Learning to look

WITH THE SUMMER LANDSCAPE PAINTING SEASON upon us, this is a great time to consider palette choices, new colour additions and expression in brushwork for our landscapes. Choosing a palette of oil colo

I’VE COME FROM A VERY TECHNICAL BACKGROUND. When I started getting busier and time spent on artwork became much more precious, I began looking for ways to streamline the process without losing the pre

ARCHITECTURE HAS ALWAYS been of great interest to me. There are many buildings that I have admired for years and their complicated shapes, angles and perspectives all lend themselves to the challenge

Colm Tóibín meditates on Pat Steir’s painting ‘Night’

In the previous issue, I used the on-site sketch I’d made back in early January as reference to paint a watercolour study in the studio. I have many sketchbooks that I’ve filled over the years, creati

I love to take a sketchbook with me when I’m out in the countryside. I can make detailed drawings, quick watercolour sketches, or add just a few brief marks with a pencil or pen to remind me of the sc