TODAY'S FEATURED POST

The Power of Preliminary Studies

Julie Beck

Preliminary studies are crucial to my process. Each artist approaches prep work different but as someone who teaches both technical skills as well as the importance of design and composition, I emphasize the importance of massaging the design before you get into the nitty gritty. Preliminary thumbnails help in a multitude of ways: Planning: Sketches help you organize ideas and create a clear roadmap, saving time and reducing frustration. Problem Solving: They allow you to…

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EVERYDAY ORIGINAL

A Princess of Mars

YESTERDAY’S POST

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Alma-Tadema: Love’s Jewelled Fetter in the Petit Palais

Howard Lyon

May 2, 2025 - Let's go back to the Petit Palais in Paris to take a look at this amazing Tadema painting. I didn't know that The Petit Palais had some English artists in their collection so I was thrilled when I found they had some Waterhouse and Tadema paintings on display (and a Leighton that I'll share in a future post!) This painting has a rather interesting title: Love's Jewelled Fetter (The Betrothal Ring) The painting's subject was inspired by a book titled The Amazon, written by Tadema's friend and historian, Carel Vosmaer. The main character of the book was a Dutch artist based on Tadema! It was a rather satisfying full circle of inspiration! I love how Tadema renders all the fine details in his paintings. Just look at the bracelet as well as the necklace in the capture below.…

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