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Why Is It Always Art?
Why is it always art that gets cut? Seriously. Every time schools run out of money, the first headline is "Sorry, kids. No more art class.” It’s never math.

Doug Swinton
4 days ago2 min read


Design Before Execution.
Sometimes the melody whispers while the words steal the show. In Doug Swinton’s latest article, “Design Before Execution,” he dives into the balance between structure and spontaneity — how design lays the foundation, but composition decides who takes the spotlight. Whether it’s a street scene or a still life, it all starts with a solid plan…

Doug Swinton
Oct 312 min read


Art Analogy: Design vs. Composition
Strategy before execution. Get the design right first, then add the magic juice on top. Just like in music. Just like in painting.

Doug Swinton
Sep 202 min read


Paintings That Never Made The Cut.
No one ever shows the ones that didn't make the cut, but there sure are a lot of them. And they are necessary to achieve success.

Doug Swinton
Aug 83 min read


60/30/10 - Balance and Visual Interest in a Colour Scheme.
The 60/30/10 Split. This is a great technique to capture balance and visual interest in a colour scheme. This can be used not only for paintings but also logos, brands, interiors, graphic design, websites and more.

Doug Swinton
Jun 143 min read


Techniques for Simplifying Your Paintings
6 Essential tips to eliminate chaos in your paintings and photos! Simplify your art and create a clear message.

Doug Swinton
Apr 33 min read


Moving is Grooving! What to do when your Plein Air painting won't work.
Sometimes a fresh start in the same location doesn't cut it. A: you need to start over, B: you need to move your location.

Doug Swinton
Jun 1, 20242 min read


10 Things I Know About The Figure and How It Relates To The Landscape
Explore the dynamic relationship between figures and landscapes through 10 insightful observations.

Doug Swinton
Mar 16, 20244 min read


10 things to make a foreground work in a painting.
10 things to keep in mind that will help you make a foreground work in a painting.

Doug Swinton
Feb 16, 20242 min read


10 things I know about painting edges.
Unlock the secrets of painting edges with these 10 expert tips!

Doug Swinton
Oct 12, 20233 min read


What to do when you know you need to do something... but what? Self-critique.
The five dominations of painting. Learn what makes a painting interesting to look at.

Doug Swinton
Sep 16, 20233 min read


The Three-Act Play | What to look for in a painting.
The setup, the climax and the resolution. Every play or sitcom has a three-act play in it. So does artwork.

Doug Swinton
May 19, 20234 min read


Self Critique, Beginning To End
Critiquing your own work can be hard. Understanding how to critique yourself can make things easier and end in a better result.

Doug Swinton
Jan 7, 20235 min read


Harmony in Art.
See, the full meal deal is; You want to have a funky painting with lots of eye-popping creativity, and yet you want harmony in there too.

Doug Swinton
Aug 9, 20215 min read


10 things that offset the start of a painting.
The start of a painting is sooooo important. It sets you up for success. If your start is good the chances are, you will have a good...

Doug Swinton
Oct 30, 20205 min read


10 things I Know About Painting Clouds
The sky is key to painting a believable landscape. It determines everything that is about to happen in your painting.

Doug Swinton
Aug 31, 20205 min read


10 Things Artists Can Do During Downtime
Besides social distancing.

Doug Swinton
Jun 9, 20204 min read


9 Ways Photos Lie to a Painter
The devil is in the details.

Doug Swinton
Jan 10, 20206 min read


Self Critique - Asking the right questions about your painting.
Good questions are the key to solving painting problems.

Doug Swinton
Dec 10, 20192 min read


10 Things About Painting Shadows
The Shadow Knows...

Doug Swinton
Sep 9, 20192 min read
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