pochade_palette

Adjusting the background to improve light affect

Hello, everyone! 

I'm back at it after a lovely vacation and I'm excited to share with you a demo I previously created for our top-tier supporters on Patreon. Rather than taking up another session for that tier, I thought it would be interesting to give you a glimpse into my creative process when I need to complete...

Arizona Landscape

In preparation for a trip out to Arizona, I've decided to do a quick little study for you guys! Hope you like it, please be respectful of the photo and do not make a painting from this image. Enjoy and comment below!

Painting from a Drawing part 2

Ideally when you are making a painting from a drawing you will have a lot of time and freedom to experiment. 

It's not an easy task and requires a lot of practice, I remember being absolutely blown away at the thought of being able to construct something that is not done from life. 

Memory was a big part...

New Inspiration: John Ottis Adams

Portrait study of an elderly woman. When you view paintings like this, it's hard not to want to jump up and grab your palette and rush to go try to create something as beautiful as what you are beholding. Though that is a temptation, what I would like you to think about is how a simple subject, can be so breathtakingly beauti...

Time-lapse of 2 hour demo

One of the benefits of using a time-lapse video demonstration is that it allows you guys to see the subject matter from a different perspective. Instead of just showing a real-time demonstration as usual, the time-lapse version can help highlight the key points and make them stand out.

I noticed I jump around a lot more...

Sold through Ann Long Fine Art

I like to share when sales happen, though I don’t do it all the time. This was a demo at the highest tier so it pertains to the platform. If you haven’t had a chance to view any of the demos from the Flower Painting tier I do a deep dive into my techniques. Much of the same thing as the $25 but you get to witness gallery ...

Developing a Painting from a Drawing

Developing a painting from a drawing can be a rewarding and challenging experience. It allows the artist to capture the essence of a scene or subject, while also having the freedom to explore new possibilities and techniques in the process.

In this video, we will explore the steps involved in developing a painting from ...

New Product Release

Introducing our hand-crafted brush wrap made from natural cowhide leather, perfect for the fashionably conscious plein air painter. This brush wrap provides protection for up to 14 short handle brushes, making it the ideal choice for artists who need to travel light but want to ensure their brushes are safe.

The brush w...

Jules Bastien Lepage portrait of Sarah Bernhardt

Bastien Lepage is someone I talk about frequently, and there's a good reason for that. 

In my opinion, his unique blend of brushwork and form modeling is unparalleled. Take, for example, his iconic portrait of Sarah Bernhardt, which exhibits his masterful handling of paint and his willingness to leave certain choic...

New Color Mixing Demo

I couldn't leave you all without a lesson so I got up early to figure out a fix to my technical problem from last night (Monday).

Enjoy! I'm on the road today, I'll try answering questions but if there is a little delay that is why.

Thanks!

Edges, Glazing and Inventing Shape Design

This demo is addressing a few questions from you all, it discusses some things we have covered in other lessons but it is always good too see a recap. Also, a lot of reinterpretation of what I remember from this demo that was done from life for a workshop.

Enjoy! Comment and enter the discussion, I would love...

"Simple Gesture"

Beauty can be simple.

Maybe when this piece is eventually collected by someone, it can be a simple gesture to their spouse of love and affection? 

I hope so.

Boats on the Seacoast at Étaples

Again, came across another painting and I just had to share. Sometimes certain things hit me in the gut! This was one by Charles-François Daubigny

"In October 1870 Daubigny and his family went to London to seek refuge from the Franco-Prussian War; this scene of beached fishing boats is thought to be th...

Demo of Background Techniques w/ Glass

Thanks to everyone who suggested recommendations for new videos; I decided to start the month off with a demonstration illustrating my background paint application and how it corresponds to a clear glass.

Enjoy!

Landscape Painting Gear

Recently I purchased a collapsable stool for my painting setup and I absolutely love it! I wanted to share a quick image I took this morning... Soon this will be up on our website for sale, along with the Pochade Palette and Carrying Case offered as a combo deal.

One of the most important aspects of plein air painting i...

Unfinished Tadema's

Images like these have inspired me for a long time. I have always been fascinated by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema's random blocking in of flat shapes of color and rendering out other areas almost to completion. Included is a photo of Tadema at his easel, with an unfinished painting that recently went up for auction (painting is t...

Work in progress (Portrait Update) and new series

Here is an image from last night after 4 hours on the painting. I've been enjoying this process and even though it is difficult at times, you can see how the color harmony comes together.

I build the painting up in layers, that is why I prefer to paint in short sessions; 4 one hour sessions, instead of 1 three to four h...

Portrait Painting session 4

Wow, this was one of those sessions where it felt like it was going horribly wrong and then it ends up not looking so bad at the end. I wish I could trust my instincts more. We'll see if we continue on this, maybe I will take a break and paint something easier for some basic exercises and get back to difficult stuff again lat...

Alphonse-Étienne Dinet, Man in a Large Hat

Another painting I've recently learned about... I love when this happens! So many brilliant things going on in this picture it is hard to count. A few that are close to my heart are color harmony and brushwork, but beyond that is the subtly of values of ambient light vs. direct light. This is extremely hard to execute, some o...

Portrait Session 3

There is a lot of texture building and scraping in this session, carving out the likeness like a sculpture and searching for color harmonies that are more and more life-like.

Pochade Palette Multistream Master Copy

Master study by Isaac Levitan with guest artist James Zamora

Portrait Painting session 2

New Work

This is my latest piece completed and ready to go out to the gallery. 

"Blooming Peonies" 18x16 in, oil on panel

Portrait Painting Session 1

Enjoy! This was a fun one to start.

Preparation Studies

This is a little pencil sketch I did this morning thinking about some of the concepts around portrait art and the anatomical form associated with it. Hopefully I can expand and articulate what is going on in my mind as these structural components come to life. 

This is an "invented" doodle, about 2" wide...

Portrait Painting in February

There's no time like the present.. I just decided that for the Monday evening sessions on the $25-$75 tiers, I will be doing a new portrait painting for you all.

There are still a lot of ideas I want to explore on this platform, but for now I will keep it going with solid predictable content. 

See you Monday ...

A Natural Approach part 16, Final Session!

Well, after 16 sessions I think it's finally done. I enjoyed very much filming this last session. If you have any additional comments please, as always let me know. I can't wait to try out some new stuff for the platform.

Best,
Michael

Other artists on this platform?

I've been brainstorming ideas for a very long time about ways I could host other talented painters in ongoing conversations about art. 

It's been a goal to offer a platform for artists to paint together (virtually) in an interactive environment that is far better than Zoom. It's sounds easier than it appears, but i...

Stack Process Lead White

Recently, Inas asked me about my white I use and it got me thinking. Why did I stop using Stack Lead White? 

The main reason was that it is always sold out. I do know the owners of the company and probably could get some if I wanted, but I've resorted to what is fastest and purchased some of the dry pigment today, ...

This piece speaks to my soul

Sometimes you come across art that speaks to you in a certain way, this is one of those pieces for me. It hits me at a very deep level about a human experience. It may be partially due to the intense subject matter, but I think honestly it is more about the way the artist handled the light coming into the room. 

Hi...