The Challenge is On…

We're already halfway through the first month of the New Year. So, how has 2022 started off for you? 

True confession… I LOVE goal setting. During the first week of each New Year, I spend time dreaming and planning for the year ahead. Setting clear intentions is one of the ways that I've seen my creative dreams come to life. 

I want you to experience the fulfillment and joy of living out your creative dreams as well! But in order to do this, we’re going to have to hack your habits. 

That’s why I'm inviting you into a fresh creative challenge as we move forward together. Friend, what if you’re only one habit away from creative fulfillment? Just one habit away from the artistic identity that you’ve always dreamed of!

This 30-day challenge is exactly what you need to convert your dreams into reality. You’re not just doing this for yourself though. As you steward your creative calling, the artwork you create and share will bring renewal to the lives of others, because encountering beauty brings hope. That’s powerful.

This is your moment to experience breakthrough. Watch the video to learn all about this exciting new challenge!

Join me, Friend, in creating 30 paintings in 30 days. Start a habit to reach your goals and change your life. It’s going to be a great year!

Marsh Sunrise

I want to take one last opportunity to share the joy of pastel painting with you before 2021 comes to a close. As we head into the Christmas holiday, first and foremost, I’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas. May your heart be filled with radiant light and love this season. Here’s my gift to bring some light-filled beauty into your home for Christmas.🎁

Do you love moody, light-filled landscape paintings that are able to convey such power and impact with only a handful of strokes? Then get ready, because I want to show you how to paint a loose, suggestive sunrise in just 30-minutes. By the end of this video, you’ll discover how to create the impression of a sunlit marsh that is bold and dramatic. Ready to paint? Let’s go!

Orange Slices - Part 2

As promised, the second half of your special gift has arrived. Part 2 of this still life lesson is waiting for you now. This is where the vibrant color really comes alive. It’s my way of saying thanks for your willingness to pursue your own creative journey.

You can watch Part One of this citrus-inspired still life painting featuring orange slices here. I encourage you to paint along!

My Thanksgiving Gift To You

I wanted to take a moment to share an expression of personal gratitude with you this week. First off, I’m thankful that you've chosen to pursue your artistic journey. Your creative expression is a wellspring of beauty and joy that springs up to make the world a better place.

Secondly, I’m thankful that you’ve invited me to be a part of your journey. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to encourage you along the way.

Lastly, I’m thankful for the beauty and goodness that still exists in the world. We need to be reminded of this truth today, that beauty and goodness are all around us, just waiting to be encountered by those who are willing to seek them out. I’m grateful for beauty seekers like you.

As a token of my gratitude, I want to share a gift with you this holiday season. Enjoy Part One of this citrus-inspired still life painting featuring orange slices. It’s a vibrant celebration of color and mark-making. Part Two will be released next week on December 1. I encourage you to paint along!

A New Challenge for A New Year

This is such a magical time of year with the holiday season upon us. Let me take this moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a the Happiest of New Years! The coming year represents a new chapter for us, and in that spirit, I want to challenge you as we head into 2021.

I'm inviting you into a fresh creative challenge as we step into this New Year together. Let’s be real for a moment. With the cold winter months forcing us indoors and COVID continuing to threaten our sense of connection, you may be bracing yourself for a long, challenging winter.

This creative challenge is just what you need to get through. But you won’t just get through it, you’ll be bringing warmth and beauty into the lives of others at a time they need it most.

You are an artist, and this is your moment to make a stand. Watch the video to learn all about this exciting new challenge!

Join me in warming the harsh winter months with color and beauty as we create something magical together.

Sharing a Christmas Gift With You!

As the Christmas holiday approaches, I want to bring a special gift of color and joy into your home by inviting you to paint a Christmas flower with me. These festive colors are sure to warm up your palette and fill you with a sense of wonder.

I realize that Christmas may not look quite like you expected this year, but there is joy to be found as we share the gift of creativity with one another.

Join me in painting a beautiful poinsettia, and experience some holiday cheer!

Be inspired,
Alain Picard

Painting A Sunset in Pastel

Sunsets are among my favorite scenes to paint. Ok, I have a lot of favorites. But who can deny the radiance of the setting sun over the harbor? In this painting, we’ll attempt to capture the glow of the light in just 30 minutes while working on a dark sanded surface for instant dramatic impact.

Let’s put our painterly skills to work with soft pastels by creating expressive marks and suggestive realism in this loose exploration of a shimmering sunset. 

Fall Still Life

I don’t know what it looks like where you live, but fall has certainly arrived here in New England! I love this colorful season filled with harvest time themes and colors. 
 
In celebration of fall, our YouTube Live Painting Demonstration will focus on a simple fall still life. Join me as we take a closer look at some well-lit fall vegetables and really sculpt the form of the subject using dramatic light and shadow patterns. Let’s paint a loose and expressive still life together this October!
 
Here’s the link to view the Live Painting Session. I’ll see you there!

Portrait Painting - Part 2

As promised, part two of my full-length portrait demonstration for the Pastel Society of Colorado is available to you now. Watch this pastel portrait come to life, from the drawing stage all the way to a loose, painterly finish. And of course, I’d love it if you follow along!

This is my special gift to you this summer, with hopes that it will fan the flames of your creative inspiration and keep you moving forward. Thanks for sharing this creative journey together, it really is a joy. 

Here’s to pursuing your creative goals this season. Know that I’m cheering you on!

If for any reason you missed part one of this video, be sure to watch this one first! It’s right here for you.

Portrait Painting - Part 1

I hope your summer has been filled with new opportunities to open up and stretch your creative wings. While this year has certainly been unlike any other we’ve experienced, I'm grateful for the ways that we've been able to stay connected through our shared creative journey. 

That’s why I’m reaching out to you now, because I want to share a unique creative experience with you, in the hopes of fanning the flames of your creative inspiration. 

I was recently invited to give an online portrait demonstration for the Pastel Society of Colorado. They were kind enough to allow me to share this experience with you as well. 

Part one of this demonstration is available for you right now! You’re getting a VIP pass to your own front row seat to watch this full-length portrait painting lesson, and paint along with me. 
 
May you find fresh insight and inspiration for your painting process. Enjoy the first video now, and part two will be delivered to you here, so get ready for another great gift coming your way!

How to Paint Reflections on Water

Do you want to create beautiful reflections that shimmer and dance on the surface of the water? Well, in this video lesson we’ll take a trip to Sweden to explore the topic of lake reflections as we learn how to paint these tranquil scenes in a way that not only reflects the beauty of the light and the movement of the water, but also expresses a unique mood with color.  

If you’ve ever struggled to understand how to create convincing reflections on water, then this video is for you! Get ready to jump into your canoe and head out onto the lake where we’ll study the beauty and mystery of water reflections. 

I can’t wait to paint along with you. Click the button below so we can start painting beautiful lake reflections together today!

How to Overcome Fear and Uncertainty with Creativity

Have you ever studied a tapestry before? Every fiber, every thread, is woven with great care to create a beautiful, colorful design that hangs together in unity. It’s a wonderful art form, and a powerful illustration of humanity at this time.

We are discovering more than ever in this extraordinary moment that we are all connected. Our lives are like threads that are woven together as a fabric of humanity that creates one great tapestry across the globe. Our actions and our inaction have an impact on each other.

I want to share a very special invitation with you today that comes straight from the heart. Because I believe that you have a role to play in overcoming the fear and uncertainty surrounding us by sharing your creativity with others. Watch this video to learn how you can bring fresh beauty to the tapestry of humanity and allow your creativity to cultivate hope as you share your art.  

Henri Matisse said, “Creativity takes courage.” I agree. Now is an important time to be courageous with your creativity.

If you know someone who could use encouragement, please share this video with them. It could really make a difference!

APRIL 30 UPDATE: The response to the #CREATE30CHALLENGE has been truly amazing, and I’m blown away by the thousands of paintings that have flooded our social feeds with words of encouragement and hope. With the overwhelming level of engagement, I’ve decided to keep the #CREATE30CHALLENGE going in May.

Painting a lemon with form and sparkle!

Capturing form can be tricky at times. Perhaps you’ve faced a similar dilemma before; finding yourself in front of a really colorful subject, and wondering how to capture a strong sense of form without getting tripped up by all that dazzling color. 

Let’s consider the glorious lemon! Robed in radiant yellow hues, the lemon also boasts a voluminous round form. So…how do we sculpt that lovely form and still bring the sparkle?

In this video lesson we’re going to paint our small citrus friend and learn how to sculpt the form and volume while keeping our colors bold and expressive. By the end of this lesson, I want to make you a believer that when it comes to dazzling lemons, you can have it all! 

Form and sparkle… absolutely no compromise.

So get out those radiant pastels, click the link below to watch the video, and let’s paint radiant lemons together!

How To Paint Sky Holes

One of the challenges artists face when painting landscape scenes with tree-filled skies is figuring out how to paint realistic sky holes as they occur inside and around the trees. The struggle is real!

Students in my landscape workshops will often bombard me with questions related to this topic:

·      “Should I paint every little speck of sky that I see through the trees?”

·      “Which part should I paint first, the sky or the tree?”

·      “Do I paint the leaves of the trees on top of the sky to create the sky holes?” 

The resounding sentiment is, “Tell me what to do about sky holes!!!”

No more will these little bursts of light through the trees haunt us with questions. Because in this video lesson, I’m going to show you how to navigate the troublesome topic of sky holes with confidence and direction. Ready to cut through the confusion and paint convincing sky holes that are both loose and realistic? 

Then click the link and let’s begin!

Capture Your Viewer With Mood & Atmosphere

If you’re anything like me, you want your paintings to capture the viewer’s attention in a moment of pure delight as you draw them into your scene with inviting atmosphere and a persuasive mood. You’ve got them hooked!

Ok, since we agree on our intention, let’s talk about how to accomplish this goal in our work. One key to arresting the viewer is to learn how to use color to create a compelling mood and atmosphere. In this video lesson, we’ll explore a low country saltwater marsh in morning light and discover how color can amplify the mood of your next painting and set your work apart with singularity and sparkle. 

Are you ready to capture the beauty of morning light? Click the link below, and let’s paint!

Join me over at my YouTube Channel for a YouTube Live Q&A on January 22, at 1pm EST, 10am pacific where I’ll answer your questions related to this topic and more!