Rule #1

My third book "Principles and Techniques of Drawing and Painting" is now available. It contains 42 "rules" that I feel are the most important aspects in improving your drawings and paintings. The most important rule in the book is Rule # 42. "Never say never". It simply means that there are no absolute rules in creating good art. However using the "rules" I've created will enable you eventually break them with knowledge.

​Rule #1 is " The key to a good painting is a good drawing."

Whether it is a landscape, still life or figure, elements in your painting will be comprised of one or more shapes, as shown above –the cube, cone, cylinder, sphere or ribbon. The shapes are often subtle, but if not drawn accurately, as illustrated below, no amount of color or value or technique will save your painting. 

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Below is a recent watercolor demo from my Kaneville class.

Even slight drawing errors can ruin your painting as shown below in the silo and right side of the barn.

I will be posting more examples of all of the "rules" in the near future.  You can purchase the book through my website, or on Amazon.com.