June 09 Lesson 1: Copying Works of Art

This first issue discusses the valuable experience of copying works of art. It includes a step-by-step demonstration and high-resolution images of Schmid’s painting, “Fallen Pine.”

Richard Schmid                            “Fallen Pine”                         12x16

July 09 Lesson 2: April Demonstration Day

This second issue contains over 16 images of the various stages leading up to the completion of Schmid’s painting, “Captain John’s House." This issue is one not to be missed!

Richard Schmid                 “Captain John's House”                16x20

August 09 Lesson 3: The Mancini Exhibit - Fieldtrip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art

This third installment is a very special issue. It features the great Italian painter, Antonio Mancini and how his work influenced Richard. Included in this article are audio recordings of Richard speaking about Mancini. This article also covers the trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the lessons that were shared from Richard within these museum walls. You will be able to hear first hand some of the talks he gave inside the museum and in his studio. Featured paintings in this article include Schmid’s, “Boy with Flower”, and numerous paintings of Mancini's.

Schmid and his Pupils

September 09 Lesson 4: Peony Demonstration

This lesson contains over 85 images showing each stage in the development of “North Garden Peonies.” This sequence of images gives insight into the developmental process of building a painting. You will see how Richard began and how he played out the middle game, which lead to the completed painting below.

Richard Schmid     “North Garden Peonies”  18x18    2006

October 09 Lesson 5: The Power of Selection

This article builds upon August’s lesson, “The Mancini Exhibit,” which explored the concept of “Painting what you see, not necessarily what you know.” October’s article, “The Power of Selection,” takes this idea a step further and explores the endless strength in choice as a means of communication in your art and asks: Now of all the things before you, what will you choose to paint?

It features numerous images of Richard’s paintings for your study as well as a sneak peak of a few images and writings from his new book, The Landscapes!

Richard Schmid       “Apple Blossoms”   8x16

November 09 Lesson 6: The Garden Demonstration

This lesson contains over 45 images showing each stage in the development of "Adele in our Garden.” This sequence of images gives insight into the developmental process of building a painting. You will see how Richard began and how he played out the middle game, which lead to the completed painting below.

Richard Schmid     “Adele in our Garden”  9 x 12    2009

December 09 Lesson 7: Painting in a 'Key Signature' - The High Key Demonstration

This lesson discusses the various 'key signatures' that can exist in a painting. In particular, it highlights rendering subjects as high-key paintings and includes a demonstration from Richard of the process of painting a high-key study from a full-value subject. This lesson also features examples of other high-key paintings for use in your personal study and explores the reasons behind painting in a high-key manner.

Richard Schmid     “High Key Study”     19x19

Shown here is Richard working on the high-key demonstration

January 10 Lesson 8: Visualizing Your Subject as a Painting…
Interpreting the Scene in Terms of Paint [Part 1]

This first part of this lesson series discusses the importance of the preliminary stages of a painting, as decisions made at this point will determine the entire course of the work. It explains the thinking process Richard goes through before he starts a painting, and stresses the value in painting studies as a way to solve problems. Also included are two demonstrations of how to paint ears, and details regarding ear anatomy.

Katie Swatland         Ear Sketch Demo #1

February 10 Lesson 9: Visualizing Your Subject as a Painting…
Interpreting the Scene in Terms of Paint [Part 2]

“If I have a strong enough mental picture of what I wish to see on my canvas, that image will also be a picture of the technique required to paint it.” – Richard Schmid

The second part of "Visualizing Your Subject as a Painting" focuses on the surface quality of paintings. It emphasizes visualizing the scene in terms of brushstrokes and explores different ways of manipulating paint to describe what you see. Included in this lesson are sequential images and the thought process behind Richard’s painting below.

Richard Schmid   “Begonia Sketch”

“Trust what you see when you squint down…”

This lesson focuses on the versatile tool of squinting and explores the power behind its use. Also included in this article are over 75 images showing each stage in the development of “Orange and Violet Pansies.” This sequence of images gives insight into the developmental process of building a painting. You will see how Richard began and how he played out the middle game, which lead to the completed painting below.

Richard Schmid          “Orange and Violet Pansies”          Oil on linen          12x20

April 10 Lesson 11: Spring Cleaning

          This article is a special installment, highlighting Victor Wooten’s theories and their relation to painting. It focuses on the correlation between Music and Art and explores the aspects of the painting process. Weaved throughout this edition are answers to frequently asked questions proposed by readers. The benefits of working on a lead primed surface are explained, as well as techniques for working over a painting that has dried.

         Also included are high-resolution images of Richard’s paintings that help illustrate key concepts and a special feature of his writings from Notes From the Hayloft.

Richard Schmid         “Blue Cottage (Version Two After Rain)          Oil           20x30

May 10 Lesson 12: Materials and Tools Part A - Re-coating a Primed          Canvas with Lead Ground

          This lesson focuses on optimizing your working surface by re-coating an existing primed canvas with a lead ground, custom designing it to suit your needs.

          Contained in this lesson is a detailed procedure describing the process of re-coating primed canvas with white lead. This is a great way to fix canvas that fails to meet your standards and improve upon it by creating your own custom, ideal painting surface! Re-covering a canvas with lead will fix absorbency issues, uniformity within the working surface, and also allow for full control over the surface texture. Safety concerns and precautions of working with lead are also discussed. 

June 10 Lesson 13: Portrait Sessions at the Putney Barn; The Art of          Chess Study

Katie Swatland        “Sonata in A Minor”     Oil on linen   16x20

Two Possible Plays For Study

            This installment highlights two portrait sessions from different Saturdays at the Putney Barn, documenting Richard's works from these days. Included are high-resolution images of the various stages of Richard's paintings. The demonstrations are great examples of the various ways in which Richard approaches painting a head and will serve as helpful study tools.

Richard Working on his Painting

July 10 Lesson 14: The Lily Demonstration

      In 2006, on July 22, Richard gathered the Putney Painters for an impromptu afternoon demo at the barn to paint freshly picked garden lilies. This lesson will document the day's events and show Richard's demonstration. Contained in this lesson are over 20 images showing each stage in the development of his lily painting. This sequence of images gives insight into the developmental process of painting from life in a single session.   

Richard working on his lily painting

Join in watching over the master's shoulder as he paints these colorful garden flowers!