Announcement: New Web Site

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new Web site at www.ericwiegardt.com. On the site, you may view Eric's collection of orginal watercolors, original acrylics, and prints, as well as his instructional books and DVDs. You may also read Eric's thoughts on topics related to painting in our new FAQ section. Please explore the site and be sure to let us know what you think.

New DVD Series: Secrets of Painting Loose

Eric's long-awaited instructional DVD series Secrets of Painting Loose is finally here. It is like attending one of Eric's popular workshops. The DVDs covers topics such as common painting problems, design, shapes, landscape value relationships, painting water and trees, etc. Learn to loosen up and paint bold, loose watercolors with a painterly touch. Theory and technique are presented in a clear format to help eliminate any mystery. The DVD series comes in a set of three: The first two cover an in-depth discussion of concepts and technique. The third DVD shows a marine demonstration illustrating the principles from the first two. Visit our website for more information.

An Essay from Eric: From Expressionism to Impressionism

Eric: The workings of the artistic mind are often hard to understand (hence the jokes). Being a career artist for 25 years, I still have a difficult time comprehending the capriciousness of my artistic journey.

My mentor, Irving Shapiro, found his muse in photography and encouraged his students to use this artistic tool. (Photography has been of valuable assistance to the fine arts since its inception and has played a major role in expanding artistic expression. However, sound judgment of art is based on the painting itself, not the process.) I felt very comfortable with this teaching, as the use of photography allowed me the mobility of capturing multiple motifs. More importantly, I was able to bring the image to my studio and, along with the photo references, construct my own sense of design, unencumbered by the vagaries of plein-air (outdoor painting).

Click here to read the full article about the progression of Eric's personal style.