When Abstract Realism and Expressionism dawned in the late 1960s and early 1970s, some of its leaders—Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline and Willem DeKooning—came on the scene showcasing the abstract beauty of paint itself without the dilution of a recognizable image. Pollock highlighted creativity in the controlled accident. Kline in the... Read More
David Leffel has a illustrious career, and has always made time to teach. Early on, he developed a love of sharing his understanding about painting and drawing with others. At some point, he realized that workshops and class situations limited his access to students. Offering painting and drawing advice... Read More
Many of the greatest artists in American history have walked through the doors of the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Some 55 years ago, a young David Leffel, entered those prestigious doors. And over his lifetime has joined the ranks of those American greats. I'm Tim Newton, Chairman of the... Read More
How do I guide the viewer's eye through a painting? How do I control soft and hard edges? When does the brain rest on a hard edge and travel over the soft edges in a painting? The use of edges in painting is the subject of this blog. How do... Read More
This blog will explain the Golden Mean, Golden Ratio and Golden Section. These terms all refer to the same phenomenon. They reflect a regularly occurring proportional ratio in nature that can be included in your art to achieve effective composition. The Golden Section is a mathematical ratio commonly found in nature, which is the ratio... Read More
What are Planes? How do I see planes? In this blog you will heighten your art education by learning how to see planes. Students often can't decipher separate planes on a subject, which weakens the structural strength of their work. It is important to be aware of planes and to see them clearly.... Read More
Glazing and Scumbling in Oil Painting David A Leffel What is glazing in painting? What is scumbling in painting? When do artists use glazing in the oil painting process? When is it appropriate to use the process of scumbling? Enhancing an oil painting with the use of glazing is a useful tool. Understanding the... Read More
How do I clean oil paint out of my brushes? Improper washing of your oil painting brushes is not only harmful to the brushes, it also becomes very costly in the long run. So often students have trouble cleaning paint out of the metal ferrule of the brush, which can cause... Read More
