As the world seems to spin out of control outside of our studios, this may be a good time to revisit the ONE thing that truly enables you to stay engaged as a life-long artist: satisfaction from, and a love for, the PROCESS. Wanting to ... Read More...

"Last Light on Split Rock" by Mary Pettis OPA28" x 16" - Oil on linen “Do I have what it takes?” This was the last question posed to me by an earnest young man at my last landscape workshop. It is frequently asked, and not just at the ... Read More...

I think that as artists, one of the primary goals of a successful painting, whether spoken or unspoken, is that we hope to evoke an emotional response from the viewers of our paintings.  We want that untrained eye to approach one of ... Read More...

I received an email from my blog a while back asking a couple of questions about how Berthe Morisot painted. I thought my reply might be interesting to a wider readership, so here it is... On Feb 25, 2019, at 11:36AM, Malcolm ... Read More...

Today’s blog is from OPA Master, Dan Gerhartz, with some insights he shared during the 2012 “Weekend with the Masters”. Though it is a few years old, the information is timeless. Portrait Demonstrations… Weekend with the ... Read More...

I have received a number of questions about painting “backgrounds” specifically for portraits. Too many students spend their time rendering the subject and then try to paint the background at the last moment. The result is often a disaster; ... Read More...

I have been teaching art for over 50 years and drawing and painting for 75 years. Where did the time go?! Like most people, I have certainly had my ups and downs and now that most of my life is behind me I have the tendency to reflect and ... Read More...

“Sometimes it takes an expert to point out the obvious.”    --Scott Allen Rick and Ken meet the Master in the Handell Studio On a recent fall afternoon, noted painter Ken Spencer, my wife Lynn and I were privileged to ... Read More...

This work is a derivative of "1970 Plymouth Fury Gran Coupe" by Alden Jewell licensed under CC BY 2.0 Remember paisley?  I do.  My brother had a 1971 Plymouth Fury Gran Coupe with a paisley vinyl top.  It was a boat ... Read More...

What is it like to win a big award at a national art show? How would you spend the prize money? What impact would an award have on your career? These questions go through my mind with each competition I enter when I finally get my piece ... Read More...