# Latest **URL:** https://www.smartermarx.com/latest.md [Latest](https://www.smartermarx.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://www.smartermarx.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://www.smartermarx.com/tags.md) --- ## [2026 Online Alla Prima Challenges (Series 1)](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/2026-online-alla-prima-challenges-series-1/2107)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/2026-online-alla-prima-challenges-series-1/2107 "2026-07-20T16:17:26Z")
Fourth Annual Online Alla Prima Challenge (Original Series)!! 20 live painting alla prima sessions over 20 weeks (plus an introductory orientation) with painting beginning on: February 19th WHEN: Thursdays – 2 pm to 3… --- ## [The People's Artist Competition w/ Johnny Depp](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-peoples-artist-competition-w-johnny-depp/2120)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2026, 11:05am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-peoples-artist-competition-w-johnny-depp/2120 "2026-05-10T11:05:37Z")
The People’s Artist Competition: What Artists Should Know Before Entering A new online art competition called The People’s Artist, presented with the name and image of Johnny Depp, is currently being promoted to artis… --- ## [Warm-Lights-Cool-Shadows and Vice Versa](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/warm-lights-cool-shadows-and-vice-versa/390)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2026, 9:49am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/warm-lights-cool-shadows-and-vice-versa/390 "2026-04-09T09:49:51Z")
One popular rule-of-thumb that falls in the colloquial “color temperature” bucket is that “warm” lights produce cool shadows and that “cooler” lights will cause warm shadows. (The Kelvin scale indeed inverts what these t… --- ## [Medium, Solvent, Diluent, and Binder in Painting: Definitions, Etymology, Material Roles, and Historical Usage](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/medium-solvent-diluent-and-binder-in-painting-definitions-etymology-material-roles-and-historical-usage/2110)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/medium-solvent-diluent-and-binder-in-painting-definitions-etymology-material-roles-and-historical-usage/2110 "2026-03-23T14:38:50Z")
Why “Medium” Is So Often Confusing Few terms in painting are used with greater broad-stroke ambiguity than “medium“. In common art-related conversations, some may use the word to refer to the binder in a paint system,… --- ## [2026 Alla Prima Social Media Contact List](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/2026-alla-prima-social-media-contact-list/2109)
**Author:** [@ava](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/ava)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/2026-alla-prima-social-media-contact-list/2109 "2026-03-15T18:34:53Z")
Group of 2026 - Series I Emily Gormican - @emilygormicanart Jamie Lindholm - @jamielindholmart Anthony Waichulis - @yychuls --- ## [Email Art Scams (Artists Beware!) - UPDATED 3/10/26](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/email-art-scams-artists-beware-updated-3-10-26/1115)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/email-art-scams-artists-beware-updated-3-10-26/1115 "2026-03-10T14:17:02Z")
Greetings all—as art sales continue to grow on the web, so do the efforts of scammers trying to rip off today’s hard working creatives. These scams often take the form of emails directly to the artist rather than thei… --- ## [Hello from Boston!](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/hello-from-boston/1555)
**Author:** [@paul.beckingham](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/paul.beckingham)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2026, 8:47pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/hello-from-boston/1555 "2026-02-10T20:47:40Z")
I am Paul, I am in Boston, Ma, but originally from the UK. I am a full time painter (or unemployed, choose your own description), and I am 6 years into this wonderful adventure. I paint in oils, mostly still life and fl… --- ## [The Physics of Dust in the Studio: What Moves, What Sticks, and Why](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-physics-of-dust-in-the-studio-what-moves-what-sticks-and-why/2096)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-physics-of-dust-in-the-studio-what-moves-what-sticks-and-why/2096 "2026-01-11T14:54:15Z")
Dust seems like a minor annoyance until you see it wreck a dark glaze or throw sparkles into a perfect shadow. But these aren’t just random intrusions; they’re predictable outcomes of how particles behave in the air. … --- ## [Photoshop and Imaging Basics for Artists 2025 - Class/Homework Thread](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/photoshop-and-imaging-basics-for-artists-2025-class-homework-thread/2082)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/photoshop-and-imaging-basics-for-artists-2025-class-homework-thread/2082 "2026-01-06T13:03:33Z")
Here you will find all of the information (appropriate links (including Dropbox folder links for homework), notes, reminders, etc.) for Anthony’s Photoshop 101 (Photoshop Basics for Artists) Any questions, comments, o… --- ## [Suggest best sketch notebook](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/suggest-best-sketch-notebook/2105)
**Author:** [@olivia11](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/olivia11)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2026, 9:44am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/suggest-best-sketch-notebook/2105 "2026-01-06T09:44:27Z")
suggest me best sketch book for sketching thank you --- ## [Brush Durability: Why a Sable Can Often "Outlast" Synthetic Even When It Shouldn't](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/brush-durability-why-a-sable-can-often-outlast-synthetic-even-when-it-shouldnt/2097)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2026, 9:40am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/brush-durability-why-a-sable-can-often-outlast-synthetic-even-when-it-shouldnt/2097 "2026-01-06T09:40:34Z")
During our late November Artist Roundtable, we discussed a comment an artist had made on social media, stating that, in her experience, sable brushes often outlast synthetics. While it seemed to me right away that this w… --- ## [When Dry Media Collide: Graphite with White Pastel/Charcoal-White](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/when-dry-media-collide-graphite-with-white-pastel-charcoal-white/2086)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/when-dry-media-collide-graphite-with-white-pastel-charcoal-white/2086 "2025-11-04T12:44:48Z")
A great question came up on Instagram yesterday about some of the potential issues with intermixing graphite and white pastel (chalk/charcoal-white.) Mixing graphite with white pastel or chalk/charcoal-white is usuall… --- ## [A Miracle Pencil? Well...Not Really](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/a-miracle-pencil-well-not-really/2095)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2025, 11:54am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/a-miracle-pencil-well-not-really/2095 "2025-11-02T11:54:07Z")
In recent weeks, I’ve seen a surge of ads for a product called the Everpen, accompanied by some bold claims: an unbreakable, elegant, and timeless writing tool designed to outperform every traditional pencil. (I’d nor… --- ## [Household Hacks that can Hurt: The Hidden Chemistry of some Studio Shortcuts](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/household-hacks-that-can-hurt-the-hidden-chemistry-of-some-studio-shortcuts/2084)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/household-hacks-that-can-hurt-the-hidden-chemistry-of-some-studio-shortcuts/2084 "2025-10-27T18:03:29Z")
For as long as artists have worked with brushes, pigments, and varnish, they have also experimented with ways to correct, clean, and reclaim their surfaces. Much of that experimentation has been harmless; some of it h… --- ## [Chimera in Visual Art: Perceptual Cues, Prediction Models, and the Inference of Error](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/chimera-in-visual-art-perceptual-cues-prediction-models-and-the-inference-of-error/2085)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/chimera-in-visual-art-perceptual-cues-prediction-models-and-the-inference-of-error/2085 "2025-10-26T15:11:58Z")
The following is based on the presentation given at the 2025 IX Arts convention. Humans form an initial visual interpretation almost immediately upon seeing an image. The “gist” of a scene can be extracted in under 10… --- ## [Artist Round Table Bi-Monthly Zoom Session Follow-Up Newsletter September 7th, 2025](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/artist-round-table-bi-monthly-zoom-session-follow-up-newsletter-september-7th-2025/2083)
**Author:** [@anya](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/anya)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/artist-round-table-bi-monthly-zoom-session-follow-up-newsletter-september-7th-2025/2083 "2025-10-01T14:29:55Z")
Greetings, you are receiving this newsletter because you are registered for our Artist Round Table Bi-Monthly Zoom Sessions. We will be sending a follow-up newsletter like this after each session to highlight the key … --- ## [Voodoo Darkening of Oil Paint](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/voodoo-darkening-of-oil-paint/1163)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2025, 5:27am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/voodoo-darkening-of-oil-paint/1163 "2025-09-19T05:27:23Z")
Many of us have read about the potential changes we might observe when oil paint dries. Dry oil paints can appear to darken or lighten depending on everything from the absorbancy of the ground (sinking) to the quality of… --- ## [Searching the Grounds: Acrylic vs Oil Grounds for Oil Paint](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/searching-the-grounds-acrylic-vs-oil-grounds-for-oil-paint/2079)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2025, 6:42pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/searching-the-grounds-acrylic-vs-oil-grounds-for-oil-paint/2079 "2025-08-24T18:42:19Z")
Searching the Grounds: A Historical and Technical Comparison between Acrylic and Oil Grounds for Oil Painters The preparation of a painting surface has always been one of the most critical steps in creating durable an… --- ## [UPDATED FOR 2025: Art Competitions/Grants/Fellowships](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/updated-for-2025-art-competitions-grants-fellowships/1264)
**Author:** [@ava](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/ava)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/updated-for-2025-art-competitions-grants-fellowships/1264 "2021-02-03T17:49:54Z")
Below is a main list of the competitions that many of our artists have entered in the past. This list is organic and will be updated as new opportunities are presented. If you have any competitions to add, please send… --- ## [Regarding Betty Edwards Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/regarding-betty-edwards-drawing-on-the-right-side-of-the-brain/1394)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/regarding-betty-edwards-drawing-on-the-right-side-of-the-brain/1394 "2025-09-05T13:06:35Z")
In a recent Zoom Artist Round Table, a colleague brought up the merits of the popular book by Betty Edwards, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. The book has been translated into more than seventeen languages and … --- ## [The Myth of Finding Your Style: Why You Already Have One](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-myth-of-finding-your-style-why-you-already-have-one/2078)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-myth-of-finding-your-style-why-you-already-have-one/2078 "2025-08-18T14:10:13Z")
“Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert,” replied Glinda. “If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country.” “But then I should not have had… --- ## [Mounting linen to cradled boards - adherence issues](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/mounting-linen-to-cradled-boards-adherence-issues/2076)
**Author:** [@Joseph](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/Joseph)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/mounting-linen-to-cradled-boards-adherence-issues/2076 "2025-08-18T18:38:12Z")
Greetings from The Netherlands. After moving from the US, I no longer have easy access to the superb-quality panels mounted with linen that I have used for some years. I have found nice cradled boards that are unfinished… --- ## [Sharpening General's](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/sharpening-generals/1990)
**Author:** [@mokxmatic](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/mokxmatic)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/sharpening-generals/1990 "2025-08-16T22:19:46Z")
What do you use to sharpen your Pencil? I got mine today and within 5 minutes it broke 3 times in my pencil sharpener. Then I used a knife, which was an improvement.ø, but not great. Are the pencils the right ones? Edi… --- ## [Goodharts law](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/goodharts-law/2061)
**Author:** [@mokxmatic](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/mokxmatic)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2025, 10:41am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/goodharts-law/2061 "2025-07-31T10:41:14Z")
--- ## [Sketches from Foundational Neuroscience Class](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/sketches-from-foundational-neuroscience-class/226)
**Author:** [@AWaichulis](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/AWaichulis)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/sketches-from-foundational-neuroscience-class/226 "2025-07-31T10:59:18Z")
Many of the foundational neuroscience classes I took required quite a bit of drawing. Here's two that I really enjoyed doing--One if the lateral view of the brain while the other is the pathway for light touch (mechanos… --- ## [What are you reading/studying now?](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/what-are-you-reading-studying-now/2060)
**Author:** [@mokxmatic](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/mokxmatic)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2025, 10:51am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/what-are-you-reading-studying-now/2060 "2025-07-31T10:51:22Z")
Perhaps you would share what you are reading - great books or magazines to draw inspiration/information. Currently, I read a Danish book by poet Søren Ulrik Thomsen “En dans på gloser”. About the process of art and esp… --- ## [Mokxmatic - LOD](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/mokxmatic-lod/1991)
**Author:** [@mokxmatic](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/mokxmatic)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2025, 10:48am UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/mokxmatic-lod/1991 "2025-07-31T10:48:56Z")
Working on it (with a twist as I have done it many times now). This is the first time on Canson paper. --- ## ["The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly" Oil on Panel, 9"x12"](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-oil-on-panel-9-x12/2065)
**Author:** [@MarkMcD](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/MarkMcD)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly-oil-on-panel-9-x12/2065 "2025-07-23T16:10:16Z")
Has been a crazy few months. Moving countries. Saying goodbye to loved pets, etc. Finally got the finishing touches on this and signed it. This is the 4th in my “Polaroid” series. One more to go! --- ## [To Join: Fine Art Societies, Associations, Clubs & Leagues- 2025 Update](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/to-join-fine-art-societies-associations-clubs-leagues-2025-update/1157)
**Author:** [@ava](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/ava)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/to-join-fine-art-societies-associations-clubs-leagues-2025-update/1157 "2020-07-13T19:21:11Z")
New Feature - Summer 2025: LISTINGS NOW SHOW IF INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE These are updated for 2025. Please check back for additions and updates. If any others to share, please email smartermarx@gmail.co… --- ## [Lod, LoP, and Ani Academy, difference](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/lod-lop-and-ani-academy-difference/1967)
**Author:** [@mokxmatic](https://www.smartermarx.com/u/mokxmatic)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://www.smartermarx.com/t/lod-lop-and-ani-academy-difference/1967 "2025-06-30T15:21:42Z")
Hi, I’d like to know more about the difference between attending the Ani Academy (online) versus going with the Lod, and Lop dvd material on my own. I live in Denmark and attending the Academy is a bit difficult, altho… [Next page](https://www.smartermarx.com/latest.md?page=1)