Sadie's Blog

My new brush set from Rosemary & Co Brushes has some variations from my original brush set as my painting technique has evolved, mostly...

See the process I used for creating this master copy of Rubens' portrait of his wife, Isabella Brandt in the video and progress shots...

Painting in monochrome is a great way to ease back into painting after a break from regular studio practice. After trying different...

Recently I painted my husband's portrait using the same technique and pigments I used to copy a head study by Van Dyke. Purchase this...

I've been painting a series of master copies of Baroque portraits, and I wanted to emulate the double-toned ground seen in Van Dyck's...

Van Dyck painted a series of these portrait sketches in preparation for a major portrait commission which included the members of the...

Continuing my interest in Baroque portraiture, I made a study of Van Dyck's Portrait of Margareta de Vos, c. 1620 Working on a...

Most alla prima (single-session) painting done today is inspired by Sargent and the Impressionists. But the fluidity, efficiency and ease...

Earlier this year I worked on a series of floral studies in oil. I wanted to approach the complex and ever-changing subject of flowers...

I recently finished a commission, the largest still life I've painted to date. "Atlantis" 24 x 42 inches, Oil on linen, by Sadie Valeri...

Sketch by Sadie Valeri after William-Adolphe Bouguereau My study was painted in 3 sessions, for a total of about 12 hours (I believe...

I've recently started making small, quick alla prima (single-session) paintings based on what I learned from copying some Baroque...

My husband Nowell and I were able to attend the opening event for this important exhibition of classical realist artist in Florence on...

This painting is part of my series of still lifes that I call "wax paper paintings." Waxed kitchen paper is a transparent, organic...

UPDATE: June 2022: My Plein Air Online Course: Painting Land and Sea is Now Available Painting outdoors en plein air can be invigorating,...

One question I am often asked is how I use medium when I paint with Indirect method, so a while ago I made a video demonstrating how,...

From 2006 - 2016 Sadie maintained a popular blog, where she shared every aspect of her artistic development.