Recently Lenard Lai gave us a demo to share his favorite color palette and painting techniques.

Here’s a quick Q&A with Lenard:

Why do you make art?
The name Draw-ple-t is an abbreviation of “drawing-people-together.” Art has always been a part of me since I was young. It never left me although I was in a different industry previously. I think that painting helps me express my thoughts and personality, and helps people around me visualize what those things are.

How long have you been painting?
6-7 years.

Did you have formal art training?
No formal training – self taught.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
Full-time artist.

What inspires you?
My inspiration sources are  Instagram, nature and life.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?
Depending on my mood – Christian music, lo-fi, Celtic, pop and metal are my go-tos.

Have you had a mentor?
My mentors are fellow artists, including those who post regularly on social media.

Do you paint every day?
No, I paint twice to three times per week.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?
One piece usually. But I occasionally do several sketches in advance.

Do you create a concept piece first?
No. It’s usually a one-take thing. I do still life, so it’s quite straightforward and not much imagination is involved.

Do you prefer painting in studio or plein air?
Studio.

How many core colors do you use?
7-10, including Quinacridone Red, Indigo, Sap Green, Hansa Yellow, Vermilion and Burnt Sienna.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
Tubes! I use pans occasionally though.

When do you know that your piece is finished?
When the light/mid/dark tones are in place and that there’s nothing more to add in terms of seeing it in a macro-view.

Join us online each week via Zoom or Facebook for an Up Close and Personal Conversation with John Cogley (Daniel Smith Owner and CEO) along with guest artists from around the world. On Thursdays (2:00pm Pacific), John and some of our Brand Ambassadors highlight a group of colors and answer your questions. On Fridays (10:30am Pacific), a guest artist shares a demo with their favorite tips and techniques. Click here for the upcoming week’s Zoom links.

If you prefer, you can visit our Facebook page at showtime to watch live. Replays can be watched on Facebook or YouTube.