Dear Artist, When I was a poverty stricken student at Art Center School in Los Angeles I was frequently called in to see Karla Martell, the registrar. Tardy payment of fees was one of the reasons for my summoning, but…
Dear Artist, Visiting last night with one of my really wealthy friends and wandering once more among his many art acquisitions, including a few I’d not seen before, I was once more catching the drift of his habits. He insisted…
Dear Artist, You might paint wet-into-wet for several reasons. Lubrication is one of them. Just as an engine runs better with a bit of oil on its parts, so does a painting. Indeed, oil painting works its wonders because the…
Dear Artist, Just recently Leah Markham joined our staff of consultants at the Painter’s Keys. A professional website designer who has built dozens of websites for artists, she will be improving the worldwide visibility of artists on our Premium Listing…
Dear Artist, Yesterday, David Harper of South Carolina wrote, “I’ve been working with acrylics and have recently switched to oils. I must say the depth of color and blendability make oils a winner. My problem is with the varnishing. The…
Dear Artist, “Strategic patience,” is popular jargon these days. It’s the strategy of letting time take care of at least part of the process. It precludes running off willy-nilly in a knee-jerk reaction — a reaction that often does more…
Dear Artist, Drawings can be awkward things. The act of drawing may feel like bending a coat hanger around something. It’s safe to say that too much drawing can destroy form and pattern. Fact is, paintings are best made of…
Dear Artist, Last night, while on jury duty, my fellow juror and I agreed the most common fault seen among entries was in composition. Well drawn, well rendered and well coloured — all came to naught when the composition had…
Dear Artist, My workshops do best for those with the basics in their pockets. I don’t believe in long, drawn-out demos — mine are limited to twenty minutes or so, and only when specific areas need to be covered. Painters…