As we begin a new year, many artists feel pulled in too many directions — by screens, noise, fear-driven media, and constant distraction. In this first episode of Art & Modern Life, I reflect on the artist’s most essential ability: the ability to see.🎁 Your FREE Create Art Magazine subscription: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSubDrawing on ideas from Robert Henri and personal experience, this video explores how observation, focus, and intentional creativity help artists stay grounded and clear in a world designed to fragment attention.In this video, we talk about:Why seeing is the artist’s first and most important skillHow distraction and fear-based media affect creativityThe difference between looking and truly observingWhy analogue creative time matters more than everHow art helps us reclaim focus without fighting technologyThis is an invitation to slow down, see more clearly, and begin the year with intention.🎨📕Books by Malcolm:52 Weeks of Creative Living: https://amzn.to/3WvQV5w52 Weeks of Creative Mastery: https://amzn.to/3YdXCdUThe Creative Awakening: https://amzn.to/3zRjuBxSell Your Art of Not?: https://amzn.to/3zM6TzsHow to Loosen Up Your Painting: https://amzn.to/4f5Rx9nAn Artist's Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/4d7Aq58An Artist's Guide to Plein Air Painting: https://amzn.to/3Wg5qZO

Feeling stuck in your painting journey? You’re not alone.Today’s Artist's Chat is an honest conversation about how to stay in the game as an artist — through slumps, doubts, plateaus, perfectionism, and all the messy bits that never make it onto social media.In this video, I talk about:01:35 How you will struggle02:31 Why consistency beats talent03:56 How to survive creative slumps05:19 Why studies are your friends06:51 The trap of perfectionism08:57 Why slow growth is the normal path for every artist10:28 And why showing up is half the battle11:16 Create Art Magazine Your FREE magazine: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSubIf you’re a painter who sometimes struggles with motivation or feels like you’re not improving fast enough, I hope this helps you breathe a little easier.

In this episode, we explore the surprisingly powerful concept of gentle consistency—a kinder, more sustainable approach to building your creative practice. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by perfectionism, stuck in comparison, or paralyzed by the need to “do it all,” this conversation is for you.

You’ll learn:

• Why small, honest efforts beat burnout and over-ambition

• How to build creative habits that feel good (and actually stick)

• Why letting go of perfection unlocks flow and joy

• How consistency works with—not against—your natural rhythm

Whether you're a painter, writer, or maker of any kind, this episode offers real-world encouragement to help you show up with ease, not pressure. Start where you are. Create a little. Let it grow.

🎨 Gentle consistency is not weakness—it’s quiet creative power.

Have we lost the true purpose of art?

In a world of endless distractions, fast content, and fleeting trends, art has been reduced to a commodity—chasing clicks instead of meaning, attention instead of depth. But it wasn’t always this way.

In this episode, I explore how art once served as a gift to the community, a force that connected and uplifted society. I’ll discuss the decline of artistic values, the impact of social media, and how we can quietly reject distractions to reclaim art’s deeper purpose.

This isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about action. A return to intention, craft, and authenticity. Whether you're an artist or someone who values creativity, this is a conversation we need to have.

Let’s start the quiet revolution.

Are beginner painting mistakes holding you back? In this video, I break down the top 5 common painting mistakes that every artist struggles with and show you how to fix them.

Whether it’s rushing the process, ignoring color theory, or overworking your painting, these tips will help you avoid frustration and create more confident, impactful art.

🎨 What You'll Learn:

As a bonus, I’ve included this FREE PDF download with more video resources to help you improve your painting today. No sign-up required—just click and download!

Start your year off right and take your painting to the next level. Watch now and let’s paint with confidence!"

More at: https://www.malcolmdeweyfineart.com/painting-secrets.html

Feeling stuck in a creative rut? Discover is a powerful technique for overcoming artistic blocks and reconnecting with your painterly passion.

In this episode, I will answer important questions beginners want to know about painting in a loose style.

Join me as I discuss:

- Oils or acrylics? What medium is best?

- Cheap or expensive paints?

- What brushes should you use for acrylics and oils?

- Why are my colors and highlights not vibrant?

And much more!

Join the ⁠Artist's Live Channel for monthly tutorials⁠ and support.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more art tutorials and inspiration!

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