- Creating a leading foreground
- How to paint with big masses
- How to create large colour movements
- How to finish with calligraphic brushwork
- and LOTS more!
Teacher
Richard is a talented full time artist, who loves painting and teaching.
A friendly place to learn at your own pace.
with Richard Robinson
Discover the power of passionate brushwork in these 4 great painting lessons. Follow along step by step using the resource photos or use the techniques to create something more your own.
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Richard is a talented full time artist, who loves painting and teaching.
Hi I’m Richard. I’ve been painting my whole life and back in 2001 I traded my graphic design career for the humble life of a full time artist. I love painting, and as it turns out, I love teaching too.
Nowadays I balance my life between parenting, painting, surfing, travelling and teaching. My work is regularly featured in international art magazines, in galleries in New Zealand and America, on TV and in my Mum’s house.
I give outdoor painting workshops in interesting spots around this beautiful planet of ours and love encouraging people to paint. Two of my favourite artists are John Singer Sargent and Joaquín Sorolla.
My painting website: www.nzpainter.com
I’d love to be your new teacher.
Boat repair Oil on canvas 50cm x 50 cm
Hi Anne-Dore, this is a dynamic piece with a graphic edge to it! You've captured the character of the boat beautifully, and I especially enjoy the contrast between the warm red hull and the cooler blue sky. The way you've handled the light and shadow on the boat feels natural and believable, giving the scene a grounded realism. One area to consider refining is the foreground. While it has a loose, painterly quality that works well, perhaps you could introduce a few larger areas of tonal variety to suggest texture or interest without overwhelming the composition. Overall, this is a wonderfully composed and executed painting—you’ve done a fantastic job conveying the mood and setting. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to seeing your next piece. Warm regards, Richard.
Boat repairs, acrylic
What a lovely soft sense of mood and atmosphere you’ve achieved here, Evelyn. The soft, diffused light and muted colours give a peaceful, almost nostalgic feel to the scene, while the movement in the brushstrokes adds energy and life to the foreground. The reflections and wet ground plane are beautifully painted, with those streaks of colour leading the eye naturally toward the boat. One area you could refine is the foreground, where the brushwork feels slightly hurried and could benefit from a touch more detail or texture for added interest. Additionally, consider darkening the shadows under the boat just a fraction to ground it more firmly and enhance the sense of depth. Overall, this is a charming piece with great storytelling, and I love how you’ve captured the character of the boat so well—keep up the fantastic work!
The OldTimer, 16 x 16, oils, by Marie-France L''Ecuyer, QC, Canada
You’ve captured such a wonderful sense of atmosphere here, Marie. The moody sky, the warm reflections in the wet ground, and the characterful old boat all work together beautifully to create a strong narrative. Your brushwork feels confident and expressive, especially in the sky and the foreground, and I love how you’ve created such a strong contrast between soft and sharp edges throughout the painting. You’ve really nailed the dramatic light and colour harmony here. Fantastic work—keep exploring this kind of drama!
On the Blocks
You've done a great job capturing the character of the boat and its surroundings, Leslie. I love the bold choice of the red hull—it immediately catches the eye and adds a wonderful pop of color against the softer background tones. The way you've suggested the reflections in the wet ground below the boat also creates a nice sense of connection between the vessel and its environment. One area to develop might be the values, particularly in the shadow areas of the boat and the darker elements in the background. These could be pushed a little darker to create more depth and contrast, helping the boat feel more three-dimensional. You might also soften the transition between the sky and treeline to make that edge sink behind, letting the boat take the spotlight with it's crisp edges. Great effort here—keep experimenting with these techniques, and I look forward to seeing where your painting journey takes you!
sale
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