Inspiration comes in many forms, and creativity is its currency. But where does creativity come from – and what even is it? It’s thought that childhood play and adult creativity originate in similar processes in [...]

There’s a true-to-life scene in the 2014 movie Mr.Turner, where the Royal Academician John Constable is drawing a crowd for a colorful painting with a middle-ground full of dynamic red paint. In reaction, Turner adds [...]

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ― Gustav Mahler Visual art has a long history (to say the least) of practice, tradition, and training. And yet, art remains forever fresh [...]

Though renowned for his light-drenched figure paintings and portraits, Renoir’s lesser-known landscapes possess a similar poetry, elegance, and innovation.  Renoir’s famous boating parties and crowded outdoor café scenes dazzle and charm. Once seen, you never [...]

It’s not technique that makes you fall in love with art; learning technique opens the way so you can explore art’s ancient and miraculous forces. Art’s power is in what it means to you, how [...]

As someone who’s been asked to judge some dozen or so art show competitions, I offer here an insider’s take on the judging process. Art contests are weird, mysterious beasts. You can never be sure [...]

“An artist must possess nature,” according to Matisse.  Matisse’s word choice in the quote above suggests the word possession had special meaning for the artist.  It comes from the Latin possess(us) which means “to occupy” [...]

Warsaw’s Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art is currently exhibiting “Odd Nerdrum, Painter of the North,” a dramatic show of large figurative works by the renowned artist.  Heavily influenced by classical painters like Rembrandt and [...]

“I am awaiting / perpetually and forever / a renaissance of wonder” ― Lawrence Ferlinghetti   Painting, like poetry, and all the best things in life, is often simple and complicated at the same time.  Marc [...]