Why the First Swipe Matters: How Oil Painting Helps Us Settle, Simplify, and Start Again
Cheryl Willcox Cheryl Willcox

Why the First Swipe Matters: How Oil Painting Helps Us Settle, Simplify, and Start Again

In my studio, every oil painting begins with a simple gesture: a smear of burnt sienna and a single swipe to reveal the light. Recently, I watched a student—moving through big life changes—soften as she wiped back her canvas. In that moment, the pressure lifted. The painting simplified. And something in her shifted too.
This post explores why that first physical mark matters, and how oil painting helps us settle, breathe, and begin again.

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Painting the Light: Understanding Colour Temperature Without the Confusion
Cheryl Willcox Cheryl Willcox

Painting the Light: Understanding Colour Temperature Without the Confusion

Colour temperature is the Holy Grail of painting—often sought, rarely mastered.
It’s the secret to making a painting feel luminous rather than flat or muddy.
In this post, I explore what really happens when light meets pigment—why highlights are cool, shadows are warm, and how understanding temperature transforms the way you paint.
Once you grasp this, you’re no longer just painting objects—you’re painting the light itself.

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Two Simple Concepts that Unlock Bold, Vibrant Painting
Cheryl Willcox Cheryl Willcox

Two Simple Concepts that Unlock Bold, Vibrant Painting

Every bold brushstroke begins before the paint even touches the canvas. In this post, I share two simple concepts — using your pencil like a brush, and finding the Circle Within — that unlock the rhythm, flow, and vibrant energy behind my paintings.

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 Cracking the Code of Colour Temperature
Cheryl Willcox Cheryl Willcox

Cracking the Code of Colour Temperature

Ever wonder why your highlights feel chalky or your shadows look muddy? The answer might not be in your values — it could be your colour temperature.

Discover how shifting temperature — not just tone — can bring light, atmosphere, and vibrancy into your work.

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