Patrick Saunders

Here's a painting by the great American artist N.C. Wyeth that blurs the line between illustration and art. The piece was commissioned as part of a five-piece series for Outing Magazine and is now a part of the permanent collection of the ‪@thebrandywine‬ Museum of Art.

What I find most interesting is the choice to place all of the interest in the shadow areas of the painting. This conveys a more quiet and introspective feel, and gives the viewer the sense of witnessing a very personal moment. I've included a detail of the image, so that you can see the manner in which the paint is applied. This contributes to the rich glow of the dark colors, as the light passes through these thin areas, bouncing off the white of the canvas beneath.

"In the Crystal Depths"
• N.C. Wyeth
• Oil on Canvas
• 1906
• 38"x26"

Painting photos by ‪@Saundersfinearts‬

#artreview #artdiscussion #artcritique #arttalk #americanpainting #americanart #americanartist #ncwyeth #BrandywineMuseumOfArt #patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #saundersfinearts #representationalart #realistart #westernart #MuseumTourTuesday

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1 day ago (edited) | [YT] | 9

Patrick Saunders

Artist friends, if you want to paint with me this year, most of my 2026 workshops are already sold out, but my spring class at the Booth Art Academy in Georgia still has a few spots left, so follow the link in the comments for more information, and to register.

“Ascending Towards Templo de Santo Domingo”
• Oil on Linen
• 24” x 30”
• Private Collection

#patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #paintingworkshop #paintingclass #artworkshop #arteducation #artinstruction #oilpainting #representationalart #realistart #boothartacademy

6 days ago | [YT] | 6

Patrick Saunders

Here's a landscape painting by Nicolai Fechin that I had never before seen in person or in any form of reproduction. His application of color is extraordinary, and while it appears that he has attacked the canvas with abandon, the controlled placement of the aspens shows that this is not the case. He clearly painted the negative spaces around the trunks rather than adding the trees on top of the background. If viewed closely, many areas within the painting appear completely abstract, almost as if Fechin was just cleaning off the remnants of his palette, but upon stepping back, everything comes together in perfect harmony. This controlled chaos gives this piece, like most of Fechin's work, a dramatic sense of movement and life.

You still have time to see this piece at the "Nicolai Fechin: An Artistic Journey" exhibition, on view until April 5, 2026 at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Norman, Oklahoma.

"Landscape with Aspen Trees"
• Nicolai Fechin
• Oil on Canvas
• Undated
• Private Collection

Painting photo by ‪@Saundersfinearts‬

#artreview #artdiscussion #artcritique #arttalk #russianpainting #russianart #russianartist #nicolaifechin #fredjonesjrmuseumofart #patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #saundersfinearts #representationalart #realistart #landscapepainting #MuseumTourTuesday

1 week ago | [YT] | 10

Patrick Saunders

My thanks to a San Antonio collector for purchasing one of my favorite landscape paintings. I was really happy to see it go home with a fellow artist.

“Western Slope"
• Oil on Linen
• 18” x 24”
• Private Collection

#patricksaundersfinearts #landscapepainting #floralpainting #oilpainting #representationalart #realistart #contemporarypainting

1 week ago | [YT] | 7

Patrick Saunders

My latest painting might strike a chord with gardeners. Kimberly has been diligently working on the landscaping around our house, and this view through our dining room window struck me with its wild yet perfectly designed beauty. Everything she's planted has come together to create a rich tapestry of color.

Painting a scene like this can be really challenging. It's important to not think in terms of individual flowers, of which there are too many to count, but rather swaths of color that weave in and out of each other.

“Wildscape”
• Oil on Linen
• 24” x 24”
• Available at www.PatrickSaunders.com

Painting and reference photos by ‪@Saundersfinearts‬

#patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #oilpainting #floralart #floralpainting #cenizo #esperanza #prideofbarbados #representationalart #realistart #landscapepainting

1 week ago | [YT] | 7

Patrick Saunders

This piece by American artist E. Martin Hennings hits on a number of levels. You can feel the cold of the snow thanks to those blues and lavenders in the shadows and the dark mountains beyond, but the contrasting orange of the buildings and even the whites in the snow convey that wonderful sense of warmth from the sun. The horses are depicted with simple, yet accurate shapes, with that bright orange edge to their silhouettes giving them form and depth.

Born in Penns Grove, New Jersey in 1886, Hennings studied at the ‪@schooloftheartinstitute‬ of Chicago and the Academy of Fine Arts Munich.

"Winter in New Mexico"
• E. Martin Hennings
• Oil on Canvas
• 25.25" x 30.25"
• c. 1925
• Permanent collection of the ‪@DenverArtMuseum‬

Painting photo by ‪@Saundersfinearts‬

#artreview #artdiscussion #artcritique #arttalk #americanart #emartinhennings #denverartmuseum #patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #representationalart #realistart #landscapepainting #MuseumTourTuesday

2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 7

Patrick Saunders

My demonstration this morning on the last day of my painting workshop for the Hill Country Council for the Arts. Accuracy in drawing is key in any portrait, whether it's a person or an animal.

"Happy Dog Study"
• Oil on Linen
• 12” x 16”
• 2 Hours

#patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #paintingdemonstration #demopainting #paintingworkshop #arteducation #oilpainting #animalpainting #petportrait #dogportrait #dog #hillcountrycouncilforthearts

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 8

Patrick Saunders

My floral demonstration from life this morning on day two of my painting workshop at the Hill Country Council for the arts. Never be afraid to push darks further than you think you need. Darker areas reveal the lights and the drama.

“Dancing Daisies Study”
• Oil on Linen
• 12” x 12”
• 1 Hour, 45 Minutes
• SOLD

#patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #paintingdemonstration #demopainting #paintingworkshop #artworkshop #artinstruction #arteducation #oilpainting #floralart #floralpainting #gerberadaisies #hillcountrycouncilforthearts

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 11

Patrick Saunders

My 80-minute landscape demonstration this morning on the first day of my painting workshop at the Hill Country Council for the Arts. Today’s demo, a scene from a ranch we visited in Bosque County, Texas, was all about the connection between value and color temperature. In many cases, color temperature can work harder than value contrast.

“Storm Rollin’ In”
• Landscape Study
• Oil on Linen
• 12" x16"
• 80 Minutes
• SOLD

#patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #paintingdemonstration #demopainting #paintingworkshop #artworkshop #oilpainting #landscapepainting #bosquecountytexas #representationalart #realistart #hillcountrycouncilforthearts

2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 12

Patrick Saunders

This week, many of us can relate to the feeling that this painting by American artist Willard Metcalf expresses. Here, Metcalf uses the slightest color and value shifts to suggest the atmospheric effects of a snowy day. You can feel the cold of the scene.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Metcalf studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, before attending the Académie Julian, Paris.

"The Winter's Festival"
• Willard Leroy Metcalf
• Oil on Canvas
• 26" x 29"
• 1913
• Permanent Collection of the ‪@FAMSF‬

#artreview #artdiscussion #artcritique #arttalk #americanpainting #americanart #americanartist #willardmetcalf #deyoungmuseum #patricksaunders #patricksaundersfinearts #americanimpressionism #realistart #landscapepainting #MuseumTourTuesday

3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 6