Dear Fellow Painter,

Do you imagine yourself stepping up to your canvas and:

We are the creative team, led by Ralph Liliedahl of Liliedahl Enterprises, Inc. If you are a regular subscriber to Liliedahl, you already know what we do. But if you are new here, let us say we produce very fine art instruction DVDs. We cater to artists who want to study and improve their craft on their own time. 

We bring advanced art instruction and some of the world’s top artists to you at an affordable level, and quality you won’t find anywhere else. Some of these artists do not teach or are not available to the general public. And if they are, it can be expensive to travel to a workshop for the valuable lessons you would like to have. Plus, with videos, you can watch over and over and practice alongside till you cement the lesson in your head.

We strive to teach art school secrets to as many people as possible: That was the mission of the late Johnnie Liliedahl, who was Ralph’s wife. In 1988 Johnnie founded Liliedahl Art Instruction Videos. Through her videos, she taught artists the critical foundational art skills that were once taught only in a handful of four-year art schools. In 2001, Ralph and Johnnie began producing art instruction and demonstration DVDs for some of the best known, award-winning, most admired, and most successful artists in the United States.

Today, Liliedahl continues to offer hundreds of videos that allow any artist willing to invest time and a small amount of money the opportunity to learn the basic art skills passed down by the masters. Though it does so without her, Johnnie’s vision lives on.

Thus, these super-high-quality art instruction videos can provide you the lessons and contact with professional artists you might never get the opportunity to study with in person, and often information they don’t have time to cover in workshops. And of course, once you have one of these videos in your personal library, you can access it repeatedly. It is such a valuable tool we have available to us today thanks to technology and the Internet. Doesn’t it make you wonder what the Old Masters would have done with such a resource?

Liliedahl has been associated with Hiuhan for many years. We previously published a video that focused on his marvelous paintings in Tibet. We were so impressed with his work that this time around we wanted to focus on his thoughts and approach to figure painting and composition. 

But these are just the facts. They tell you his history and passion for training as an artist, but as impressive as they are, it is even more notable to see examples of his work. Allow us to show you what Huihan does…

This Tibetan girl is a typical Huihan portrait. Loose and painterly in nature, it captures the essence of this child who is learning her place in the world.

And in this Tibetan family scene, everything is portrayed without extraneous detail. A woman is preparing tea as the others await what is probably a daily ritual. We see a slice of their life that is both picturesque and memorable. No explanation is required.

And that, friends, is what painting is all about for those who want to be expressive and convey sensitivity to the subject matter in their art.

Does that inspire you to do the same in your work? Would you like to capture the elusive qualities that make your painting more than just a copy of the scene at hand? Do you wish you could infuse the whole thing with an energy that takes on a life of its own? An energy that engages the viewer at first sight?

Huihan Liu has spent his life doing exactly that. He is very tuned in to the emotion of every piece he paints. He has stated that he wants to provide a bridge between Chinese culture and the U.S., which he loves. He travels

extensively, often back to China, to Tibet specifically, but mainly to the Southwest and Western U.S. His paintings, with culturally specific detail, show a deep appreciation for the landscape and the people of both places. And he wants to show gratitude to the people who supported him in his early days in China.1

But how can YOU achieve these “painterly” goals?

There’s only one way ... find someone to teach them to you. Really, no one is going to knock on your door and offer what you need out of the blue. If you want to improve your painting in a certain direction, then you have to seek it out and go after it on your own. We strive to make that easy for you.

You do not have to go on a worldwide quest to find master artists who will guide your path. You don’t need a lot of money to add to your skill set while you diligently work in your home studio. You are already set up for success. You just need to latch on to the teacher who will provide what you need. Thus, we are...

But it isn’t long before some of us want more … much more.

We want an emotional connection with the subject matter that we can share with the viewer. We want them to see what we see. We want to capture that fleeting moment when the image went beyond our eyes and touched out senses in some way. The freshness of an apple … the peacefulness of a riverbank … the stormy fury of an ocean tide … the sensuous nature of the human figure. Those aren’t mere “pictures.” They are moments in time. Short-lived and ephemeral. But once apprehended into an impassioned painting, able to be visited and relived on demand. A very special skill indeed. But just how do you go about getting it?

The key to any successful painting — and even more so a “painterly” painting — is a study of different poses and values (lights and darks).

If you are not doing this regularly (or at all), you will be AMAZED at how this simple tool will improve your painting work immediately.

So we had a conversation with Huihan (pronounced Way-han) and asked him if he would create a new video, something that would transcend his workshops. We asked him to not only show how he does a beautiful painting and captures his painterly style and emotion, but how he arrives at the composition. As a result, he arranged a model in four different poses and painted them, then decided which one to use, and made a complete painting from it. It’s pretty spectacular. You get to watch that entire process. 

That’s why the Huihan Liu video Expressive Figure Painting begins with a series of compositions, limited color palette, and value studies. Huihan already knows his subject matter. His model is set up in the studio. But he has yet to lay a foundation for the painting he wishes to do. Shall it be a front view or side? Reclining or standing? Which direction should the light source be coming from? There’s only one way to find out … do some composition, color, and value studies.

Of course you are excited to get started once you have your materials gathered and are ready to paint. But is that really enough?

For most of us, it is not.

Now you know your family and friends view you as some talented creature that has great art flowing from your fingertips, but doesn’t that drive you just a little crazy? It totally contradicts the work involved in making a successful painting. So don’t fall into the trap of believing that nonsense for a moment. Hitch up your britches here, and let’s see how a real artist gets to work … with composition, color, and value studies.

Every great painting, regardless of subject matter, style, or color, has one thing in common….

Structure. Good bones. The skeleton that holds it all together.

That’s why the first three and a half hours of Expressive Figure Painting is a master class in value studies and posing the model. That’s right, more than three hours! Why? Because that is how important they are to successful painting.

How well do you know your art history? Did you know that the Old Masters spent an average of FOUR YEARS doing studies of plaster casts in black and white before they were allowed to move on to using color? Can you even imagine? Just think how the concept of “value” was drummed into their very souls after a training period like that. And you don’t want to take an hour out of your painting time to do a value study before you dive into a full-fledged painting? Seems a little silly if you ever want to get proficient, doesn’t it?

So let’s talk about the color value studies, or as Huihan would say, “poses”…

Huihan will demonstrate four value studies in color for you to start off the video. “Values,” you see, are the basic structure of the painting. They hold the whole thing together. They have to be identified and established before you even start, or you have nothing to build on. You will see Huihan mix colors on his palette in several different values so he can map out dark shapes, half-tones, and light areas. He looks for a strong, unified series of shapes that will ground the painting like the foundation of a building. Otherwise, the loose brushstrokes on top have no meaning. They will look sloppy and ill-defined. The painting will have no impact.

Impact comes from structure … pure and simple. It is something you need to be able to do and cannot ignore. And you will not be able to ignore structure after you watch Huihan paint in this video. You will be mesmerized as he starts with very thin, transparent washes to place the figure in the space. He is super-careful about drawing, and shapes created by light and dark. Huihan narrates as he works, and you will discover:

By the time you see Huihan do four separate color value studies, you will be convinced you can never do another painting without this valuable tool. While it may seem like it takes extra time before you can get started, it is a magnificent shortcut you don’t want to cheat yourself out of.

Examine a painting you love. Analyze the underlying structure: the design and composition, the distribution of lights and darks (the values). In every case you will see that the structure is what makes a strong painting. Never the subject matter. And never local color.

Of course not. They could be any color in the world, and as long as the values are correct, they are immediately recognizable.

So think of it this way — it takes a plan to be confident and spontaneous. That plan is a matter of defining your composition, design, and values. Without knowing what those will be, the painting will lack depth and movement. But once you’ve established those things, you have a plan. Better yet, you have a vision. Now you are ready to paint.

A value study is never a waste of time. It not only saves time, it saves paint! Why waste expensive materials on a weakly structured painting? How smart is that?

How many times have you gotten deep into a painting only to find you want to change everything about it? A value study helps prevent that. You work things out before you do the painting.

Reducing your image to a simple value study forces you to determine what is really important in the painting. What do you include? What do you leave out? What do you emphasize? What will your “statement” be?

Going through the value study process gives you an enormous advantage over someone who dives in and tries to paint every detail. In that case, no one thing is important. There is no clear-cut statement. And if you don’t have a statement to make, what is the point of painting this subject?

Value studies are to an artist what musical scales are to a musician. Now a musician may say scales are necessary practice, but boring to do. But for you, an artist, value studies are not boring at all! They are quick to do, allow you to be very loose, and can be a fun part of your warmup. But don’t take our word for it … watch the four quick poses Huihan produces while nailing down how he will execute a final painting. We think you will then be convinced that a value study is even more than it is cracked up to be.

Does it seem like a stretch? Do you think you are ready to be the “painterly” painter you’ve always wanted to be? Are you willing to take a chance on yourself and make it happen?

It really is up to you, you know. This information is out there. Others have done it, which means it is not rocket science. It simply means you can do it, too. It’s just a matter of knowing how.

Why not take a moment right now and home in on where you live in your mind’s eye. Can you see yourself painting alongside Huihan Liu to learn how to make bold, fearless strokes on the canvas? 

Can you summon the courage to work with a sense of adventure, to really put a part of your being into the painting you are working on? 

Can you imagine the growth in your personal abilities when you take on the lessons Huihan has to teach and move forward in your own art career?

We believe you can.

Especially when you see what is next…

That’s right … after the three and a half hours of “poses” that are color value and composition studies, Huihan picks his favorite one to do a finished painting of. He comments on why he chose it over the others and then sets up a new canvas to begin the final painting. He divides it into two sessions, Day One and Day Two. That way you can see all the underpinnings that happen in Day One and then see how the painting is taken to completion in Day Two. These two painting “days” comprise the latter part of the video, roughly six and a half hours. And believe us, you won’t miss a thing. You will be a fly on the wall during the whole process.

Meanwhile, you will be watching all this up close. The filming is done with the model picture on the left and the canvas on the right of the same screen. You can constantly gauge for yourself the decisions Huihan makes as he paints. In addition, for much of the filming, the palette is visible on the lower left of the screen so you can see exactly how the paints are mixed. This “triple view” is something you would never be able to see any other way. It really points up the quality of the video instruction Liliedahl provides in Expressive Figure Painting.

All this from a master painter who has been working at painting all of his adult life. 

It is very simple to get this extraordinary art instruction video, Huihan Liu’s Expressive Figure Painting, to add to your own personal library. Just click on the box below and you will be taken immediately to the order page.

This 3-disc video set is almost eleven hours long and includes all four value study poses as well as both Day One and Day Two of the final painting video. It can be yours today for $129. Simply click on the link below and it will be shipped to you. We honestly can’t wait for you to receive your video, Expressive Figure Painting, so you can start being as “painterly” as you want to be!

Don’t forget…

This full-length video, Expressive Figure Painting, also includes a half-hour long EXCLUSIVE interview with Huihan Liu, a gallery of Huihan Liu paintings, and a fast-speed version of the painting process for you to enjoy anytime you just need a “painting fix.”

And of course, when you order this video you also receive a 100% MONEY-BACK Guarantee. We want you to be fully satisfied, so we guarantee all our products will be exactly what you expect. If for any reason you are dissatisfied within 30 days after receiving your video, simply call us at 877-867-0324 and we will arrange a full refund, no questions asked.

Believe us, we hosted Huihan Liu in our recording studio for five full days, and this video is an invaluable insider’s view of a master at work. Huihan is a gentle, soft-spoken man who knows his stuff. He is extremely modest, but here is a short list of the prizes he’s won for his incredibly “painterly” paintings…

It’s hard to imagine a better artist than Huihan Liu to learn the craft of painting from. Huihan is very generous. He even told us he was losing sleep when preparing for this video because he wanted to make sure you got a lot out of it. Get your own copy of this video today, and plan to watch it numerous times. There’s so much to absorb, you will surely see something different each time you watch it.

Remember we asked you if you wanted to be a “painterly” painter at the beginning of this letter? Surely, if you are still reading, the answer was yes. And by now you know you need some direction to get there.

That’s good! Knowing where you are and where you want to be means you have a plan for achieving what you want. We should all be so focused.

We can assure you that this video is the best we’ve seen on the subject of being “painterly.” Learning to edit your subject matter, knowing what to include and what to eliminate, being aware of design elements even at the expense of the subject matter — those are advanced lessons indeed. And where will you get those kinds of lessons, if not in a video like this? Honestly, you will not go to your local art center and find a teacher of the caliber of Huihan Liu. That is something special, indeed.

We also want to make it VERY easy for you to get this material to use in your own home. Maybe you will invite some friends to watch the video with you and paint together. Discussing the material in this video and working alongside a painting companion can increase your joy and learning tremendously! 

So you are rather at a crossroads here. Are you going to take this opportunity to invest in yourself? Make your dream of being a “painterly” painter come true? Or will you do another 20 or 50 paintings, just hoping for the best? We hope you choose the former and begin to make progress immediately.

But we still have one more thing to tell you before we close here…

Please take a moment to order your personal copy of Expressive Figure Painting right now, while you are thinking about it. You won’t be disappointed. And if anything at all comes up that you are unhappy with, contact us at 877-867-0324 and we’ll take care of it right away.

Meanwhile, send us your thoughts, suggestions, feedback, and photos of your painting progress. We would love to see them and know how we can best help you. You can reach us by clicking here.

Until next time,

PS: Let us leave you with a thought from an article called “In Praise of Painterly Painters” by the late, influential artist Charles Movalli. He commented, “In more finished pictures, there exists a one-to-one relationship between effort and effect. Dutch painters made grasshoppers look like grasshoppers, and you saw the veins in the legs because the artist painted them. But when the legs aren’t painted and you still sense the veins, curiosity and interest are added to simple admiration. Then industry gives way to the magic of art.” That is what we wish for you, dear friend.