All Blog Posts (601)

This is from Robert Genn: "...There's a wide range of reasons for blockage. One of the most frequent is the buildup of bad habits in basic techniques learned in lesser workshops or from hit-and-miss self-teaching. Another source of blockage is what we call "Educosis," that is, too much theoretical knowledge with very little actual easel-time. These folks often hate what they do and abandon early. Still others have issues of self-esteem, self-loathing, imposter syndrome and guilt..." THAT'S…

Hi Everyone!  Iast year I came up with this idea to have a three hour paint challenge for my art club.  It was a great success.  I got my painting done in 1 hr and 35 minutes and sold it immediately for $ 35.  I know, that's not a lot but it sure was fun and I wouldn't ever turn down money.

So this year I am heading up a three hour portrait painting challenge.  Boy I…

"Hanalei Outlook" 12x16" Oil on Canvas by Richard Robinson

Made it up to the North Shore of Kauai today and blatted out this little one in about 3 hours  - we were all very hot and dying to get in that water. Amazing location. Looking forward to seeing more of it tomorrow.…

"Waimea Canyon" 16x20" Oil on Canvas by Richard Robinson

Spent the day up Waimea Canyon today grappling with this very complex scene. It took about 6 hours so I was very happy to be done at the end of this one. I did enjoy the puzzle of it all but after a few the sun had moved so much the scene became more of a hinderance than a help and I was glad of having…

"Lawaii Beach" Oil on Board by Richard Robinson

A great day today painting at this wonderful spot in Hawaii with Eileen and Karen. This scene is another good example of having great elements in a landscape which need to be tweaked to bring out their best. In this case I moved a cliff, the sun and added a lot of sea-spray and…

Well I began painting the cliffs & was off to what I thought a good start..I was actually very pleased with how it was going! Then.....well, I kept watching the workshop video & tried to incorporate the information..I wound up with cliffs that looked like California instead of Massachussetts!!  I scraped a few times & came up with a sort of hybrid cliff painting!

My beginning...how I wish I could turn the clock back:(

..I wasworried about…

Setting the stage and putting the hero on it is an approach to painting that works well for some subjects, but not for all. It is particularly suited for paintings where the main subject dominates the foreground as the background is established first and then the subject is added.

The above painting, a demonstration…

Hi folks..just working out some thoughts on two possible paintings..the ne is for the August workshop & the other for a painting I'm thinking of doing as a thank you gift for my hosts on vacation -- it's the view from their back porch of the Nantucket Sound..actually, either one of these paintings will wind up being the thank you gift I think, so I'm eager to do a really good job!

these are the Notans of both with the original photos as well..I'd love to hear any thoughts on how…

I have been following a discussion on Linked In about the diifference between amateur artists and professionals. I was surprised at how much heat the discussion produced. Thought I'd share my own ideas.

To describe an artist as a professional or as an amateur is not necessarily making a judgement about the quality of their art.

By definition, a professional is a person engaged in a specified activity as their main paid occupation, rather than as a pastime.…

I would like to say HELLOW to everyone at The Complete Artist and thank those responsible for my acceptance.

There are a few things, blogging and chatting that are new to me and I hope you will bare with me. The fact that I am here I hope shows that I am working on them.

I invite all having questions, regarding my art, to fee free to contact me. You'll find that I am here to share that what Iv'e learnt. I call it Payback time.

Cheers

ken

Thanks to all of you for your comments.  I meant to give this another try using your suggestions but headed off on a holiday and didn't have time to do that.  I'm not sure if I will get back to it or not, summer is getting very busy.

"Mangawhai Estuary" 14x17" Oil on Canvas by Richard Robinson

I visited beautiful Mangawhai today and painted this in between the showers (those are raindrops on the canvas). Very lucky with the weather and the light overall though - I thought I was only going to get grey lighting today so I'm very glad I took the chance and came out here. You can see from the…

For the past few weeks I have been working on a new website. While there is still some work to be done the site is up and running . I have just posted a painting demonstration that I'd like to share. Follow the link Reverse tone and texture demonstration to check it…

Hi guys, just finished this, hope you like it...

What does an artist learn from

3 weeks in…

The finished painting. "Aloha" 31x23" Oil on Canvas.

Wednesday 8th May…

In your efforts to loosen up your paintings by using such brush alternatives as old credit cards, you may be suffering from "brush withdrawal".  Here are some ideas to help you through the transition:

#1.  Pick a catchy name for your credit card:  I used an expired AAA (American Automobile Assn.) card and though of renaming it my Amazing Art Applicator or my Almost Abstract Art card.  You could name…

Making Textured Panels

Materials for and preparation of the panels:

I use 1/4" MDF (medium density fiberboard) or 1/4" finish grade plywood (birch is less porous than oak). I buy 2 ft by 4 ft sheets (about $10) at the home store (Home Depot) and cut them up on my table saw to size. I most commonly make 9" by 12", 11" by 14" and 12" by 16" panels.  After…

Richard, thank you for this wonderful, hard-earned painting!   I've been to Yosemite and know how dramatically the light changes; the valley and peaks are awe inspiring, and it's great you are there before the enslaught of tourists!  Happy painting for the rest of your trip,Richard.....Maybe you can create a DVD of this California experience!  Best Wishes, Stephen.

"Spring, Yosemite" 22x22" Oil in Canvas

Our first day painting in Yosemite today and I spent about 6 hours on this one battling it out as the light changed completely. We're all so awestruck with the beauty at every…

"Point Lobos" 24x24" Oil on Canvas

Stage 2

Stage 1: The Block-in.…