Narrative always has played a major role in all of my work, including paintings with great atmosphere. Creating a compelling idea for each of my paintings is, in fact, my chief aim. All other elements — composition, values and color. How To Build Atmosphere, Step-by-Step When painting skies and water,…

You may have found the most beautiful, striking subject in the world for your painting, but if you don’t ruthlessly edit your reference photos, then you may end up with a flat piece of art that just doesn’t work. Ian Roberts, featured in a new North Light Shop landscape painting collection,…

As artists, we almost have this innate attraction to our craft, to our need to create. And, we all have something or someone that has fueled this passion. For many artists, the works of others steer the way they approach their own art. Annie O’Brien Gonzales refers to these influencers as our…

Building and maintaining strong relationships in the art market can be complicated. You may be friendly with a fellow painter and simultaneously quite envious of her. You may dislike a gallery owner or a collector on a personal level but decide that the connection is too valuable to abandon, perhaps…

As pen and ink drawings take center stage this Inktober, we turn to artist Jason Franz who understands the “draw” of the ballpoint pen. Below, he shares with us how this easily accessible writing utensil can be an artist’s magic wand. The Power of Ballpoint Pen Many artists and designers favor the ballpoint pen…