"Flowers in Cary"

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I stayed one additional day at Cary. A group artists got together and painted. I decided to do a high key floral. I have not done much of white flowers. So I gave it a try this time. I started to like more about my high key paintings. I studied more of Richard Schmid approaches. I think this is a good direction. I feel so grateful that nowadays we have so many great masters we can learn from. When I do low key paintings I follow David Leffel, while I do high key I follow Richard Schmid.

Workshop in Rome!

For all of you out in Italy or nearby, join me for workshops in Rome this Spring! More info here.

Non perdetevi il workshop di Nathan Fowkes per la prima volta a Roma!

april and may hearts

- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 -

"Demo at Cary 2015 3" --- Sold

This one is rather classical. I spent a long time developing the silver tea pot. I have enjoyed the details in this painting.



I am honored to have another magazine article about my workshop teaching published. It is showing at the Feb/March 2015 issue of the "Professional Artist" magazine. I want to thank Kathi Ferguson for writing this article.

Sign of the week

toilet training

SNUG toyblocks calendar

Because it's still January. And we love graphic calendars :)



Snug Studio via Etsy.

"Demo at Cary 2015 2"

I don't know what those flowers are called and have no idea how to paint them. But they are in my setup. Go ahead and do it. Putting emotion and self consciousness aside, I see the shape; I see the value, I see the color, and I see the texture, slow down, observe more, and paint less. One thing at a time....



Here is my second demo.

Loft Szczecin in Berlin

We love the interior of this modern loft in Berlin! The color palette is amazing with the white, grey and black shades mixed with the warmth of wood. Especially the bathroom looks absolutely stunning!

Want to more images of this home? Click here.

Furniture realized by Marcin Wyszecki

Photos by Karolina Bak

COS

COS is the perfect fashion label for timeless clothes that look and feel classic and modern at the same time. Clean shapes and lines with a great attention to detail; just beautiful.

Since 2007 they have opened stores worldwide with a beautiful modern gallery space to show their collection. Definitely worth a visit some time and in the meantime you can visit their webshop.

Photography: Katsuhide Morimoto

Styling: Hannes Hetta

Austin Texas this weekend!

If you're anywhere near Austin Texas this weekend, come join me and the Schoolism live gang for a weekend of Artist's workshops! See you there!

"Demo at Cary 2015 1"

I am traveling again. This painting is my first demonstration on the workshop at Cary, NC. I want to thank Waverly Artist Group and Monica Linares for organizing this workshop, thank Beth and Howard for their hospitality, and thank all workshop artists for attending.



I know pumpkin is off the season, but I can't resist the temptation for putting that piece of pure cadmium orange on the canvas. It was a lot of fun of painting this one.

Photo suite 161 -- houses with monograms

Online Rsources

And here's a the video description of my portrait drawing online resources:

"Dies Ranch"

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There is a very old house not far from where I live. I did this plein air painting yesterday there. I must confess that I don't know how to paint trees. So it is what I got.

Bamboo Baskets

Our blogfriend Accessorize your Home added these beautiful natural/black bamboo baskets from House Doctor to their collection. The baskets are perfect to clean up your stuff in a stylish way, to organize your desk or to show off your plants like above. Love it :)



The baskets are available in two sets in different sizes.



For more unique home accessories of mostly Scandinavian brands visit Accessorize your Home

Sign of the week

SS15 collection Ferm-living

Ferm-Living came with some beautiful new products for SS 2015. The products and the images are wonderful with the soft colors, the green and the geometric shapes! Would love to add some of these new products to my home!



You'll find more of the new collection here.



Images through Ferm-Living

Online Portrait Course begins Monday!

My portrait drawing online course begins this Monday Jan 26! We've opened up a couple spots just for you! Check it out here.

Loft FOR by adn architects

This loft appartment named FOR by ADN Architects is situated in Brussel, Belgium. We love minimalistic and open spaces like this and when we first spotted this loft we had to see more of this space.



The living space with the whites, industrial details mixed with modern design, cubic elements and lines are amazing. The touch of wood and white painted brick wall immediately create more warmth and depth. And we love the use of the semi-transparant walls in this open space.



Photographs: Filip Dujardin

Online Pictorial Composition Class!

My online Pictorial Composition class is open for enrollment!

Session starting March 19 now sold out

Session starting May 31, enrollment opens January 20 (tomorrow!)

An additional session will held Fall of 2015

"Elisabet Ney Museum"

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This a couple of days in Austin, the weather is beautiful. I went to plein air painting yesterday, and this is what I did. The location is the Elisabet Ney Museum in Hyde Park, downtown Austin. This place is the former studio of the 19th century sculptor Elisabet Ney. I have not painted plein air often lately. I surely enjoyed painting there. I started around 3:30 PM, when it is close to the time I finish, the beautiful warm colors were showing on the limestone wall of this old building giving me so many color opportunities.

easy sunday

Easy sunday - walnuts & cheese.



Have a good one!



Wooden cheese board from the Somewhere store

"Vine Tomatoes"

I followed Richard Schmid's approach and did this painting. For a few years, I have tried many times painting high key, but for a long time I have not found the effects I really love. These a couple of days, I tried high key again and actuarially feel pretty good about this one.



Yesterday, I had an interview with American Art Collectors Magazine. In March I will have a show case at the Trailside Gallery in Scottsdale. I am working hard and trying to test the water of gallery presentation and high end collectors market. Having shown in galleries for quite a few years, I can't say I am satisfied with my performances there. Obviously the 40% and 50% gallery commission really put artists like me into a disadvantage situation. I am competing with many developed artists to get a share of that market. I have to price my paintings high, even myself can't afford them. In a nutshell, I must improve significantly to survive there. It is a totally different ball game than what I used to play before. So please watch my "reality show". If I fail, let it be. However just in case, I may have a chance.

April and may hearts

- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 -

"Pavilion in Summer Palace (Day 6)"

Do you still remember this painting? I have mentioned that I was in the "mid painting crisis". So I put it aside and got busy of teaching my workshop at Austin. Now the workshop is over. I came back to it. I spent two more days following my intuition to improve it. I don't know if I have brought this painting to fruition, but I decided to call it done. I still have a lot of thinking about the issues with it, but somehow I found it so difficult to put more brush strokes on it.



The "mid painting crisis" makes me think about my entire art career. I am no longer feel that emotionally enthusiastic about my paintings like a few years ago. My friends, having followed my art for so long, you should feel tired of my dark background still life paintings by now. A style of painting is like a delicacy on the dinner table. No matter how delicious it maybe, if you eat too much of it or eat the same dish everyday, you will feel tired of it. My art has entered into a relatively quiet time. It is quite normal. There will be more time to think. Think as an ordinary human on how to make living, how to pay our debt, and how to make the family happy. I have chose this journey voluntarily. So I will keep on cultivating. Cultivating persistently, and do not think about harvesting too much.

Sign of the week

“Demo in Austin 2015 4" --- Sold

My workshop in Austin was a 4-day one. On the last day, I went beyond the still life painting and did this landscape. This one was based on a photo I took from in China two years ago. My landscape or cityscape is still in the developing stage. So much I don't know but I need to know. I try my best of learning a little bit everyday. It may not sure much of progress in a short period of time, but for the long run, it will make a difference.

Disney Color Key

HotelSP 34

Hotel sp34, a new boutique hotel in Copenhagen, is a great example of a modern yet warm interior with it's soothing grays and warm accents.. The 118 rooms are simple and minimalistic what gives it a clean and airy feel.



We really like the slate-coloured walls, white linens and wooden floors along with smart and creative details like the individual headboards on the bed. Definitely going to visit Hotel sp34 on our next trip to Copenhagen!



Photography: Brøchner Hotels