🎨 12 Principles Every Artist Should Know

Mastering your craft starts with mastering the fundamentals. These timeless principles are essential for any artist working in drawing or painting—whether you’re just starting out or refining your style.

1. Draw Every Day: Build confidence, coordination, and control through consistent sketching.
2. See Like an Artist: Train your eyes to observe values, shapes, and edges—not symbols.
3. Understand Light and Shadow: Forms come to life through accurate value relationships, not just color.
4. Start with Big Shapes: Block in major forms before adding detail—structure first, texture later.
5. Use a Limited Palette: Restrict your color choices to improve harmony and deepen your mixing skills.
6. Mind Your Edges: Varying soft, hard, and lost edges creates visual interest and realism.
7. Composition is King: Great design holds attention—plan your layout thoughtfully.
8. Be Patient with the Process: Layers take time. Don’t rush what needs to evolve.
9. Learn from the Masters: Study Sargent, Zorn, Sorolla, Bouguereau and others. Let their brilliance guide yours.
10. Critique Your Work: Step back often, assess honestly, and make deliberate adjustments.
11. Stay Curious: Ask questions, experiment, and never stop learning.
12. Enjoy the Journey: Progress is messy—celebrate your growth and love what you do.

Whether you’re painting plein air, building your portfolio, or refining technique in the studio—these principles are your compass.

Save this list, print it, share it. Let it guide your next painting session.

The Joys and Challenges of Plein Air Painting

Painting outdoors is a thrilling, sensory experience that demands both spontaneity and skill. At RSA, our plein air workshops bring artists into nature’s studio, where light, color, and atmosphere shift by the minute.

Our recent “Golden Hour” workshop in Malibu was a perfect example. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, students captured the warm glow and dramatic shadows on canvas. Wind, changing light, and the hum of the ocean added to the challenge—and the beauty.

These sessions offer more than just painting instruction; they teach artists how to see with fresh eyes and respond to the moment with courage and creativity.

Whether you’re new to plein air or looking to refine your outdoor technique, our workshops offer the perfect blend of challenge and inspiration.

Transitioning Through RSA’s Workshops

For many adults, making art started as a pastime—a way to unwind. But at RSA, we’ve seen countless students evolve from hobbyists to artists with confidence and vision, thanks to our immersive one-day workshops.

Take Jessica, who began with a Zorn Palette workshop and discovered a passion for portraiture. Or Mike, whose first plein-air outing led to a new obsession with capturing natural light. Our workshops are designed to challenge, inspire, and unlock new levels of artistic growth.

These aren’t just classes—they’re transformational experiences.