PATRICK HOWE, ARTIST, AUTHOR, EDUCATOR
  • HOME
  • Oil painting classes
    • LIVE CLASSES SEATTLE
    • OIL PAINTING SUPPLIES
    • ENDORSEMENTS
    • ABOUT CLASSES/ REVIEWS
    • OPEN STUDIO
    • GUARANTEE & TERMS
  • PORTFOLIOS
  • RESUME
  • STORE
  • FOR STUDENTS
    • RESOUCE CENTER
    • STUDENT SAMPLES
    • Free Pear Painting Exercise
    • Buying the Right Easel
  • BLOG
  • Contact / Sign up
  • MUSIC
  • BOOKS
  • Tuesday Art Things
    • Introduction Video
    • TAT 10/24/23
  • Thank you

Tuesday Art Things #58 - Looking Closer at Composition

4/27/2023

0 Comments

 
Examining and comparing a variety of paintings helps to develop a better understanding of painting composition. Here are several paintings in which to examine and compare their composition. Each of these paintings is effective for its own reasons. Take the time to study their differences and see how they might inspire your own painting. Read the captions to see my comments about painting composition.
0 Comments

A Tuesday Art Thing: Oil Painting Masters to Explore

4/25/2023

2 Comments

 
Check out these master painters. Each painting to their own tune. Here we have Cezanne, Monet, Parrish, Fechin,  Klint, Klee, Lawrence, and others.
Ask me about these styles and techniques in the studio and we can discuss.
2 Comments

Use Pumice Gel for Priming Your Canvas with Texture

4/24/2023

0 Comments

 
Pumice Gel​ enables oil painters to texture their painting surface before painting. (It is also used by acrylic painters.) It is an acrylic medium, so you cannot mix oil paint into it. The pumice gel must be completely dry before applying oil paint over it. If the gel is too stiff and grainy straight out of the jar, you can use acrylic medium or molding paste too thin it.
Picture
This is a painting of  door in Venice that I did, and used a lot of Pumice Gel. The gel comes in fine, course, and extra-course. In this 3 ft x 5 ft painting, I used the course gel. The extra course would have been way too grainy.
​

Picture
Here is a close up of the grainy surface of my painting.
​

Picture
This is what the gel looks like straight out of the jar.
​

Picture
Pumice Gel is made by Golden.
0 Comments

Tips for Creating Brilliant Highlights in Indirect Painting

4/24/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Indirect painting is when the painter paints the picture first in black and white (a grisaille) or in warm tones such as Burnt Umber. Then, after it dries, the painter applies glazes of colors over it.

However, what I wish to point out is that for glazing to be effective over a black and while underpainting, the high-key colors (bright reds, greens, and yellows) must be painted in extra-light values. Notice the values in the bottom painting above, the apples are extra light. That way, when the bright, high-key colors are applied over the apples, you will be able to maintain their intense color saturation.
​
Conversely, if the apples in the black and white painting were painted in darker values, the glazing over the top of them would only produce a murky color and lack brilliance.

(I don't know who painted the picture above, so unfortunately I cannot attribute it.)
0 Comments

Buying the Right Easel

4/20/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
A tabletop easel is perfect for experienced and new painters alike. Pictured above is one that is light-weight and folds down for convenient transport. Follow this link for a guide on  several kinds of easels for indoor and outdoor painting.
0 Comments

Floater Frame

4/13/2023

0 Comments

 
A floater frame is designed to make the painting appear to float within the frame. The frame molding does not wrap around the front of the painting and is usually flush to the face of the painting. It has a sleek modern look. I prefer a floater because I usually want the edges of my painting to show.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Consider a floater frame if you want a contemporary look that reveals the edges of the painting.

I have not personally experimented with floater frames from the below stores. Please let me know if you are satisfied with your purchase.

Blick Art Materials
https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-contour-floater-frames/

Jerry's Art-A-Rama
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/1-1-2-inch-deep-illusions-floater-frames

Jerry's Art a Rama- Ampersand
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/ampersand-floater-frames

(Framing is discussed in my live oil painting classes in Seattle.  "Specializing in oil painting instruction for 40 years". 
0 Comments

Free Step-by-step Painting Exercise

4/12/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Follow this step-by-step guide to paint a brown pear. Go here to download a PDF file. Send me a picture of your painting and I would love to see it!
​

Oil painting Classes in Seattle. Artist Patrick Howe, specializing in oil painting instruction. 
0 Comments

    Author

    Patrick Howe

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    October 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    August 2020
    July 2020

    Categories

    All
    Abstract Vs Realism
    Art Galleries
    Art History
    Artist Patrick Howe
    Charcoal Drawing
    Color Mixing
    Composition
    Copyright Law
    Creative Blocks
    Easels
    Faces And Portraits
    Famous Artist Quotes
    FedEx Office And Print
    Floater Frame
    Hang And Display Art
    Hilma Af Klint
    History And Theory
    How To Study Paintings
    Impressionism
    Interesting Art
    John Singer Sargent
    Luminism
    Making A Wall Label
    Mickey Culver
    Mount Canvas To Board
    Oil Paint On Gold Leaf
    Painting Cats
    Painting Techniques
    Painting Water
    Photographing Artwork
    Picture Frames
    Plein Air Painting
    Portrait Painting
    Preparing To Paint
    Print Reference Photo
    Quirky And Beautiful Paintings
    Recent Paintings
    Sfiumato
    Stretching Canvas
    Surrealism
    Tonalism
    Weekly Art Beat

    RSS Feed

Picture
Copyright © 2025, by Patrick Howe, all rights reserved.
Patrick Howe, Artist, Author and Educator
Seattle, WA.
Contact: [email protected]
  • HOME
  • Oil painting classes
    • LIVE CLASSES SEATTLE
    • OIL PAINTING SUPPLIES
    • ENDORSEMENTS
    • ABOUT CLASSES/ REVIEWS
    • OPEN STUDIO
    • GUARANTEE & TERMS
  • PORTFOLIOS
  • RESUME
  • STORE
  • FOR STUDENTS
    • RESOUCE CENTER
    • STUDENT SAMPLES
    • Free Pear Painting Exercise
    • Buying the Right Easel
  • BLOG
  • Contact / Sign up
  • MUSIC
  • BOOKS
  • Tuesday Art Things
    • Introduction Video
    • TAT 10/24/23
  • Thank you