Eric Alexander Santoli
  • HOME
  • STUDIO SALE 2025
  • BIO
  • PORTFOLIO
    • DRAWINGS
    • WATERCOLORS
    • OIL PAINTINGS
    • 2023 GIVERNY RESIDENCY
  • COMMISSIONS
  • TEACHING
    • TESTIMONIALS
  • WORKSHOPS
  • ERIC EN PLEIN AIR™
  • SHOP
  • LINKS
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG

Signing a Painting - The Perfect Imperfection

1/29/2018

0 Comments

 
  I have been working on my signature a bit recently and have found that I really love having a signature that looks perfectly imperfect.  To me, there's a certain magic to painting that has the personal touch still left in it.  I think I find it magical because it's an image created by my hand and not by a computer.  Paintings are real things and have a life of their own that our digital age can't duplicate.
  This painting is all done and I can't wait to varnish it and deliver it to my patron!
0 Comments

The Work is Never Done

1/25/2018

0 Comments

 
  I thought that I was done with this commission, but the bowling pin in the background didn't have the correct highlight on the top.  It was a small thing that I had to correct, but it always troubles me until it feels right.  The funny thing is that no one will ever even know that I made that small change.  It's a never-ending quest and it doesn't end until I have the feeling like it's good enough.
Picture
0 Comments

"Peanuts" - Finished, Unsigned

1/25/2018

0 Comments

 
  I just put the finishing touches on this large portrait.  I'm really proud of it, but I always get a little sad when I finish a painting.  It's like coming to the end of a journey that has ups and downs.  The only cure to this feeling is to begin a new painting.  I still have to sign this one and then I'll varnish it once it's totally dry.
0 Comments

"Peanuts" - Day 4

1/23/2018

0 Comments

 
  I spent today cleaning up and refining more details and the overall values.  The overall value structure of a painting is really important and I always try to balance the lights, mid-tones and darks.  The best tip I have for balancing value is to squint a lot while you paint.  Squinting helps to keep the values accurate.  
  I should be able to finish this painting in the next session and then let it dry before I sign it and varnish it!
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    Academic
    Canvas
    Color
    Colorblindness
    Drawing
    En Plein Air
    Frames
    Motorcycles
    Music
    Oil Painting
    Pet Portraits
    Philosophy
    Portraiture
    Progress
    Reading
    Reviews
    Skateboarding
    Teaching
    Technique
    Travel
    Varnishing
    Watercolor
    Workshops
    Writing

    RSS Feed

​​© ERIC ALEXANDER SANTOLI 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  • HOME
  • STUDIO SALE 2025
  • BIO
  • PORTFOLIO
    • DRAWINGS
    • WATERCOLORS
    • OIL PAINTINGS
    • 2023 GIVERNY RESIDENCY
  • COMMISSIONS
  • TEACHING
    • TESTIMONIALS
  • WORKSHOPS
  • ERIC EN PLEIN AIR™
  • SHOP
  • LINKS
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG