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9 Stoically-Based Principles for a Better Life (as a Landscape Painter)
9 rules from Stoicism grounded in wisdom, and translated beautifully into the life of a landscape painter , tailored to help guide...

tmichaelniemanart
5 days ago3 min read


Painting at Rail Gap Across All Seasons
Hikers, fishermen and dog walkers seem to love walking along the path left behind in years past by the Wilkes-Barre & Eastern (WB&E)...

tmichaelniemanart
Jul 61 min read


Field Guide to Outdoor Painting in the Pocono Mountains
Long ago, seeds for several book ideas were planted in my mind. Admittedly this was not one of them but about eight months ago I started...

tmichaelniemanart
Jul 32 min read


The Holistic Health-Enhancing Powers of Art
“Morning Walk on the Pathway Behind Blue Mountain Lake” 5” x 7” oil on linen. Painted on site and finished off in studio Healing Through...

tmichaelniemanart
Jun 283 min read


Return Often
The more I paint, the more I realize that it’s just not that important to always find a new place. This group of paintings and sketches...

tmichaelniemanart
Jun 213 min read


It’s Not Talent. It’s Not Magic. It’s a Skill-Stack
Nearly every discussion I have with non-artists (or beginner artists) about painting leads to a conversation about talent. I hear phrases...

tmichaelniemanart
Jun 143 min read


Build a Bridge to Your Creative Potential with the Following 3 Simple Tools
The Art of Balance: How a Busy Part-Time Artist Can Stay Creatively Productive with a Calendar, a Morning Routine, and a “Big 3” To-Do...

tmichaelniemanart
Jun 63 min read


Beauty Stems from The Value Relationships Between Shapes
When we admire a beautiful painting or drawing, we might first be captivated by its subject, colors, or textures. But beneath all of that...

tmichaelniemanart
May 293 min read


Perspective A Most Useful Tool in Art
Perspective is one of the most powerful tools an artist can use to control space, depth, and visual storytelling in a work of art. There...

tmichaelniemanart
May 233 min read


Plein Air Painting: A Laboratory for Experimentation
Plein air painting, the practice of painting outdoors directly from nature, has long been cherished by artists for its immediacy,...

tmichaelniemanart
May 164 min read


Natural Law, The Human Soul & Creating Art
The human soul as described across mystic traditions and major religions, is often seen as the eternal, divine essence within each...

tmichaelniemanart
May 103 min read


The Power of Suggestion in Landscape Painting
In landscape painting, it's tempting to attempt to render every leaf, every ripple, every rock with precision. We often fall into the...

tmichaelniemanart
May 62 min read


Blind contour drawing
Blind contour drawing is a drawing exercise where the artist draws the outline of a subject without looking at the paper and without...

tmichaelniemanart
May 11 min read


Landscape painting by L. Birge Harrison.
New York Harbor Lowell Birge Harrison - This little book is a compilation of impromptu talks that Burch Harrison gave on landscape...

tmichaelniemanart
Apr 2633 min read


100+ art journal prompts
Here's a list of 100 art journal prompts designed for entries using pencil, charcoal, watercolor, casein, or oil paints. They range from...

tmichaelniemanart
Apr 124 min read


The Creative Power of Art Journaling: Benefits Across Mediums
Art journaling is one of the most personal, expressive, and liberating creative practices an artist—or anyone—can embrace. Whether you’re...

tmichaelniemanart
Apr 124 min read


Fear is Your Friend
Anger, frustration, rumination on negative thoughts, and occasional outbursts are often deeply connected to fear. While they may seem...

tmichaelniemanart
Apr 75 min read


Is Your Busy Schedule Cramping Style? Think Again…
Constraints on time due to a busy schedule and responsibilities can actually enhance creativity and productivity in several ways. Here...

tmichaelniemanart
Apr 24 min read


A Summary of Letters on Landscape Painting by Asher B. Durand
Asher B. Durand, a leading figure of the Hudson River School, wrote nine essays titled "Letters on Landscape Painting" in 1855. The...

tmichaelniemanart
Mar 285 min read


Marshall's Falls Park
Marshall's Falls Park, located in Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania, is a 17-acre natural retreat that officially opened to the public in...

tmichaelniemanart
Mar 251 min read