Not Every Beautiful Photo Makes a Good Painting How to Choose a Better Still-Life Reference (Common Mistakes When AI Is Involved) If you search the internet for still-life photos today, you will find thousands of beautiful images. Many of them are created with AI programs. The four images below are “bad” examples of references for…
Mixing Rose Colors A rose by any other name… Creating beautiful rose colors with acrylic paint opens up a world of creative possibilities for artists of all skill levels. By understanding how to control the balance of magentas, reds, and whites, painters can craft a stunning variety of shades—each perfect for blossoming flowers, glowing clouds,…
NFT – What are they and should I care? NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are like digital certificates that prove you own a specific piece of art, whether it’s a digital painting, a physical artwork, or even a special video clip. Each NFT is recorded on something called a blockchain (like a super secure digital ledger),…
Tips for Avoiding Back Pain While Painting at a Big Easel or a Tabletop Painting on a large canvas can be exciting, but it shouldn’t be painful! If you’ve ever ended a painting session with a sore back, you’re not alone. Many students experience back and neck pain simply because their setup isn’t working with…
The Core Palette: 12 Colors + 6 Bonus + 2 Specialty Colors Our Academy’s palette was designed to provide versatility while teaching students how to mix colors effectively. These paints allow you to create virtually any hue without using pre-mixed colors. Below is the complete list of our standard colors: Core 12 Colors Bonus Specialty…
As I navigate my artistic path under “Pamela Thielen Fine Art”, the consistent use of “P Thielen” as my signature has emerged as a deliberate choice, offering clarity and a recognizable mark. Picasso’s evolution offers a compelling case for considering a more concise signature. Here’s why an artist might choose not to use their entire…
Understanding Ginger Cook’s… Acrylic Painting Palette At the Academy, mastering color is the foundation of creating successful acrylic paintings. Over the years, we’ve carefully curated a palette of colors that not only allows our students to mix virtually any hue but also teaches them essential color theory and mixing techniques. This article explores our core…
As a young artist in Aspen, Colorado, in my early 20s, I struggled with the balance between painting what I loved and creating commercially viable art. I had no interest in painting “tourist art”—the picturesque local landscapes that visitors loved to take home as souvenirs.
Liquitex vs. Golden: A Comparison Chart Factor Liquitex Golden Pigment Load Decent, but may not hold up as well over decades Higher concentration, preferred for long-term color retention Lightfastness Some colors may not perform as well over time More consistent across their range Additives Slightly more binder and fillers No fillers, extenders, or dyes added…
At our Academy of Fine Art and Acrylic Painting, we use a unique system called the “Cookie” system to help students gauge the difficulty level of our tutorials.
A Letter to My Younger Self… A Report Card on Your Artistic Journey with Ginger Cook What I Wish I Knew as a Young Artist Oh, 17-year-old me, standing in front of that easel, acrylic paint fresh on your hands, heart bursting with dreams. You have no idea where this journey will take you, but…
Personal Art Coaching Do you want to hear this blog read to you? Does It Really Help? The striking difference between a student’s initial cherry blossom painting and their coached version tells a powerful story about artistic growth and the transformative impact of professional guidance. Like watching a flower bloom, the evolution from the first…