Five Unique Benefits of Plein Air Painting
Michael Alford can’t do without the discipline of painting outdoors. Here he outlines the five unique benefits of plein air painting and explains why he couldn’t be the artist he is without it.
Michael Alford’s Lightweight Plein Air Kits for the Road
Light, lighter, lightest. Michael Alford reveals the contents of his four main setups for plein air painting in any situation, from the wilds of Oman to your local park.
Paint Media for Plein Air Painting: Compared
Image: Michael Alford plein air painting in Amorgos, Greece. By Michael Alford For me, plein air painting is a natural thing to do. It combines my passion for the great outdoors with my love of painting, and it’s fair to say I’ve been doing it most of my life. The...
More Context, More Drama: Evolutions in Painting the Female Nude
Objects and props, theatrical lighting and the hint of hidden narratives mark an evolution in Michael Alford’s approach to painting the female nude. A new show at Panter and Hall’s Pall Mall gallery showcases his insights into creating scenes that blend the artificial and the natural with dramatic impact.
Musical Offerings: Michael Alford On Why He Loves to Paint Musicians
Michael Alford talks about the painterly choices behind his new collection of musician paintings at the Red Rag Gallery, Bath. He explains his fascination for depicting artists engaged in the act of performance—and reveals his musical crushes, the groups he dreams of painting one day.
The Dry Red Press Award: Eastbound, Piccadilly, a Cityscape of London
Eastbound, Piccadilly: “The human element gives a painting, and a city, its life.”
Michael Alford talks painting technique, his obsession with London and the artistic choices behind his award-winning painting.