Loosen Up Your Painting Podcast

In this episode, we delve into the art of seeing like an artist and discovering beauty in even the most mundane surroundings. Inspired by a student's struggle to find inspiration in a chaotic urban environment, we explore techniques to transform ordinary scenes into compelling compositions.

Join me as I demonstrate how to:

- Adjust a composition to highlight interesting focal points

- Identify and enhance strong value structures

- Look beyond superficial flaws to find artistic potential

- Utilize color and light to bring energy to your artwork

Whether you're working from photographs or painting en plein air, these tips will help you see your surroundings with fresh eyes and unlock your artistic potential. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more art tutorials and inspiration!

#ArtTutorial #SeeLikeAnArtist #CompositionTips #FindingBeauty #ArtInspiration #PaintingTechniques

Though operating in the same avant-garde circle as Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and others, Alfred Sisley never achieved their level of fame and financial success during his lifetime. In this episode, we'll explore the life, artistic career, and tragic end of this dedicated painter of subtle French landscapes.

We'll trace Sisley's origins, his pivotal role in the Impressionist exhibitions of the 1870s-80s, and his perpetual struggles to sell his naturalistic depictions of the provinces despite support from dealer Paul Durand-Ruel. Personal tragedies like his father's death and cancer diagnosis added to Sisley's melancholy in later years.

A detailed 1897 retrospective exhibition failed to gain traction, leaving Sisley deeply disheartened before he died in 1899 at age 59. We'll examine how Sisley's modest, poetic vision and quiet dedication to capturing nature's fleeting beauty ultimately couldn't overcome the public's resistance to Impressionism.

As we contrast Sisley's resigned approach with Claude Monet's fierce self-promotion, opportunism, and cultivation of patronage, a stark difference emerges. Sisley's modest, poetic vision and quiet dedication to capturing nature's fleeting beauty couldn't overcome the public's resistance to Impressionism. In contrast, Monet's strategic moves helped establish Impressionism. What lessons can today's artists take from these divergent paths? Join us for an insightful look at this 'forgotten Impressionist' and the qualities that allowed Monet's light to shine brighter.

For more, visit www.malcolmdeweyfineart.com

In the 1930s and 1940s, a Dutch painter named Han van Meegeren pulled off one of the most audacious art frauds in history. With a combination of ingenious techniques and an uncanny ability to mimic the style of the 17th-century master Johannes Vermeer, van Meegeren forged a series of "newly discovered" Vermeer paintings that fooled the art world's top experts.

Van Meegeren employed a wide range of deceptive methods to create forgeries so convincing that they commanded record-breaking prices from prestigious museums and collectors, including the notorious Nazi leader Hermann Göring.

In this episode, discover story of van Meegeren's forged Vermeers, exploring the meticulous methods he used to craft his deceptions, the psychological allure that made experts so susceptible to his cons, and the ironic twist that saw him touted as a patriot for duping the Nazis out of millions.

We'll also examine the lasting impact of van Meegeren's forgeries on the art world, exposing vulnerabilities in authentication processes and raising profound questions about the nature of artistic genius, deception, and the enduring power of a masterful forgery.

Claude Monet, the iconic Impressionist painter, did not have an easy life. We look into the period from his birth until 1880, a pivotal moment in his career. Through Monet's own poignant letters and the lens of historical context, you can discover the stories of his struggles and perseverance amidst financial and personal turmoil.

Discover how Monet's formative years were shaped by adversity, from his humble beginnings in Le Havre to his struggles as a young artist in Paris. Learn about the profound influence of English artists during his transformative years in London, where he honed his craft amidst a backdrop of industrial revolution.

Uncover the pivotal role played by patrons like Paul Durand-Ruel, whose unwavering belief in the Impressionist movement provided crucial support during Monet's darkest hours. Through Monet's own words and we witness the spirit of an artist who refused to succumb to despair, finding inspiration in the beauty of the natural world and the bonds of friendship.

Explore more about the Impressionist movement on my YouTube channel where I have many videos on their techniques.

In this episode, we draw upon the poignant tale of a Chinese artist's introspective journey in old age. We explore the transformative power of art to transcend physical limitations and convey timeless truths. Through this parable, discover how artists beyond middle age can embrace their creative journey with renewed purpose, resilience, and a profound sense of fulfillment. This is a message that we can lose in the noise of modern living. This makes it more important than ever to make the leap into a creative life.

Find more on my YouTube channel or on my website www.malcolmdeweyfineart.com

Whether you are a full time professional or a weekend artist you will benefit by following these three fundamental rules. Being more productive is possible only when your mind, skills and attitude to your life as an artist align in a positive way. In this episode I set out the argument for three fundamental rules that have helped me and will help you too.

Watch the podcast episode on https://www.youtube.com/MalcolmDewey

A painting process is a reliable structure that you can fall back on so your painting can progress. Within this process you can experiments, be bold or do whatever you need to grow in your art. The process is powerful, because it gives you a reliable framework with sufficient space to try new things.

Find out more about this process and free downloads here.