Today’s Video Clip comes from our online, live, and weekly, Beyond Master Class with Tom Anderson. Tom is using a sponge to add leaves to his trees. Earlier in the painting, he used the sponge to lay many of the red color leaves in the painting. What he shows you today is how to use the sponge to highlight some of the leaves. He also discusses how he determines where the highlights will be.

Some people (not us) believe that when someone uses something other than a paintbrush and hard labor to create a beautiful painting, it is cheating! Really! Some people think that way. We know that there are many ways to create the same effect, using different techniques and tools. We have our favorites but there are still many different ways to go. After our Beyond Class today, we’ve added the sponge as one of our new favorite tools.

Key Points to Consider;​

• Tom is painting on a dry canvas.
• He blocked in color for the trees and let them dry.
• Tom purchased a sponge and then cut it to make several sponges of different sizes.
• His goal is to create little random shapes that look like leaves.
• He sees the pattern in the sponge before he adds paint.
• Tom prefers a “natural” sponge rather than a man-made one.
• Once he prepares the sponge he prepares the paint by mixing the color he wants and adding oil to loosen it. He prefers the paint to be “drippy.”
• He saturates the sponge with color.
• Tom applies the paint to the canvas in the same manner as he would apply a rubber stamp. The principle is the same.
• Tom adds light in the shadows, sparingly. It is strategically placed to lead the eye to the focal point.
• The reason we are big fans of the sponge is because of the results. In a much quicker time, without a lot of hard work, leaves are applied to the canvas.
• If Tom had used a brush to add the leaves and highlights, he’d still be painting! Plus, the results wouldn’t be as realistic.
• This process can be a little messy but if you are using Alexander paints, it will be safe.

Monday’s are one of our favorite days of the week. That is when we meet online with Tom to learn new techniques. Every Monday, Tom teaches us something new that we can’t wait to share with you!

​Happy Painting!

Laurie and Dawn

PLUS: So whenever you’re ready…here are a few ways we can help you become the artist you’ve always wanted to be.

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