Oil Painting Step by Step

Lesson 7: Painting Doors & Windows

with Tom Swimm

Doorways and windows are a favorite subject among many artists and are great for experimenting with composition. They have a visual and philosophical appeal, and evoke a sense of intrigue about what lies beyond them. Combined with other elements such as flowers and shadows, they can be colorful and compelling. They’re basically two-dimensional, so the challenge is to bring contrast, depth, and interest to what could be viewed as a plain, flat, dull subject. Choose a doorway with a unique color, shape, or texture, and remember that the time of day is very important in creating mood and interest. For instance, in this painting, artist Tom Swimm experimented with the light of the early morning and ...