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Blog
Practical posts to help you draw and paint with more confidence, and insights for collectors who enjoy following the stories behind the artwork.


Master Copy Oil Painting Session: Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People - Classical Techniques Explained
Discover how I’m recreating Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People using classical oil painting techniques, from raw umber underpainting to layered glazing. In this behind-the-scenes master copy session, I break down my palette, process, and colour decisions and share how you can learn these traditional methods in your own work.

James Otto Allen
3 min read


How to Oil Paint Using the Glazing Technique (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)
Learn how to oil paint using the classical glazing technique, starting from a bistre underpainting and building luminous colour through transparent layers. This step-by-step guide breaks down the entire process and explains why glazing creates depth and glow that alla prima painting can’t match.

James Otto Allen
4 min read


Portrait Painting Step by Step: Complete Guide in Three Sittings
Step-by-step guide to painting a portrait in three sittings: charcoal sketch, blocked-in colours, and the finished oil painting. Perfect for beginner painters.

James Otto Allen
3 min read
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