Search


Are Mental Models for Artists?
Yes! Mental models —those powerful thinking frameworks used by top performers in business, academia, investment titans and science...

tmichaelniemanart
Jul 264 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


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


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


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


Book Summary: "Drawing Heads & Hands" by Andrew Loomis
"Drawing Heads & Hands" by Andrew Loomis is a comprehensive guide aimed at helping artists master the intricate details of drawing these...

tmichaelniemanart
Mar 213 min read


Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!
My wish for you is for an incredibly joyous holiday season as a mere precursor to your best year yet in 2021. Just a few quick updates...

tmichaelniemanart
Dec 22, 20201 min read


Building a firewall between my thoughts and the world
The value of art is in the eye of the beholder. Yet the value of art to its creator is often incalculable. Each artist creates for their...

tmichaelniemanart
May 8, 20202 min read