3 Tips On How to Make Your Best Art From Portland Landscape Artist Anna K. McDermott

On landscape artist, Anna K. McDermott's Instagram profile, it says, "Hike.  Paint.  Repeat."  Since her feed is filled with her gorgeous photo realistic paintings that she paints from the photos she takes on her many hikes, you know this is her way of life.  In fact, if you read the title of her instagram account it says, "Rather be hiking."  Her art has been exhibited all around Oregon and has even won the "People's Choice Award" in juried art shows.  Today, she gives us 3 great tips on how to make your best art and we suspect these tips and techniques are how she has become so adept at her landscape painting..

​Tell us briefly about your art:​ 

I paint detailed landscapes from photos I take on hikes. I find hiking to be healing for my physical self as well as inspirational for my art. I paint landscapes to capture a place at that moment in hopes of people seeing it and valuing the outdoors, the need for conservation, and to resonate with your own memories of time spent in public lands.

​​​​​​​​​What is your main medium of art?

Painting: Acrylic and watercolor

​​​What are your website and links?

Website:  www.annakmcdermott.com
Instagram: @mcdermott.anna

​​​​​​​Please share your techniques & tips with us:

#1   Find someone who knows a little about art to critique you, then find someone who doesn’t. Critique is so important because it lets you know what other people are seeing when they see your art. Sometimes, it is hard to know for yourself what you are looking at after staring at it for so long.

#2   Art takes time. Let it. You can have a deadline but make sure to give yourself more time than you think it will require.

#3   I minimally sketch out my painting with an under painting in a wash of either yellow or French grey. Pencil far too often shows up through the paint.

Work in progress images of Anna's paintings from her Instagram feed.

Make sure to check out more of Anna's art on her website and Instagram account where she shares many of the photos from her hikes and more work in progress images.  She also sells prints and cards of her art in her shop which is on her website.

​​​Be Our Next Featured Artist!​

We still need a lot more submissions for our "Oregon Artists Share Tips & Techniques" series.  Please submit your work at the button below.

SUBMIT YOUR ARTIST TIPS & TECHNIQUES HERE!