Crafted by Robert | Original Art & Loose Painting

Playful mixed media painting of six green cats outlined in navy, layered over floral and purple collage paper.

Easy Cat Painting: Paint Symbols, Not Every Whisker

Skip the 47 whiskers. Paint loose, playful green cats over collage paper and a reject using simple shapes, bold color, and a little line work.

Loose watercolor painting of several red pipe wrenches in different sizes and brush styles on white paper, with the words pipe wrench lettered in the corner.

How to Take More Risks in Watercolor (Stop Painting So Safe)

Painting too safe? Paint one object several times, change the color, size, and detail, and let your watercolor surprise you. Plus a Savannah dinner story.

Loose acrylic painting of three yellow and orange juice bottles with green leaf labels, surrounded by blue, green, and pink brushstrokes.

How to Start an Art Career: My Accidental Start as a Sidewalk Artist

I never planned an art career. A bamboo bike, a breakup, and a sidewalk in Florida got me started. Plus a juice bottle painting over an old reject.

Abstract acrylic painting of loose roosters with red combs and yellow beaks, layered in blue, gray, olive, and white brushstrokes.

Abstract Bird Painting: Loose Roosters and Two Strange Bird Stories

Paint loose abstract birds over a reject with big shapes and an explore mindset, plus two strange bird stories and a lesson on following ideas.

Loose watercolor painting of three glue bottles with red caps and yellow bands against a dark teal background, with the word GLUE lettered on the right.

Watercolor Experiments for Beginners: Use a Simple Subject to Explore

Stop trying to paint a masterpiece. Use watercolor to experiment with a simple subject like glue bottles, loosen up, and let the medium do its thing.

Loose abstract cow portrait in mixed media with thick green, white, and dark brown brushstrokes over a watercolor reject with crayon scribbles.

Abstract Cow Painting: How a Bad Plein Air Day Led to My Cow Portraits

See how a failed plein air day (and a run-in with the cops) turned into my loose abstract cow portrait series. Mixed media demo plus story time.

Loose acrylic still life of three soda cans in red, white, and blue with thick brushstrokes against a green and olive background.

How to Know When to Stop Painting (Before You Overwork It)

Struggling to know when a painting is done? Here’s how I loosen up a stiff piece, spot the fussy stage, and stop before I overwork it.

Watercolor still life of a tall blue pitcher and yellow lemons on an orange tabletop, set against a dark navy background with a rough white border.

Watercolor Still Life: Paint a Vase and Lemons with Negative Space

Paint a simple watercolor still life with basic washes and negative space. Follow along as a blue vase and lemons come to life, step by step.

Loose acrylic harbor painting with a sailboat, houses, and trees along a straight horizon, used as an example of a painting that needs more angles.

How to Critique Your Own Painting (and Decide What to Fix)

Not sure why a painting feels off? Here’s how I critique my own work: spot stiff shapes, straight lines, and dull color, then fix it or start fresh.

Three loose drawings of a milk jug in pencil, yellow oil pastel, blue and charcoal, shown as a warm up progression from light sketch to bold marks.

Art Warm Up Routine: Draw a Recycled Container to Loosen Up

A simple art warm up routine using a container from your recycle bin. Draw it three loose ways, get your hands moving, and build a daily art habit.

Loose acrylic still life of three dark blue canisters with white tops and yellow accents, framed by green brushstrokes over collaged paper strips.

Paint Everyday Objects: A Mixed Media Still Life Over Collage Strips

Learn to paint everyday objects in a mixed media still life. Glue collage strips onto a reject watercolor, paint simple canisters on top, and let the layers show.

Five lobster boat studies in graphite, charcoal, and purple and blue crayon, exploring hull shapes, cabins, and reflections.

Lobster Boat Drawing Study

Explore a lobster boat through graphite, charcoal, and crayon in this video drawing lesson about observation, varied marks, and getting to know your subject.

Make Art. Break Rules. Get Messy.

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