Wyland's Art Studio

Refined by impressionists such as Monet, this technique has been used for years to capture the actual sensation of the light. The painter does not blend any of these brush strokes. Instead, the viewer is allowed to "visually mix" these brush strokes to view a whole image.

Elements of composition are used to organize the components of an artwork in a pleasing manner. Used effectively, these elements provide a structure that leads the viewer's eye in a particular way for a variety of different effects. Examples of extraordinary composition include the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci or "Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh.

Learn the feel of the paint on the brush to know how much paint is needed for a thick or thin application of color. The thicker the paint, the richer the darks, and the lighter the lights. Like any skill, learning brush strokes happens through patience and practice.

The use of negative space is a key element of artistic composition. Negative space is the space around and between the subject of an image. Negative space may be most evident when the space around a subject, and not the subject itself, is used to artistic effect as the "real" subject of an image.

Many artists are defined by their blending techniques. A blend is the gradual transition from one color to another. Oil paint, because it takes time to dry, allows you to move the wet paint around on the canvas.

In art, tone refers to the degree of lightness or darkness of an area. Tone varies from the bright white of a light source through shades of gray to the deepest black shadows. How we perceive the tone of an object depends on its actual surface lightness or darkness, color and texture, background and lighting.

Find out how color contrast adds drama to a painting. There are many ways to depict contrast in painting by placing or arranging different objects, colors, shades, or textures against each other. The human eye loves contrast.

Learn how color mixing and glazing create vibrant deep colors in underwater scenes. By using primary colors (red, yellow and blue) Wyland demonstrates how various color and paint mixing techniques work together to create proper paint consistency.

Form is an element of art. Yet there are several ways to consider the meaning of form. At its most basic, a form is a three-dimensional geometrical figure, such as a sphere, cube, cylinder or cone, as opposed to a shape, which is two-dimensional, or flat.

The term chiaroscuro refers to a strong juxtaposition of light and shade to enhance the dramatic aspects of a painting. Even the Italian definition, from chiaro "clear, light" and oscuro "obscure, dark" connote the unique treatment of light and dark parts in a work of art.

Harmony can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts, whether it is music, poetry, color, or even an ice cream sundae. Harmony, in art, is an image that is pleasing to the eye, creates an inner sense of order, and a balance in the visual experience. When an artwork is not harmonious, it may be considered boring or chaotic.

Important components of good composition include unity, balance and movement. All compositions begin by identifying a focal point. A range of artistic decisions proceeds from there, ranging from contrasts between light and dark to finding a rhythm that paces the eye of the viewer.

Create the illusion of three-dimensional imagery. Mastering the ability to create depth in art takes practice and patience. Draw distant objects smaller than close objects. Incorporate the effects of atmosphere that decrease visibility of objects farther from the viewer. Reduce detail as the background diminishes with mountains and other objects appearing only as silhouettes.