Inspiration by Observation

I love looking at step by step demonstrations from artists. Here are a few for you to peruse...

William Whitaker
I prefer the result of the demo above to his more finished work, but all of his step by step demos are worth a look.

Rebecca Alzofon
Fascinating investigation into Prud'hon's techniques. Bad navigation! look for the hand images to advance through the series.

Anthony Ryder
The whole series is worth a look.

Jeremy Lipking (warning, contains nudity)
Also here.
Also has a new DVD out soon...

For some step by step videos, try here:

American Artist magazine (online)

You tube Keiser

Justin Clayton

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (sold)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, oil on masonite, 5" X 7", 2007

sold

Sometimes it's hard to find painting subjects that inspire you that aren't also being covered perfectly well by other artists. Pastry for example. There's lots of phenomenal pastry paintings out there. Here are a few examples to name a few:

Justin Clayton

Duane Keiser

Shawn Kenney

Will I ever paint a piece of pastry? Sure, probably at some point.

Just about everything you think to paint has been done by someone else, but you do try to be original.

So I thought "hey, what about books? I haven't seen a lot of paintings of books..." and I had a perfect tome picked out: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. So what happens? I immediately come across Michael Naples. Who of course has been painting books...

Here's mine anyway.