Category The Artist Life

Learning to see as an artist is perhaps a lifelong task, requiring countless hours of observation, comparison and reproduction of our real life subjects. This is a particularly critical process when it comes to analyzing and matching color, and the practice over time can’t be shortcut. If one is going to invest a great deal of time and energy in learning how to work with color and paint, it only makes sense to get the lighting in the studio correct right from the outset.

We have always felt that as plein air painters we are observers of the landscape—recording moments and places that can rapidly transform with fleeting changes of light. In a pure landscape, figures and animals are rendered small and insignificant against the vast and awe inspiring backdrop of nature.

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” – Pablo PicassoSynesthesia is the rare neurological condition in which senses are entwined—it comes in a myriad of forms—smells can evoke sounds, music can evoke color, letters or shapes can evoke smell. It is explained as a phenomenon in which one sensory experience prompts another.

How van Gogh Saw the Color WheelVincent van Gogh was an artistic genius, no question. Although he may well have had psychological troubles, there is no proof his distinctive use of color, especially those intense yellows, arose from an overdose of any pharmacologically active drugs such as digitalis.

We are lucky that Sargent (along with Monet and so many of their artist contemporaries) lived in a time of hand-written letters, many with sketches included, revealing interesting insights into their lives. A recent exhibition titled “Your Sincerely, John S. Sargent” at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston included a selection of correspondence, drawings and photographs by and about John Singer Sargent, including fifteen letters exchanged between Sargent and his good friend, Claude Monet.

Creating art for a commission can be a great way to supplement your income and, if all goes well, develop life-long relationships with art collectors. However, the process must be handled thoughtfully, for there are many potential pitfalls.Chief among these mishaps are poor communications and unrealistic expectations by both the artist and the client.

Gallery Paintings for Sale from SearsIt was a surprise to us to learn that on October 6th, 1962, Sears unveiled an offering of original works of art for sale at its store in Denver, Colorado. Sears had commissioned famous actor and art collector, Vincent Price, to assemble a collection of art and gallery paintings that would be merchandised through its stores, making fine art more accessible to all Sears’ customers.

We’ve all had those moments when the details and concerns of keeping all the plates spinning distracts us from the one thing, the most important thing, that those of us who are creative people must do–create. Too many days away and the focus wanders and the hand forgets the brush.Miniature Narcissus Bouquet by Ann Trusty,oil painting, 11 x 14.

Willem de Kooning Painting Finds its Way HomeSnatched nearly 32 years ago, Woman-Ochre by Willem de Kooning was finally returned to the University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA) on Aug. 11. The prized painting was stolen the day after Thanksgiving on Nov. 29, 1985, at around 9 a.m., according to the museum.

Painting the light effects created by fog can be frustrating at first. Fog is generally moving, so trying to paint it on-site makes the scene ever-changing. This can be maddening, and may cause artists—like Claude Monet—to put a foot right through their canvas! Since we don’t want you to feel foggy when painting, or ruin any of your precious art supplies, we’re here to share a quick and simple solution.

The Ninth in an Artist Daily Exclusive Series:Masters of American Watercolor How did you become interested in watercolor?I have worked all of my life with watercolor, preferring the freedom and unexpectedness of it to other media, even though I do also use oils, acrylic, and casein.Who were the watercolor artists who inspired you most?

Two Technology Studies Prove What Humans Like Most…for NowTurns out that in an era of smartphones, drones and “there’s an app for that” mentalities, human beings still put a premium on the human touch — at least in art-making. Two studies run out of the University of Leuven in Belgium found that human beings respond least favorably to robot art when compared to works by fellow human beings.

Exploring the Reasons Behind Andrew Wyeth’s African American SubjectsA true watercolor master, Andrew Wyeth has influenced the works of artists for decades. And, his art still greatly impacts aspiring artists and art lovers alike to this day.This year marks Wyeth’s 100th birthday. To honor the watercolorist and his legacy, the Brandywine River Museum of Art is running an exhibition through Sept.

We received a phone call this week from the Board President of the Robert Henri Museum in Cozad, Nebraska. (To learn more about the early life of Henri, see Sign Posts.) The museum is receiving, on loan, four original paintings done by Henri – portraits of his family and himself for a new exhibition.

Neuroscientist Greg Dunn found a way to mix his profession with passion in an incredibly brilliant way, giving a whole new meaning to “arts and sciences.”In his artwork titled “Self Reflected,” an 8 by 11-foot gilded engraving of the human brain, Dunn mapped illustrations of neurons and axons via “algorithmically guided microetchings,” according to an article by Scientific American.

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This past summer, I was lucky enough to visit the National Gallery in London. Scattered throughout are thousands of artworks, and after walking through just a few of the rooms, I began to feel overwhelmed by looking at the portraits, like I was seeing my own fragile humanity reflected back to me. The subjects all looked beautiful, young, and vibrant, but of course, they’ve all been gone for a long time.

I’m thrilled to welcome artist and author Jean Pederson to the family of bloggers here at ArtistsNetwork.com. Read on for her advice below and then be sure to check back to ArtistsNetwork.com regularly for more great tips from Jean. Today, she gives you tips for choosing an art instructor that will be right for you.

If you’re intrigued at all by silverpoint–one of the oldest, most beautiful, and most mysterious drawing methods in the world–you’ll be interested to learn about “The Silverpoint Exhibition,” a recent show at the National Arts Club.The exhibition brought together works by dozens of contemporary dratsmen who work in silverpoint.

A reader who wanted to know how to teach art to children recently contacted me. I have a lot of experience in that department, and have developed some methods that I think work well. When I owned and operated my teaching studio, the after-school program was huge. I also had the pleasure of teaching art many home-schooled kids.