Caput mortuum is my favorite pigment for monochromatic en plein air sketches.  I fell in love with it when I first began focusing on architecture sketching on the streets of Belleville, Paris.  Finding one pigment that can produce atmospheric dark values and beautiful light values makes...

Being an insomniac has advantages.  It allows me many more hours to come up with ways to demonstrate drawing and painting techniques.  It also creates more time in my day to turn some of my ideas into reality.  My goal has always been to master skills that will help me grow as...

Two years ago I purchased an ISKN tablet to capture digital versions of drawings to share with my students during workshops and to post as examples in the online courses I was just beginning to create.  I'm too in love with my fountain pen gliding across real paper in a sketchbook. ...

For an artists who rarely, if ever, uses tubed blacks or grays to mix with other pigments I've had a great deal of fun experimenting with some of my ancient and neglected tubes of blacks and grays.  I had forgotten what beautiful greens I can make by mixing them with yellows.

It was the...

Contour line drawing of my Betty Boop Lunchbox... with added lines to create value.

I like the definition of a contour line that I quote below.

"Contour Line: in art it is a line that defines an edge or form. Contour Line Drawing: the artist only draws...

Five or six years ago a friend asked me to transform a painting she purchased at a furniture store in 1970. It no longer suited her. She wanted me to turn it into something that would coordinate with the area rug in her guest room. I'm not keen on painting over another artist's...

Halfway through filming and editing a new course, Mixing Glorious Greens, I came to an abrupt halt. In a period of only two days I received a deluge of messages and emails from members of several Facebook watercolor/sketching learning groups to which I contribute on a regular basis, sharing tips,...

I might never have known the influence I had on a young life many years ago if I hadn't pulled on my socks this morning.

I've had a lot on my mind lately.  Due to intense jet lag, a "to do" list that's far too long and a burning desire to paint giant oil paintings in my studio, I've allowed...

Announcing the Art Gallery addition to this website!

Each month a new collection of four to eight pieces of original art will be posted in the mini art gallery.  Please help me out by taking a look and letting me know if everything is in proper working order.

Click here or...

Creating Dala Art

Thanks to feedback from one of the artists taking the Creating Dala Art course, I've edited the demo video and added to the visuals in the lesson. I appreciate ALL feedback. It allows me to enhance the existing courses...