There\u2019s a bunch of masses I\u2019m gonna have to pull off, and one tree that\u2019s going right there, I\u2019m gonna open that up a little. I\u2019m&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-20T02:07:30+00:00\">June 20, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-323 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=323\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter\u2019s Guide to Enjecting Emotion into Your Paintings &#8211; Easel Talk #47<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=323\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kRAi-2At6P8?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Emotion is the Container Unlike working with the human figure where emotion can be portrayed by a pose or facial expression, landscape art relies on more subtle ways of imparting emotional content. I\u2019m all about painting emotions. That\u2019s my thing. People think I\u2019m into trees or skies, but these are the container, the conveyor of&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-18T00:06:23+00:00\">June 18, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-316 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=316\" target=\"_self\" >Whisper of the Forest 8&#215;12 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=316\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o7gOUJNRK5I?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Good morning. I did a painting yesterday, not the most terrible thing I\u2019ve ever done, but it wasn\u2019t the easiest struggle either. It was a 7&#215;12 based on a reference from 2022 that I\u2019d painted before on texture board and gave to my bishop. I missed that painting, so I decided to do it again.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-16T06:04:35+00:00\">June 16, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-318 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=318\" target=\"_self\" >Whisper of the Forest 8&#215;12 \u2013 15 Minute Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=318\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ADzba5U6CtA?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today I\u2019m bringing you Whisper of the Forest, an 8 by 12 inch painting I completed last week. The Story of Redemption This is a story of redemption. I painted this scene before in 2022 on textured board, and I was super happy with it. I gave the painting away and missed it ever since.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-16T06:03:31+00:00\">June 16, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-313 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=313\" target=\"_self\" >The Landscape Painter\u2019s Guide to Focusing on the Big Shapes &#8211; Easel Talk #46<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=313\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I7SrJRxMz5Q?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Everything in your painting is just shapes. A mountain isn\u2019t an intimidating subject, it\u2019s a large series of triangular shapes subdivided by smaller triangular-type shapes. That odd-looking tree is just a collection of organic shapes. Water, paths, skies, you can paint all of it because the problem isn\u2019t the subject. It\u2019s how you\u2019re seeing it.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-13T03:24:04+00:00\">June 13, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-305 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=305\" target=\"_self\" >Tutukaka Dawn 5&#215;10 \u2013 15 Min Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=305\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RMYaGn-_HmY?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The painting I\u2019m bringing you today is called Tutukaka Dawn. It\u2019s a 5 by 10, and I painted this about a month ago. We\u2019re working on HDF hardboard primed with three coats of house paint, and we\u2019re doing our underpainting color with some Burnt Number, looks like it\u2019s got a little bit of Mars black&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-06T08:41:04+00:00\">June 6, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-302 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=302\" target=\"_self\" >Tutukaka Dawn 5&#215;10 &#8211; Live Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=302\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t6XYo4jhulo?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights This is basically a sky painting. The hills in the middle distance are from Tutukaka over there, so that\u2019ll add some interest for those folks. We\u2019re gonna do the drawing today and then I\u2019ll come back tomorrow and do the rest. We\u2019re using HDF hardboard primed with three coats of house&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-06T08:38:21+00:00\">June 6, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-299 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=299\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Building Internal Compositions &#8211; Easel Talk #45<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=299\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ce7sv1nha2I?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">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&#8217;d been a commercial illustrator for 13 years, comfortable with digital workflows. So I figured: why not just paint a tree,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-03T03:25:35+00:00\">June 3, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-295 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=295\" target=\"_self\" >Woodland Passage 5&#215;10 \u2013 15 minute Painting Demonstration!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=295\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iDRkBbYzwJU?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">This week\u2019s painting is called Woodland Passage, a 5\u00d710 inch oil on panel. The genesis was simple: I caught some B-roll in a video, liked the pattern of the trees, got rid of the people and the buildings, and went to work. I had to composite in the path and figure out what to do&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-06-03T03:24:04+00:00\">June 3, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-292 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=292\" target=\"_self\" >Woodland Passage 5&#215;10 &#8211; Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=292\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mk8sVc8Kmxc?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today we are painting a forest scene of a woodland with a path cutting through. This started as a screen capture I pulled recently. The original had some different elements, but the tree structure caught my attention. I ran it over to my assistant this morning to add a path. Much cleaner than the original.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-29T21:32:29+00:00\">May 29, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-288 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=288\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to\u2014Embracing Imperfection and Perfection &#8211; Easel Talk #44<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=288\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gYsc-07vZVk?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">There&#8217;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 liberating realization of your artistic career. I&#8217;ve always had a perfectionist streak.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-29T07:26:53+00:00\">May 29, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-282 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=282\" target=\"_self\" >Arcadian Road 4&#215;6 &#8211; 15 Minute Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=282\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kZjArLH_g3k?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The painting I&#8217;m bringing you today is called Arcadian Road. It&#8217;s a 4&#215;6 and I painted this a couple weeks ago. The Palette and Reference Philosophy This is our palette. I have a palette with all the tags on it in the video, and if that helps somebody, I reckon it&#8217;s a good thing. The&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-23T07:02:58+00:00\">May 23, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-278 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=278\" target=\"_self\" >Arcadian Road 4&#215;6 &#8211; Live Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=278\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n7ctzw2E-zI?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights We painted this scene before. It came out really excellent. A lot of times that can be the spark behind painting something again. I wanted to do a 4&#215;6. Wanted to make it tonal. Wanted to make it something kind of related to here. This image was run through one of&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-23T06:52:15+00:00\">May 23, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-270 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=270\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Using Nature, Not Imitating It &#8211; Easel Talk #43<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=270\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qlgqdBM2vHI?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">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&#8217;re trying to do. Imagination Without Reference In the absence of reference or working outside, you could just make paintings strictly from your imagination. I tried doing that when&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-23T04:37:17+00:00\">May 23, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-264 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=264\" target=\"_self\" >Violet Dusk 7&#215;12 &#8211; 15 min Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=264\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MuDgQ_TgEqM?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">A Painting That Needed a Second Pass Welcome to another Tonal Landscape Oil Painting Demonstration. I&#8217;m Michael Francis McCarthy, and the painting I&#8217;m bringing you today is called Violet Dusk. The Reference and Its Problems This painting is based on a photo I found, but it had some major issues. The main problem\u2014what I call&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-17T02:19:00+00:00\">May 17, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-268 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=268\" target=\"_self\" >Violet Dusk 7&#215;12 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=268\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SrcrTVXskhA?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcript and Key Insights It&#8217;s morning, 9:32 on the 29th of April, 2026. Clear blue sky, no clouds. We&#8217;re going to make a painting now. This reference has one big issue. What I call all in a row syndrome, distant row of trees and hills, just a horizontal slab of whatever in the foreground. But&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-16T07:30:15+00:00\">May 16, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-260 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=260\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Pigments(Part 2) &#8211; Easel Talk #42<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=260\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YBFzfYujG8c?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Every color on your palette should earn its place Welcome back. This is part two of our palettes and pigments deep dive, we&#8217;re picking up where we left off with the oranges and reds. I&#8217;ve got two solid outlines to get us through the remaining colors, and while I could stretch this into three parts,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-15T06:03:38+00:00\">May 15, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-227 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=227\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Tonalism &#8211; Easel Talk #39<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=227\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rb_yWCbg0Eg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Tonalism, art history&#8217;s forgotten movement (Part 1) This is going to be a two-part talk about Tonalism. This is a subject near and dear to my heart. I&#8217;m not an art historian, and I&#8217;m not much of a writer either, but we make our efforts and we feel it. That&#8217;s the whole thing with painting.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-15T02:20:00+00:00\">May 15, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-255 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=255\" target=\"_self\" >Violet Woods 6&#215;8 \u2013 15 min Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=255\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C04c8ToD1ms?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today, I&#8217;m sharing Violet Woods, a 6&#215;8 I painted last week. It&#8217;s based on a landscape I painted in around 2019, you can still find that wider version on the channel. This is a cropped, more intimate take on that same scene. The title came first, as it often does. Violet was on my mind&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-09T23:26:46+00:00\">May 9, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-248 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=248\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Palette &amp; Pigments &#8211; Easel Talk #41<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=248\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-oJoNhQ7DYE?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The colors you choose matter profoundly. They&#8217;re not just tubes of paint sitting on your palette, they&#8217;re the foundation of every decision you&#8217;ll make during the painting process. Today I&#8217;re the foundation of every decision you&#8217;ll make during the painting process. Today I want to walk you through my palette and the logic behind each&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-08T02:20:00+00:00\">May 8, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-252 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=252\" target=\"_self\" >Violet Woods 6&#215;8 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=252\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9qItg_OxhHc?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I painted Violet Woods back in 2019. Today we&#8217;re painting it again, and this time I want to explore something that fascinated me about the original: the use of violet in the underpainting, mixed into burnt umber and burnt sienna. It&#8217;s an approach that challenges the conventional wisdom about shadow color, and it opens up&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-08T00:54:20+00:00\">May 8, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-245 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=245\" target=\"_self\" >Woolly&#8217;s Bay Afternoon 5&#215;7: 15 Min Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=245\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KyrKt9aDqp0?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Welcome to another tonalist landscape oil painting demonstration. This is Woolies Bay Afternoon, a five by seven I painted last week. I want to talk about why I painted it and what it shows about how painting actually works. The Postcard I&#8217;ve been thinking about making a small postcard featuring a coastal scene for a&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-03T03:20:10+00:00\">May 3, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-240 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=240\" target=\"_self\" >Woolley\u2019s Bay Afternoon 5&#215;7 \u2013 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=240\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Kr7uIFQFBbU?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Revisiting a coastal scene I&#8217;m painting a five by seven postcard-sized piece today. It&#8217;s Willy&#8217;s Bay, a scene I&#8217;ve been thinking about for a while. There&#8217;s a gallery I like near there\u2014good people\u2014and I want to create a card they can use to promote their business. That&#8217;s the kind of thing I&#8217;m into. The Setup&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-02T06:48:45+00:00\">May 2, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-237 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=237\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Tonalism Part Two &#8211; Easel Talk #40<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=237\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7zsv7MHB288?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">We covered a lot of ground in part one\u2014the 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 how it was a response to massive historical change. Today, I want&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-01T02:20:00+00:00\">May 1, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-233 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=233\" target=\"_self\" >Breaking Through 6&#215;8 &#8211; 15 Minute Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=233\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i9mhzdrWTlU?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today I\u2019m bringing you a painting called Breaking Through, 6&#215;8, which I completed last week. I really like this one, and I think you&#8217;ll enjoy seeing how it comes together. Why the 6&#215;8 Format Works The 6&#215;8 format is ideal for my painting channel setup. It&#8217;s small enough to sell reasonably, but large enough to&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-26T20:58:33+00:00\">April 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-230 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=230\" target=\"_self\" >Breaking Through 6&#215;8 &#8211; Live Painting Session<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=230\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ijg7wTOE-qw?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today I&#8217;m working on a 6&#215;8 painting based on a scene I&#8217;ve painted many times before. It&#8217;s from a field in England. I&#8217;ve done versions of this composition so many times that I know it works. Every painting I&#8217;ve done from this reference has been good, which tells me something about the power of a&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-25T10:13:01+00:00\">April 25, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-220 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=220\" target=\"_self\" >Amber Path &#8211; 15 Minute Painting Demonstration!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=220\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IsYmTkjFYvg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The painting I&#8217;m bringing you today is called Amber Path, 5&#215;7. I painted this just a couple days ago and I really liked it. I think you will too. I was out walking thinking about what I wanted to say about this painting. Obviously, we have the live painting session in the members area, which&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-20T01:03:28+00:00\">April 20, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-217 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=217\" target=\"_self\" >Amber Path 5&#215;7 Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=217\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XQoCagVK-Sc?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Drawing, Color, and the Art of Restraint Good morning, afternoon, or evening. This is your painter in residence, Michael Francis McCarthy, occasionally known as M. Francis McCarthy. Yesterday I painted a coastal scene\u2014really a sky painting with a little peninsula worked in. I&#8217;m very happy with it. Most paintings aren&#8217;t perfect, but they&#8217;re perfect in&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-18T03:32:18+00:00\">April 18, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-213 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=213\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter&#8217;s Guide to Ground Color &#8211; Easel Talk #38<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=213\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q5f2WBdc8XY?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The color of your board is one of the most critical decisions you&#8217;ll make Welcome to Easel Talk #38. Today&#8217;s talk is about ground color\u2014the color of the board you&#8217;re painting on. It sounds simple, but I&#8217;m telling you, it&#8217;s one of the most critical decisions you&#8217;re going to make in your whole painting process.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-18T03:29:12+00:00\">April 18, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-200 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=200\" target=\"_self\" >The Edge of Light &#8211; 15 Minute Painting Demonstration!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=200\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y6N7kgkoYuw?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Lessons in Color, Scale, and Painting Smart The painting I&#8217;m bringing you today is called The Edge of Light. It&#8217;s a 4 painting I&#8217;m bringing you today is called The Edge of Light. It&#8217;s a 4 by 6, and I painted this last week, but it took me a while to do, mostly because little&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T20:16:41+00:00\">April 11, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-195 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=195\" target=\"_self\" >The Edge of Light 4&#215;6 &#8211; Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=195\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/asp30r8W9fY?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Revisiting a reference I painted years ago. Maybe some of you have noticed I\u2019ve moved away from the M. It\u2019s just time. Big changes afoot. Check out the new website at mfrancismcarthy.art, lots of videos there, really easy to scroll through. Why Paint Small? What are we doing today? A 4&#215;6. The galleries have been&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-11T20:16:19+00:00\">April 11, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-191 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=191\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painters Guide to Vignetting in Paintings- Easel Talk 37<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=191\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eDESPvOyHCg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I often joke on the channel that I&#8217;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&#8217;s so powerful. And this talk probably won&#8217;t be that long because it&#8217;s just one aspect of painting. But it&#8217;s incredibly vital, especially to what&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-09T20:31:06+00:00\">April 9, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-175 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=175\" target=\"_self\" >Riff on Francis Murphy: Full Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=175\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UWDFnGMvM58?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Join me as I create a tonalist riff inspired by Francis Murphy&#8217;s &#8220;Evening&#8221; In the Substack studio pass area, I put up a study from 2021, a painting called &#8220;Evening&#8221; by Francis Murphy. It got me thinking, I really like that old painting. I&#8217;d like to do a riff on it. This was a faithful&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-04T19:29:02+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-178 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=178\" target=\"_self\" >Riff on Francis Murphy: 15 Minute Painting Demonstration!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=178\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xTJyacJzOws?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Welcome to another tonal landscape oil painting demonstration. This is your painter in residence, Michael Francis McCarthy. And the painting I&#8217;m bringing you today is called &#8220;Riff on Francis Murphy, Evening.&#8221; I painted this back in September of 2025 and I&#8217;ve been sitting on it that whole time. Let me tell you the tale. The&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-04T19:26:24+00:00\">April 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-169 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=169\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painter Guide to Painting Big Shapes &#8211; Easel Talk #36<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=169\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wm9_qxUH2pY?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">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&#8217;re talking composition today, while modulation handles value and color. Why Big Shapes Matter Calling this &#8220;Big Shapes&#8221; hardly does&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-02T22:43:37+00:00\">April 2, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-154 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=154\" target=\"_self\" >Light on the Path: 15 Minute Painting Demonstration<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=154\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CgRlaFmgxHI?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The painting I&#8217;m bringing you today, Light on the Path. It&#8217;s a 5&#215;7, was painted last week, and I&#8217;m really happy to show it to you today. New Website I want to mention my new website: mfrancismccarthy.art. It&#8217;s my hub\u2014where things are consolidating. If you&#8217;re watching this on YouTube, the full live session with detailed&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-29T01:08:05+00:00\">March 29, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-150 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=150\" target=\"_self\" >Light on the Path: Full Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=150\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H6NSIJmNrRw?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Transcription and key Insights I&#8217;ve already mixed the underpainting color: burnt umber with a significant amount of Mars black. I&#8217;m doing this partly for time savings. I recently painted a sky scene using this Mars black mixture, and it worked well. The key difference from ivory black is opacity. Ivory black is streaky and won&#8217;t&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-28T07:42:52+00:00\">March 28, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-72 post type-post status-publish format-video has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting category-talks post_format-post-format-video rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=72\" target=\"_self\" >A Landscape Painters Guide to Modulation Easel Talk 35<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=72\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4zi9kCE3Oss?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">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 want to do some modulating. Always be modulating. ABM. Now, a flat&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-27T08:41:06+00:00\">March 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-69 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-music rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=69\" target=\"_self\" >Beacon &#8211; Music by Black Wren<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=69\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qFBP28ADkpg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Music by Black Wren When the night grows deep and the shadows call, sometimes all you need is a beacon to guide you home. Black Wren is a collaboration between Michael Francis McCarthy and Jennifer L Coward Buy the track on Bandcamp: When Everyones a Stranger by Abyssm <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-27T08:37:11+00:00\">March 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-50 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-music rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=50\" target=\"_self\" >When Everyone&#8217;s a Stranger- Music by Abyssm<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=50\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NuXYBvcmyQg?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">\u201cWhen Everyone\u2019s a Stranger\u201d was written late last year, a reflection on individuality, solitude, and the strangeness that can descend when memory fades\u2026 All music written and performed by Michael Francis McCarthy (Northland, New Zealand). No AI used. This channel holds music, films, photography, and spoken reflections. Buy this track (Bandcamp): When Everyones a Stranger&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-27T07:29:19+00:00\">March 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-47 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=47\" target=\"_self\" >Dusk&#8217;s Ember \u2013 15 Minute Painting Demonstration!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=47\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OQfZ2X6imfI?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">A Fauvist coastal sky scene The painting I&#8217;m bringing you today is called Dusk&#8217;s Ember. It&#8217;s a 7&#215;14 and I painted it day before yesterday. I was anxious to share it with you. Maybe some of you noticed that I didn&#8217;t say welcome to another tonal landscape oil painting demonstration. I don&#8217;t think we can&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-27T05:01:28+00:00\">March 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-43 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-painting rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=43\" target=\"_self\" >Dusk\u2019s Ember &#8211; Full Live Painting Session!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=43\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/90ngsDu65j4?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Live Painting Transcript and Key Insights We did a version of this yesterday on the gray. Perfectly saleable. Smaller. But I&#8217;ve changed the scene quite a bit with some help from my assistants. You&#8217;ll see some synthetic color mixing here. Grist for the mill. That&#8217;s how we roll. One of the main issues I struggled&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-27T04:43:04+00:00\">March 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-23 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-talks rsfv-has-video\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=23\" target=\"_self\" >Welcome to Michael Francis McCarthy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-featured-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/?p=23\" target=\"_self\" ><div class=\"rsfv-shortcode-wrapper\" data-rsfv-video=\"true\" data-rsfv-source=\"embed\" data-rsfv-type=\"youtube\" style=\"clear:both\"><div class=\"rsfv-video-wrapper\"><div class=\"rsfv-iframe-wrapper\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16:9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"rsfv-video\" width=\"100%\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HZSK1xFZRFQ?autoplay=0&#038;controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">This is the introductory post &amp; video for my new channel and website. Here I&#8217;ll share music, thoughts on philosophy, AI, creativity, and whatever&#8217;s going on. No niche, or algorithm-chasing. This page is a window into what I&#8217;m making and thinking. Warts and all. Contact: mike@mfrancismccarthy.art <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-27T01:36:04+00:00\">March 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-461","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=461"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":497,"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/461\/revisions\/497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mfrancismccarthy.art\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}