Learning Center

articles, real-world lessons, painting analyses and resources

ARTICLES

The Not-So-Simple Art of Simplification - Simplifying nature's complex imagery is perhaps the landscape painter's greatest challenge.

Optimal Orientation of Both Subject and Artist in Plein Air - Excerpted from the article "Working in the Elements", orignally published in American Artist Magazine (July 2000).

Value Divisions in Landscape Painting - Essesntial lessons on how to see the broad value divisions he landscape.

The Limited Palette - The benefits of using a limited set of colors. What are the cool and warm varieties of each primary and how should colors be arranged on the palette?

Four Keys to Photographing Artwork with a Digital Camera - Four basic steps for improving results.

The Advantages of Alkyd Colors - Alkyds offer all the versatility of oils, but none of the undesirable qualities of acrylics.

Critique Notes

Real-world lessons, tips, artist references, and book reviews from Mitchell Albala's "Advanced Landscape Critique Group" at Gage Academy of Art.

CRIT NOTES 20 - Expressive Color | Harmony of Neutrals | Gamblin Colors' website | Book Recommendations

CRIT NOTES 19 - Photo Demo - Convincing Color Between Sky and Ground | Preparing Slides for Submission | Still Necessary to Shoot Slides?

CRIT NOTES 18 - Panormaic Landscapes | When is a Painting Done?

painting analyses

Joaquin Sorolla - Spanish, 1863 – 1923. A master figure painter demonstrates lessons for the landscapist with a coloristic approach to handling light and shade.

Rebecca Allan - American, contemporary. Her small plein-air sketches offer up the quintissential lessons in simplification and massing.

Claude Monet - French, 1840 – 1926. The only Impressionist who followed the style through it's natural evolution. With a description of the "corrugation" technique.

RESOURCES

Landscape Painter's Websites

Reading List - Books to inspire and guide.

Societies and Art Supply Resources