In this special Artist Daily gallery, we present online reproductions of the still life work of Robert Kogge. In these high-resolution online reproductions, we hope to give you a clearer look at this artists still life work, created with a unique colored-pencil-and-ink-wash technique.Still Life For Gerard2009, colored pencil and ink wash on canvas, 12 x 14.

Try painting on a toned surface for a fresh take on creativitySometimes you need to mix it up to take your work to a new level. Here artist Brenda Swenson shares how changing from white to toned paper can unlock new ways of working.Break the RulesGive yourself permission to try something new, push the boundaries of what you know or break a few so-called rules.

This demonstration is from “Chords of Color” by Holly Davis in the July/August issue of Magazine.“Chords of Color” By Judy Betts“First, an idea!” as Rex Brandt would say. Ed Whitney said, “If in doubt, repeat the theme,” so I planned to include several cowboys and horses in my painting; however, to simplify the idea I would leave out fences, trees, sky, dogs, cattle, children, vehicles, and barn—any of which might appear in my reference material.

For those who are painting with acrylics, this can be a big issue if only because you are constantly dealing with the consequences or benefits of your decision to work with jar color or paint from tubes. Namely, how much paint do you use?Carved in Stone by Charles Harrington, 48 x 60, acrylic painting.

An unexpected gift received more than 30 years ago led English artist Peter Thomas to pastels—and the French countryside. Since then, pastels have been his medium of choice to paint the serene, pastoral landscapes of his adopted homeland.In the June 2013 issue of Pastel Journal, Thomas shares how he came to the medium and how he captures the beauty of his bucolic surroundings.

“Thou canst not stir a flower, without troubling of a star.” – Francis ThompsonThe most common pigment on earth is red ochre. We see it along with carbon from charcoal in the cave paintings of the late stone age, like those at Lascaux. This sedimentary color, rich in iron and taken from the earth serves to remind us of our interconnectedness with the stars.