The 7 Painting Principles for Success

What are the 7 Painting Principles and why do they matter?

“Painting is drawing with the added complication of tone and colour.”
Harold Speed – The Science & Practice of Painting

My philosophy is less is more.

By focusing on the ‘7 Painting Principles‘ I offer a distilled approach to classical painting.

The following principles will give you a solid foundation for anything you choose to paint, regardless of subject or medium.

They are the why behind the how.

You’ll discover why you should be selective with composition, why colour mixing ‘works’ (and why it doesn’t), and see the benefits of dramatic use of contrast.

Below are links to posts and free video tutorials that fall under the 7 principles so you can work through the articles chronologically, as if you were in my studio, taking you on a journey from amateur to artist.

1. Coloured ground

Getting Started: How to Apply a Coloured Ground

An Old Master technique to rapidly improve your paintings

How to Apply a Coloured Ground with Acrylic Paint (video)

Video demonstration on how to apply a coloured ground

The Immersive Power of Painting (a painting truth you can learn too late)

What if the process of practicing a craft was as important as the final result?

2. Contrast & value

The Importance of Contrast in Painting

How learning to view your paintings as drawings can improve realism in your work

How to Instantly add Depth to Your Mountains in Landscapes

Learn how Da Vinci used science to create depth in his paintings

Landscape Sketching in the Highlands

Techniques for sketching landscapes on location with pen and wash

3. Composition

The Secret of Good Composition

How variety is the key to creating interesting compositions

The Rule of Thirds in Landscape Painting (video)

A simple rule to ensure a balanced composition in your drawing

Are You Making Any of These 7 Compositional Mistakes?

How to avoid common issues when drawing still lifes

4. Colour mixing

How to Choose a Beginner's Starter Set (Without making an Expensive Mistake)

Which colours should you buy when you first start painting?

Simple Colour Mixing Exercise

How hue, value & saturation are the 3 keys to perfect colour mixing

The 3 Tricks of Complementary Colours you can Learn from Van Gogh

Learn how Van Gogh combined colours to create a vibrancy in his works

Understanding Colour Bias

Mixing muddy colours? You might just be using the wrong pigment

How to Balance Warm and Cool Colours

A look at a how Titian used warm and cool colours

Mixing a Chromatic Black

Don’t use black? How your art teachers had it all wrong

5. Perspective

How to Draw Perspective for Beginners

Simple methods to be aware of when creating the illusion of depth in your drawings

Sketching the Light and Landscape in Venice

An inspirational sketching trip through the streets and canals of Venice

French Cafe Scene with Acrylics - Part 1 of 5

In this five-part video tutorial series, paint on board rather than canvas. We work on drawing techniques and learn the importance of your paint consistency and underpainting in these lessons

6. Negative space

Are You Unwittingly Creating a Compositional Cardinal Sin?

How to avoid a visual jarring in your drawings

Plein Air Acrylic Sketch of a Lemon Tree

In this on location video lesson, paint a lemon tree within a secluded grove as a plein air sketch with acrylics

Urban Sketch of a Bike with Pen & Ink

This video tutorial looks at using different thicknesses of pens to create variety in your sketches and illustrates how important the shapes around the main subject can be