Bill’s packed a lot of information into today's video clip. Most folks might miss most of what he is doing so we’ll try to unpack it a bit for you. What Bill is doing in the video is what he calls “conditioning.” "Conditioning" is laying in a background layer of color which will be the foundation of his painting. We’ll return to “conditioning” in a bit. Bill is … [Read more...]
The power of light!
The student who is desirous of making great proficiency in the art of imitating the works of Nature, should not only learn the shape of figures or other objects, and be able to delineate them with truth and precision, but he must also accompany them with their proper lights and shadows, according to the situation in which those objects appear. -- Leonardo da Vinci Today's … [Read more...]
The fountain and the water-jar!
He who can go to the fountain does not go to the water-jar. — Leonardo da Vinci Bill started painting when he was 14. That was his job as an apprentice to the carriage-maker in the village in which he grew up. He painted the carriages with decorative doodles and scenes of country life. Bill's interest in art began much earlier, though, when he met an itinerant painter. He … [Read more...]
I Learn to Create!
You got to nail it down; you have to frame it completely that you know what you are doing on that almighty canvas there. -- Bill Alexander Bill had a remarkable ability to see his paintings before he created them. How did he do it? What was Bill's secret? Bill was a student of Mother Nature. He was a keen observer of the world around him. In many of his videos and his … [Read more...]
Slow down!
We have two words of advice for you. Slow down! It’s amusing how some people think that painting fast is the whole point. We admit Bill did start something. Why, though, did Bill paint so fast? The tyranny of twenty-eight minutes Answer: He only had twenty-eight minutes to finish his television show. Bill admitted in at least one video that he didn't paint in … [Read more...]
Trust In Principles!
I got on the scale this morning. Rats! I gained a pound. How could that be? Yesterday I was 218. Today I am 219. OK, I ate 23 extra calories yesterday. For the week, though, I was 1,900 calories UNDER my weekly budget. Weight this week was up and down — again! Very frustrating! For a moment I wanted to chuck in the towel and say, “The heck with it.” Then I … [Read more...]