What a beautiful world you have to paint! This is Kristie chiming in again. Each of you wonderful artists helps make this world an amazing place to live.
I just watched the critique webinar with all your stunning paintings and felt inspired by what you’ve accomplished. Thank you for making our art community such an uplifting and encouraging group of friends.
I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten through the hymn “How Great Thou Art” without shedding a tear or two. It’s such a powerful anthem about the beauties of creation.
During this season of Thanksgiving, I think it’s very appropriate to be thankful for all the wonderful things in nature that inspire us to paint, write, sing, dance, photograph and sculpt (and every other art form).
You’ve helped Master Oil Painting take on a life of its own. You touch my heart every day through your art and kindness. Let me use this blog post to explain how you uplift me and so many others through your art and caring natures.
Take a Trip Around the World with the Reference Library
One place I enjoy going to on a dreary day – which in Indiana, happens quite a bit in the winter – is the reference gallery. Monthly Members generously share photos of their travels and home painting turf for other members to paint and enjoy. Wow, you live in some incredible places!
The gallery is full of images artists can use as copyright-free references – it’s a glorious collection.
I thought I would share some of the images with the world. I may not get to travel personally to meet each of you, but I love that I can connect with you through your photos and paintings.
Let’s take a journey together to some of these beautiful places around our planet.
This is just a small sampling from the reference library:

Winter Snow at Rehobeth Beach

Spanish Peaks – Spike
Spike’s photo was used as a reference for the Membership Paint together.

Diane Hunt- Spanish Peaks
Bill also did a blog about the steps he took to paint it.
He also has a free step-by-step lesson to learn how to paint the Spanish Peaks here: https://www.masteroilpainting.com/spanish-peaks-lesson/
The photo reference library has an amazing variety of seascapes. Looking at the photo below makes me want to be there feeling the mist from the crashing waves.

Canada’s Victoria Island
There are so many beautiful photos of flowers to use as painting references. I realize this might not be the right time of year for flowers but I thought the drops of water on the iris’ petals were fun.

Purple Tears, Newburg MD – Renee Fuqua

Photo of Mabry Mill
Mabry Mill was another inspiration for a Paint Together. The members created some outstanding paintings.

Linda Brantly’s Mabry Mill
The Spanish Peaks and Mabry Mill paintings are part of the Members’ library of instruction videos. The Mabry Mill painting was one of his favorite pieces.

The Wheels of Time – Mabry Mill 8×10 inch oil painting by Bill Inman

Sunrise on Lake Huron-Rick Manthei
Those orange sunset colors on the water are incredible! Thank you Rick for the beautiful photo.

Ozark Sky – Jane Osborn

Near Big Indian Gorge, OR – Lee Blair
That gorge looks like a place I want to go hiking! What a view.

Colorado Barrel Cactus

Marianna, FL – Linda Croom Smith

Rocky Mountain National Park – Kathy Pohl

Garden of the Gods – David Inman

Cabo’s Famous Arch – Kathy Pohl

British Columbia -Azita
We used Azita’s photo for a Paint Together event as well. And there’s a wonderful blog post for painting Cypress trees.

Blue Ridge Mountains

Arcata Farmer’s Market – Melissa Lefebvre

Balboa Island, CA – Elisa Arancibia

Barksdale AFB LA – David Inman
I hope you enjoyed our journey through a small sampling of this wonderful world we live in!
~Kristie
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There is beauty everywhere we look, we just have to see it through the artist’s eyes. Thanks for sharing !!
I am a member, but there is no information as to access the photo website or page in the library
Hey Robert, go to here: https://www.masteroilpainting.com/monthly-membership-home/ It’s towards the bottom of the page. Let me know if you still don’t see it!
Wow! thanks for introducing me to the Anthem Lights band. How inspiring…
Great blog and you are really doing well good luck!
The world is so beautiful and we can see it more clearly through oil paintings