Laura Vahlberg

Ten Tips on Painting: 

Lessons Learned in Civita Castellana, Italy

I met Laura when I was in Italy this summer, when we shared the same apartment building.  She is an incredible artist and I enjoyed having long conversations with her about art and life.  Today on my blog, she shares ten important painting tips she learned after a month of painting in Italy.  I've included the tips with eight of her stunning paintings. 

Check out more of her work at lauravahlberg.com !

"Path" 14.5x11", $450

"Path" 14.5x11", $450

1. Composition wins over content

2. Reality begins after 3 large simple masses are the correct value, chroma, and temperature. 

"Farm," 12"x7 7/8", $350

"Farm," 12"x7 7/8", $350

3. Ask the motif.

4. A painting is a radical commitment to an idea

"Old Civita," 12 1/8"x 16 1/4", $500

"Old Civita," 12 1/8"x 16 1/4", $500

5. All colors must either be in the light world or the shadow world.

"Blue Car", 16"x12" $500

"Blue Car", 16"x12" $500

6. Humans have hunters' eyes to see in the dark. When we look into a color our eyes automatically lighten the color. Squinty peripheral vision shows us a more accurate color read.

"Bench". 15 1/8"x 11 7/8", $500

"Bench". 15 1/8"x 11 7/8", $500

7. A painting is a box of light and air

"Balcony View" , 16"x 12 1/8", $500

"Balcony View" , 16"x 12 1/8", $500

8. Color relationships are the most exciting

"Cypress" 11 1/8x 11 1/8", $400

"Cypress" 11 1/8x 11 1/8", $400

 

9. A lifetime of motifs are in my backyard

"Rooftops" 6 3/4x 6 7/8, $1,000

"Rooftops" 6 3/4x 6 7/8, $1,000

10. Allow for accidents.

"Olive Grove" 17x14" $650

"Olive Grove" 17x14" $650