Jim L’Oste-Brown came to us LIVE from Australia via Zoom on Friday, September 2nd to share his favorite techniques and color palette. Here is a quick Q&A with Jim:

Why do you make art?

I create art firstly because it’s my passion. Secondly, as a profession, I enjoy creating pieces for others to appreciate.

How long have you been painting?

I have been illustrating and painting for as long as I can remember, since I was a young boy.

Did you have formal art training?

No, I am self-taught.

What inspires you?

I look purely to my ocean-themed subject matter for inspiration.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?

I listen to Peking Duk (they’ve commissioned artwork from me), Foo Fighters, Birds of Tokyo and Red Hot Chili Peppers – but most of the time, I work in stints of silence.

Have you had a mentor?

I have not had a mentor, however Bek from my local art store has guided me when it comes to the materials I use.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?

Generally I work on one piece at a time, due to limited desk space. But I’m also hand-embellishing art prints along the way. I try to paint every day.

Do you create a concept piece first?

Initially I draw my concept on baking parchment so that I can get the proportions correct, then I transfer that work to the final paper.

Do you prefer painting in studio or en plein air?

I work solely in my studio.

How many core colors do you use?

– I wouldn’t say I use core colours, however Duochrome Arctic Fire and Quinacridone Gold feature in most of my pieces.

Tubes, pans or sticks?

Tubes and pans.

How do you know when your piece is finished?

I know when a piece is finished from the photos I take for Instagram posts. Looking at a small digital image brings my attention to any required tonal changes.

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Join us online each week for an Up Close and Personal Conversation with Daniel Smith CEO and Owner, John Cogley and guest artists from around the world. On Thursdays (2:00pm Pacific), John highlights various features of our products and answers your questions. On Fridays (10:30am Pacific), a guest artist follows up to share how they incorporate those features into their art. Click here for the upcoming week’s Zoom links.

Check our Facebook page for news about upcoming guest artists or to watch past replays. Each Zoom meeting is also recorded and shared on our YouTube channel. La traducción al español está disponible – selecciona el canal en español en Zoom.