Add depth to your palette with this comprehensive guide to the history and variety of different red pigments.

"Red is the colour of fire and blood. A mysterious pigment with positive and negative connotations: bloodshed, aggression, war, and hate are on one side, and love, warmth and compassion on the other side."

"Red unfailingly provides focal points to a painting, particularly when placed alongside a cool color such as green. But red can appear garish if overdone."

What are the best red pigments to include on your palette?

After 18 years of helping artists achieve their unique vision, we have come to recognize that art has a different meaning for different people. Art can be a very serious endeavour or a playful game. For some, the goal is to build a practice and sell artwork in a commercial gallery. Others enjoy doodling and bringing ideas to life. The important thing is your artistic journey.

Let's begin... Wherever you find yourself is exactly the right place for you. The next step is the only important step. Take it. "Don't wait until you know who you are to make things." You're ready now. Begin.

A good frame completes a painting. In my studio I keep on hand many sizes of tester frames. Some didn’t start out as a tester frame but with handling and show dings they became that way. For testing, even an old ugly frame is better than no frame at all. Usually at about the 3/4 mark of a painting I will try it out in a frame to get a fresh perspective and often find I'm farther along than I thought. This helps me avoid overworking a piece.  Let's see what other tips the experts have…

"Line is arguably the most fundamental and direct element in art, and also the most expressive ... as personal as handwriting. Strokes of Genius 4 explores the linework of more than 100 contemporary masters. These artists tell the stories of their varied subjects through strong verticals and sweeping diagonals, quick staccatos and loose, sensuous strokes."

We are proud to anounce that our very own Doug Swinton was included in this beautiful publication.  

"The thing that attracted me to draw Brandi was the simplicity of her image. When I saw her I thought she would make an awesome drawing. There wasn't a lot of shading involved. It was about her eyes, nose and mouth, silhouetted by her shock of blond hair. Her mysterious allure - nothing else. It sounds cliché but the truth of the matter is that simplicity wins out every time. Though I like to challenge myself continually, there comes a time when I just know I can draw something end and enjoy it. BRANDI embodied this."