A true treasure from John Singer Sarnget

Today, I’m sharing a link to something very special—a true treasure for any painter. This 47-page document Advice on Painting from John singer

Sargent contains stories and advice from Sargent, the painter I admire most. Sargent’s techniques weren’t extensively documented, so most of what we know comes from those who studied or spent time with him."

What Stands Out Most to Me

“After many reads, two main techniques from this material have truly transformed how I approach painting. First is Sargent’s focus on midtones—a topic he emphasizes repeatedly. His advice? Start with midtones and save the extremes, the lightest lights and darkest darks, for the final touches.”

“The second is his method of ‘painting one thing inside another’ rather than side by side until they meet. These two techniques go hand in hand. For example, when painting a person’s forehead, you begin with the midtones. Only at the end would you add the highlight, letting that shine layer within the existing midtones naturally.” I always try to apply these techniques, as I also do in my Pet Portrait Course.

Watch Sargent’s Techniques in Action

“I created a video (this link) where I’ve applied these two guiding principles in a study of Sargent’s work. Check out this Instagram Reel to see how the lightest accents are reserved for the final strokes, following Sargent’s approach.”

Let’s paint!

Best,

Marcelo