Thomas Nast and the Santa Claus We Know Today

Share: by Cynthia Close Santa’s Portrait (above), a color illustration by the noted German born American political cartoonist Thomas Nast, appeared in an 1881 edition of Harper’s Magazine. It is credited with being the first image to establish all the visual elements we associate with America’s version of Santa Claus we […]

Free Drawing Lesson #1: Pencil Sharpening

The first three lessons in my Intro to Classical Drawing course are posted free here on my blog, so you can get a feel for the type and quality of training you can expect from all my online instruction. Welcome! Classical drawing starts with a specific way of sharpening our […]

Beautiful Strangers – KALTBLUT Magazine

A KALTBLUT exclusive. Photography by Johanna Kirsch. The model is June. Styling by Sandra Hemmink. Make up by Jesse Strickwerda. Brands used are Carla Renèe Loose, Don Aretino, Naomi Taras, Scan Studio x Adddress, Ost Won x Adddress, Balenciaga, Cop Copine. “I’m a young photographer and director based in Berlin. […]

MAKING A MARK: PAOTY Commission

I thought the programme about “Painting Sir Lenny Henry” – the £10,000 National Portrait Gallery Commission of Sir Lenny Henry, painted by the winner of Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 – was one of the best commission episodes ever in the history of the programme This is a review […]

Ep 117 Why Artists Need to be Brave

Janice K. Johnson

On today’s podcast, we talk about why artists need to be brave. So, the most successful artists out there are often the ones who have been brave and not been afraid to try new things …and they’ve just put themselves out there no matter what the outcome or reaction might […]

Artists’ Gardens – George Van Hook

Janice K. Johnson

Inspiration Close at Hand Artists’ Gardens George Van Hook Iris          30 x 24″          Oil          © George Van Hook    In response to our “Inspiration Close at Hand” call for paintings created in artists’ gardens or other personal spaces, we […]