I'm a big fan of the TV show "Seinfeld" that ran for 9 seasons, from 1989 to 1998. There is an episode about "doing the opposite" that is one of my favorites. There is a scene in the episode where the main characters are sitting in the coffee shop (OK, in most of the episodes they're sitting in the coffee shop, but hang with me here) and one of the characters, George is in a very depressed mood. Mainly because he has no job, no girlfriend and is living with his parents.

This is one of the questions that I ask my workshop students at the end of the day critique session where everyone brings their paintings to the front of the class and I review them one by one. 

Paul Newman, back in the day (I realize he died in 2008) was The Star, The Man, The Big Kahuna, The Main Man. Usually, if he was in a movie he was the star of the movie. He was the star because he could drive viewers to the movie. He made the most money in the film and had his name listed first in the list of cast members. Paul Newman was the most important part of the film.

Early in my painting journey I discovered Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Paper - that was about 25 years ago - and I still use it today. I use it differently, because at that time I was a watercolor painter. Today I am an acrylic painter and mainly use the paper covered with gesso, but I still love Fabriano Artistico.

The question I get asked the most is, "What kind of brushes do you use?" I'm always happy to share what I use, but it really doesn't matte what I use. Brushes are a personal preference and what I use may not work for you. It really only matters what you use, and what you can do with it! But since I always get this question, I am providing this video to solve the mystery.

What is gesso? Gesso is a primer used over canvas to seal it so that the paint doesn't seep into the canvas. If you've purchased a canvas before, the surface has already been coated with gesso - that's why it's white. It is usually added in multiple layers by the canvas manufacturer and then sanded smooth. Gesso gives you time to move the paint around on the surface of the canvas (or any other substrate you may use). Gesso is used as a primer for both oil and acrylic paint, and has a tooth to it that hold the paint to it. Back in the day before the advent of gesso, rabbit glue was used as canvas primer-yuk!

One of the acrylic paint brands I use is Golden Artist Colors. Golden Artist Colors has it's roots in the 1930's when Sam Golden began working for an art paint manufacturer. In 1980 he founded Golden Artist Colors in New Berlin, NY, which has since become one of the premier paint manufacturers in the world.

Well, it's February and I find myself thinking about the warmth of Summer. When I think about Summer, it automatically brings up memories of time spent at the coast. When I start thinking about the ocean, I usually paint my feelings about the ocean and coastal areas, and that is what I am doing in this video.

The "Red Love" series of paintings shows my enthusiasm for my favorite color. This painting is a complementary color combination of red-orange and blue-green, with the red-orange as the dominant color and the blue-green forming the accents at the centers of interest.

If you have ever wanted to move from selling your art as a hobby to selling your art as a full time business, then Art Biz 101 is for you. I have designed the course specifically for creative folks who want to open their own business for the first time. This includes painters, sculptors, quilters, stampers, potters, craftspersons and artisans of any type.

Ah, the dreaded artist statement. Probably the most hated and misunderstood document that artists ever write. Because artists hate writing them they fill them with all kinds of art speak that no one understands - which renders them completely useless.