The Best Way to Clean Your Paint Brushes
Michael Ranucci
I grew up in a time when the library was the resource we turned to when a subject was to be studied or researched. I remember in my youth learning the Dewey Decimal System, and sometimes having a difficult time finding my way around the library. I knew where the science and art books were … Read more
A painter’s journey in part involves a never ending quest of new knowledge. This can involve everything from studying existing paintings, to attending workshops, reading, and much more. If you’re an artist who wishes to paint more and develop your ability, it would be well to start with a dedicated painting space – your studio. No matter … Read more
John Singer Sargent once said “Cultivate an ever continuous power of observation…” One of the masters of painting inferring a painter can continuously learn and improve. Painting above, “Claude Monet painting by the Edge of a Wood”. The journey a painter takes is never static. The determination to create in paint a compelling work of … Read more
While painting on the coast one day, an on-looker asked how long it took me to paint the picture – which was now almost complete at roughly 1 pm. “Well”, I said, “I started this morning at around 10”. “Wow” said the on-looker. “Well”, I said again; “but it took many years to develop skills to be able … Read more
Depending on who you talk to, Maine’s appeal is widely varied. “Vacationland” is on our license plate. According to the Portland Press Herald, over 35 million visited Maine in 2016 – and this in a state with a population just over 1 million. Boating, fishing, hiking, sightseeing, are just some of the draws, and Maine … Read more
Marc Chagall once said “Great art picks up where nature ends”. Artists know this instinctively, and many art critiques may find this is their credo. For every artist, there is a line where they allow imagination and invention to take over. This either occurs voluntarily or not; planned or not. Nature, it is said has within … Read more
A painter experiences summer like a surfer on a wave – propelled forward by sheer nature, and allowing her force to uplift and inspire in ways that moves an artist forward. The annual transition from winter to summer is sometimes swift, leaving us wondering what happened to spring, but more often is accompanied by a … Read more
For representational painters, the three primary genres are Landscape, Still life, and Portraiture. These can be further modified to include figurative, interiors, and myriad other blends. In my observations, it seems most artists stick to one or two genres as their specialty. The most successful gallery painters appear to have found a following based on … Read more
In discussing this branch of painting with fellow artists, I find a wide range of responses. From those who look forward to getting out as much as possible, to those who fondly describe themselves as a studio painter only. My own experience finds the act of plein air paintings as rich, and as fulfilling a … Read more
Keep up with all the latest news!
