Hey Artists Struggling with forest scenes? You're not alone. Layers of foliage, glowing light through leaves, transparent water, rocks, dense detail... forest landscapes can feel completely overwhelming. But here's the thing: once you understand the right approach, even the most complex forest scenes become manageable. Check out this YouTube video where I paint a challenging forest landscape step-by-step, showing you exactly how to tackle all those intimidating elements without getting lost in the details. After 20+ years of painting landscapes and many years teaching thousands of students, I've learned that the secret isn't trying to paint everything you see, it's understanding the fundamentals that make ANY forest scene work. Watch it here 👇 Cheers Sam P.S. Want to go deeper with full-length real-time lessons and structured training? Check out my Art School, where I teach my complete systematic approach to landscape painting: https://www.skool.com/samuel-earp-online-art-school/about

I’ve been successful using acrylic paper. It’s much cheaper and great for experimenting. Sam I think you asked about this. I mount it on a board with tape then apply 1 or 2 gesso Coates to seal it. I tone the gesso so I can see I’m it applying uniformly. Use a very soft brush to smooth the surface Then it’s ready for painting. Before each gesso I mist the paper and smooth out the water film. When wet sometimes it does buckle but when it completely dries it goes back flat. Note that the tape can stick and tear the paper when removing. I use a hair drier to soften the tape before pulling off. Kind of like you do in watercolor. I’ve found a big difference in paper thickness and quality. A photo of the type I use. I tried canvas paper, but it was lacking. Never tried painting directly on the paper, perhaps it would work.

Hey Artists I've just uploaded a new YouTube video that I think you'll enjoy, especially if you love autumn scenes. In this video, I'm painting a cozy cottage nestled among glowing autumn trees, with mountains shrouded in cloud in the background. It's one of those scenes that feels warm and peaceful. In the video, I walk you through: - How I arranged the composition to guide the eye to your focal point naturally, in this case, the cottage becomes the star of the scene. - Building depth with atmospheric perspective, so your mountains recede beautifully into the distance. - Creating those glowing autumn trees with warm oranges and yellows, that frame the cottage without overwhelming it. - Working with soft light to create that atmospheric quality that makes autumn landscapes so magical. Watch the video below: Whether you're painting in oils or acrylics, these principles will help you create depth and atmosphere in your own autumn scenes. Happy painting Sam

Sketching a portrait can seem daunting, especially if you're new to drawing. However, with practice and patience, anyone can learn how to sketch a portrait. Here are some steps to get you started: Start by studying the subject's face. Look at their features, such as the shape of their face, the size and shape of their eyes, nose, and mouth, and any distinctive features, such as a scar or a mole. Choose your medium. You can use pencil, charcoal, or pen and ink, depending on your preference. Begin with a light sketch of the basic shape of the face. Start with an oval shape, and then add the features. Don't worry about making it perfect at this stage, as this will be your rough sketch. Pay close attention to the placement of the features. Measure the distance between the eyes, the nose, and the mouth. Use the proportions of the face as a guide to help you get the placement of the features right. Start adding more detail to the features. Use light shading to create the shadow areas and darker shading to create the areas with more contrast. Pay attention to the direction of the light source. This will affect how the shadows and highlights are placed on the face. Keep looking at your subject and your sketch to ensure that you're capturing the likeness of the person. Take your time and be patient. Portraiture takes practice, and it can be frustrating at times. Don't be afraid to start over or make mistakes. Remember, practice makes perfect. Once you're happy with your sketch, you can add more detail, such as texture and shading, to create a more realistic portrait. Sketching a portrait is a skill that takes practice, but with time and patience, anyone can learn to do it. Remember to pay close attention to the placement of the features, the direction of the light source, and to take your time. With practice, you can create stunning and lifelike portraits that capture the essence of the person you're sketching.

Hey Artists I just published a new painting tutorial on my website that I'm excited to share with you. It's about painting a mountains and painting the dark values first, a technique that completely transformed how I approach landscapes. Instead of starting with the sky like most artists teach, I begin with the darkest values first, and the results have been incredible. In this step-by-step tutorial, I walk you through painting a stunning New Zealand-inspired mountain scene using this unconventional method. You'll see exactly how starting with darks creates better tonal balance and depth in your landscapes. Read the full tutorial here: https://samuelearp.com/blog/paint-a-stunning-mountain-landscape/ The technique might feel backward at first, but I think you'll be amazed at how it simplifies the entire painting process. Happy painting! Sam