The Joy of Childhood: Mary Cassatt’s Children Playing on the Beach

12 December, 2025

October 5, 2025September 16, 2025by Dan Scott21 Comments In this article, we’re diving into Children Playing on the Beach by Mary Cassatt. This particular piece resonates deeply with me, as I hope to create something similar featuring my daughters, Elora and Arabella. This painting is one of the few coastal pieces by Cassatt, as she […]

How to Create an Eerie and Atmospheric Seascape Painting

11 December, 2025

September 25, 2025September 24, 2025by Dan Scott20 Comments In this article, I will share some essential aspects of my recent painting titled Three Pylons (illustrated below). This piece, created a few months ago, captures a haunting seascape as seen from the jetty at Kingfisher Bay, K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island). The three pylons depicted […]

Exploring the Beauty of Jasper Cropsey’s Iconic Sunset Painting

11 December, 2025

October 7, 2025October 7, 2025by Dan Scott Today, let’s draw inspiration from an untitled masterpiece depicting a sunset by Jasper Cropsey. Renowned as a prominent artist of the Hudson River School, Cropsey presents a piece that exudes a more tranquil atmosphere than his usual creations. It could potentially serve as a study, yet its execution […]

Exploring the Iconic Masterpieces of the Hudson River School Movement

10 December, 2025

November 26, 2025November 25, 2025by Dan Scott26 Comments I have long admired the artists of the Hudson River School, who created breathtaking and intricately detailed works of art. While I may lack the patience to paint like them, I deeply appreciate their artistry. Let us explore some of my favorite pieces from this influential group. […]

Exploring The Little Worker: A Detailed Analysis of Helen McNicoll’s Masterpiece

10 December, 2025

April 10, 2024by Dan Scott17 Comments In this article, we will delve into The Little Worker by Helen McNicoll, a charming landscape adorned with vibrant high-key colors, compressed values, and an intimate viewpoint. Helen McNicoll, The Little Worker, c.1907 Dimensions: 20 x 24 inches (51.3 × 61 cm) Year Created: c.1907 Medium: Oil on Canvas […]

Paint Backgrounds With Power and Purpose: 3 Approaches

9 December, 2025

Written by Doug Dawson Girl in Blue (pastel on paper, 16 x 14) Like the pristine sheets of a fresh notebook, a painting’s background establishes the mood for everything that ensues. As we embrace this time of sharpened pencils and new beginnings, it’s an ideal opportunity to reflect on how backgrounds can frame, enhance, and […]

Five Essentials for Getting Started in Encaustics | Artists Network

8 December, 2025

Are you considering exploring encaustics? Here are five tips to get you started! What are Encaustics? Encaustic paints represent a distinctive art form that has been utilized for many ages. Made from beeswax, damar resin, and colorants, these waxy paints get their name from the Greek term “enkaustikos,” which translates to “to burn in.” Artists […]