Loosen Up Your Painting Podcast

An artist recently asked me: “Why bother toning your canvas if you’re going to cover it with opaque paint anyway?” It’s a great question — and there are five solid reasons (plus a bonus tip) every landscape painter should know.In this video I cover:✅ Why a white canvas works against you✅ How toning helps you judge values accurately✅ Using under-tones for color harmony and “under-glow”✅ Eliminating distracting white specks✅ How a toned canvas inspires bolder painting🎁 BONUS: The wipe-out method for composing your scene in monochromeWhether you paint in oils, acrylics, or gouache, toning your canvas is one of the simplest habits that will instantly improve your paintings.⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 The Question Every Artist Asks00:30 Reason 1: Beat the Blank Canvas01:15 Reason 2: Judge Values Properly02:08 Reason 3: Color Harmony & Under-Glow03:52 Reason 4: No More White Speckles04:45 Reason 5: Momentum & Inspiration03:00 Bonus: The Wipe-Out Technique🎨 MORE FROM ME👉Free Magazine Subscription — https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSub👉 Free course: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/FreeCourse

Are you afraid of wasting expensive oil paint? That fear may be one of the biggest reasons your paintings look tight, thin, or overworked. In this episode, Malcolm Dewey explains how to practice bold, loose brushwork without using excessive amounts of paint. The solution is simple: paint big on a small surface. You’ll learn why small studies, such as 6x9-inch panels or even gessoed 10x10 cm cards, are ideal for developing confidence. Malcolm also shares practical exercises, such as using a larger brush, limiting your brushstrokes, setting a 20-minute timer, and loading the brush properly, so your paintings look rich and expressive rather than timid. Plus, face the truth that If you want to loosen up your painting style, stop painting from fear, and build confidence with oils, this episode is for you.
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It’s March.The excitement of the New Year has faded. Some goals are working… some are wobbling… and some quietly disappeared.That’s normal.In this podcast, I talk honestly about what happens after the January enthusiasm wears off — and how artists can adjust, refocus, and keep moving forward without guilt or burnout.We’ll look at:00:00 Why motivation fades (especially for painters)03:24 How to use micro goals to rebuild momentum04:35 No Guilt: Practical ways to stay accountable04:53 Ask three Questions06:00 Maturing as an Artist07:21 How to Reset for SuccessIf your painting goals have stalled, this video will help you reset intelligently and keep the creative fire going — one brushstroke at a time.🎁 Your FREE Magazine: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSub➕🎁 Your FREE Loose Painting Guide: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/LoosenUp

As we begin a new year, many artists feel pulled in too many directions — by screens, noise, fear-driven media, and constant distraction. In this first episode of Art & Modern Life, I reflect on the artist’s most essential ability: the ability to see.🎁 Your FREE Create Art Magazine subscription: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSubDrawing on ideas from Robert Henri and personal experience, this video explores how observation, focus, and intentional creativity help artists stay grounded and clear in a world designed to fragment attention.In this video, we talk about:Why seeing is the artist’s first and most important skillHow distraction and fear-based media affect creativityThe difference between looking and truly observingWhy analogue creative time matters more than everHow art helps us reclaim focus without fighting technologyThis is an invitation to slow down, see more clearly, and begin the year with intention.🎨📕Books by Malcolm:52 Weeks of Creative Living: https://amzn.to/3WvQV5w52 Weeks of Creative Mastery: https://amzn.to/3YdXCdUThe Creative Awakening: https://amzn.to/3zRjuBxSell Your Art of Not?: https://amzn.to/3zM6TzsHow to Loosen Up Your Painting: https://amzn.to/4f5Rx9nAn Artist's Survival Guide: https://amzn.to/4d7Aq58An Artist's Guide to Plein Air Painting: https://amzn.to/3Wg5qZO

Feeling stuck in your painting journey? You’re not alone.Today’s Artist's Chat is an honest conversation about how to stay in the game as an artist — through slumps, doubts, plateaus, perfectionism, and all the messy bits that never make it onto social media.In this video, I talk about:01:35 How you will struggle02:31 Why consistency beats talent03:56 How to survive creative slumps05:19 Why studies are your friends06:51 The trap of perfectionism08:57 Why slow growth is the normal path for every artist10:28 And why showing up is half the battle11:16 Create Art Magazine Your FREE magazine: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSubIf you’re a painter who sometimes struggles with motivation or feels like you’re not improving fast enough, I hope this helps you breathe a little easier.