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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Way back in 2017 at the Plein Air Easton Competition and Arts Festival, I leaned over this finished painting to grab a frame, and my t-shirt made contact, creating a perfect reversed print on the fabric. I think I liked the painting better after the mishap, and I really should have saved that shirt.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I mentioned in my workshop this past weekend that we should always be open to embracing mistakes in our paintings, and I was reminded of this piece. "Burst" • Oil on Panel • 6" x 8" • Private Collection Painting photo by @saundersfinearts.bsky.social

Plein air floral painting in oils of a cluster of purple hydrangea blooms by American artist Patrick Saunders for the 2017 Plein Air Easton Festival.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

There's no blending and no smoothing. The details are only suggested.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

When viewed up close, the background takes on the thickness of cake icing, creating a beautiful dance of swirling colors. The application of paint on the face and hands is similar, but the smaller and carefully placed brushstrokes are what create the illusion of more rendered areas.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is one of those paintings that has a different feel depending upon the viewer's proximity. When standing back, the face and hands appear to be carefully rendered while the background has an abstract quality.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Here is a small piece by Russian artist Nicolai Fechin from the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. "Girl With Peaches" • Nicolai Fechin • Oil on Canvas • Undated Painting photo by @saundersfinearts.bsky.social

Portrait painting in oils of a young girl in a dress sitting with peaches in her lap by Russian artist Nicolai Fechin

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This demo focused on controlling values in a shadow area. If I had pushed the values too bright in Opal’s face, I would have lost the feel of the backlighting.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

My cat portrait demonstration this morning on the last day of my painting workshop at Warehouse 521. “Opal in Repose Study” • Oil on Linen • 14” x 18” • 2 Hours • SOLD

Two-hour pet portrait study in oils of a reclining black and white cat backlit by bright indirect light from a window by American artist Patrick Saunders for a painting workshop

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This demo was all about priorities. By taking one flower further than the others first, you reveal how little is needed in order for the others to read well.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

My floral demonstration from life this morning on day two of my painting workshop at Warehouse 521 in Nashville. “Three Sunflowers Study" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 12" • 2 Hours

Two-hour floral demonstration in oils of three sunflowers in a vase painted from life by American artist Patrick Saunders for a painting workshop at Warehouse 521 in Nashville

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

This demo shows how you can put your darkest value outside of the focal point. The sun is the most important area, achieved via color temperature contrast more than value.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

My landscape demonstration this morning on day one of my painting workshop at Warehouse 521. "Storm Over the Circle 13 Ranch Study" • Oil on Linen • 12" x 16" • 2 Hours

Two-hour landscape demonstration in oils of a storm front moving in over a Texas ranch field with a stand of trees in the middle and a small group of brown cows nearby by American artist Patrick Saunders for a painting workshop at Warehouse 521 in Nashville.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Born in 1872 in Salerno, Caputo studied in Naples under painter Domenico Morelli.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

His work features rich color that enhances the scene rather than feeling overly gaudy. The paint has a wonderful textural quality. This broken color makes the entire piece feel active, as the colors vibrate against one another rather than any area having a single flat color.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This week's #MuseumTourTuesday is by Italian painter Ulisse Caputo. "Evening Work" • Ulisse Caputo • Oil on Canvas • 1909 • Private Collection

Richly colored interior figure painting in oils of a seated young woman hand sewing a large garment or blanket next to a table with a lamp, a clock and a mirror behind them reflecting her by Italian artist Ulisse Caputo

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Two common issues for painters include overpainting, or even adding elements that we don't actually see. Read my latest art newsletter for a simple approach to processing the information before you in order to capture a more accurate scene: patricksaunders.com/signup.html

patricksaunders.com

Patrick Saunders Fine Arts - Sign Up

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Born in 1889 in Vladimirovka, Kotov studied at the Kazan School of Art and the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg under the great Nicolai Fechin.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Although it was painted over 90 years ago, it has a very contemporary feel. The simplified shapes filled with rich, saturated colors create an almost abstract piece filled with whimsy.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I love this piece by Russian artist Pyotr Kotov. "Laundry Day" • Pyotr Ivanovich Kotov • Oil on Canvas • 84 x119 cm • c.1935 • Private Collection

Whimsical, richly colored, impressionistic figure painting in oils of a group of Russian women doing and hanging laundry, with a small boy in tow drinking from a cup by Russian artist Pyotr Kotov

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I found interest even in the varied colors and values in the shadows on the wooden table. This remains one of my favorite still life paintings.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Everything about this Hoya grabbed me. The diffused yet strong light gave the greens such intense saturation, especially against the contrasting terracotta pot.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Sometimes the most simple of subjects hold so much subtle beauty. “Hoya” • Oil on Linen • 16” x 20” • Available at patricksaunders.com/paintings/av... Painting and reference photos by @saundersfinearts.bsky.social

Still life painting in oils of a large Hoya plant in a terracotta pot on an outdoor wooden table bathed in sunlight by American artist Patrick Saunders

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It's not about the individual petals, but rather the whole of the shape. Born in Antwerp in 1865, Mortelmans attended the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It often seems that when less detail is added to a painted rose, the stronger it feels. This piece by Belgian artist Frans Mortelmans is a perfect example. "Flower Still Life" • Frans Mortelmans • Oil on Canvas • 67 x 53 cm • Private Collection

Still life painting in oils of white roses in a dark blue vase on a table top, with smaller red and white flowers lying in a bunch in front of the vase by Belgian artist Frans Mortelmans

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

#ArtTips • You can make a variety of marks with just one paintbrush. Try pushing, pulling, turning and varying the pressure. Sign up for more art tips on the Newsletter page of my website, PatrickSaunders.com.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

It’s an especially good year to do so, as the museum is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the installation of Sorolla's monumental series with an outdoor kiosk exhibition "A Living Vision: the Sorolla Gallery at 100”, which documents the enormous effort involved in creating this masterpiece.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I highly recommend viewing these works in person if you can for the full experience.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I've included a few detail shots so that you can see just how dynamic Sorolla's brushwork is in this huge mural.

"Cataluña. El pescado" detail
• Joaquín Sorolla
• Oil on Canvas
• 1915
• 11.5' x 15.9"

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I've featured others in previous posts. Each panel is an impressive feat in its own right, but together, they are one of the most breathtaking displays of painting I have ever seen. All but one were created en plein air, on location with live models.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The Hispanic Society Museum & Library is a hidden gem among New York City museums. This is one of 14 panels from Joaquin Sorolla's "Vision of Spain" that are on display in the round at the museum. "Cataluña. El pescado" • Joaquín Sorolla • Oil on Canvas • 1915 • 11.5' x 15.9"

Large mural painted in oils by Spanish artist Joaquin Sorolla, one of 14 panels from his "Vision of Spain" masterpiece on display at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library, which depicts a crowded open fish market on a beach near a body of water on bright, sunny day

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I painted it on a smoother panel than my usual surface, and you can see in the two in progress photos how the paint slid around in the early stages (the first is 20 minutes in, the second photo is 40 minutes along).

20 minutes in to a one-hour portrait study in oils of a young African American woman with long hair and glasses, painted by American artist Patrick Saunders at an open model session at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art

40 minutes in to a one-hour portrait study in oils of a young African American woman with long hair and glasses, painted by American artist Patrick Saunders at an open model session at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Open model sessions always help me to loosen up and just enjoy painting. Here's my quick one hour sketch of Alondra from last Friday's open session at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art. “Alondra” • Oil on Panel • 12” x 16” • 60 Minutes Painting photo by @saundersfinearts.bsky.social

One-hour portrait study in oils of a young African American woman with long hair and glasses, painted by American artist Patrick Saunders at an open model session at the Coppini Academy of Fine Art

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Paintings can have more than one focal point, but it's important to create a clear hierarchy. Sign up for my latest art newsletter on how to prioritize points of interest in your paintings here: patricksaunders.com/signup.html "A Welcoming Table” • Oil on Canvas • 18" x 24" • Private Collection

Plein air interior painting in oils of a cozy, colorful kitchenette bathed in soft light with a table and chairs, and a vase of pink peonies, white taper candles and a plate on the table painted by American artist Patrick Saunders for a plein air painting competition

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Born in 1847 in Oslo, Thaulow studied at the Academy of Art in Copenhagen and at the Baden School of Art in Karlsruhe.

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Patrick Saunders Fine Arts @patricksaunders.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This leaves the majority of the painting to be explored at our leisure, and there is just so much to see - a variety of foliage, rocks, wood and a vista beyond - all believably captured.

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