Amazing Artists to Learn From

Jed Dorsey • October 30, 2021

The other day I got asked which artists have influenced my work. I compiled a list of artists that influenced me and included links to their website. They're all incredible artists and there's a lot you could learn from them. 



Mike Svob

mike svob painting of mountain with a  river

If you've been painting for any length of time, you've probably heard of Mike Svob the world renowned Canadian Artist. He's the first person who got me painting again from the time I was a kid. I took workshops from Mike Svob, Rober Genn and others.


 Mike Svob


Ovanes Berberian

ovanes berberian acrylic painting of trees in a golden hour

Ovanes is a Ukranian artist based out of Idaho. My dad and I took a workshop with Ovanes. He influenced me a ton - even though I only took one workshop, the things that he said made a big difference.


Ovanes Berberian - New Masters Gallery


John Michael Carter

john michael carter acrylic painting of a girl sitting on an ancient bench

Another artist I've taken a workshop from. All the artists I've learned under have left some sort of mark on my work. 


John Michael Carter Fine Art


Carolyn Anderson

carolyn anderson acrylic painting of a bearded man

I took a portrait workshop from her - it was the most challenging workshop I've ever done.


Carolyn Anderson Fine Art


John Poon

john poon acrylic painting of a mountain range

One of the best teachers I've studied under in terms of John's style of teaching. The way he taught and cares about his students is phenomenal. He brings his teaching to bear on whatever they're working on.


John Poon


Wyatt LeGrand

wyatt legrand acrylic painting of a snowy junkyard

Wyatt LeGrand was one of the last artists I took a workshop from. 


Home (legrandartstudio.com)


Richard Schmid

richard schmid acrylic painting of a house inside a forest

I'd say that Richard Schmid influenced more contemporary / landscape painters than anyone else that I'm aware of. He had a wide reach and taught a bunch of very well known artists. I have one of his books, he reminds me of Robert Genn. Richard made books and DVDs long before other artists started making DVDs. Richard is a great writer and his books are very insightful. If you're going to read one of his books, make sure to order it directly from his website, not Amazon.


Richard Schmid Official Site


Robert Genn

robert genn acrylic painting of rocky seaside

Similarly to Richard Schmid, Robert Genn is another artist who had a very wide reach. I studied under Robert Genn for a time. His work has a worldwide reach for sure. He has a newsletter that goes out all over the world. 


ROBERT GENN



All these artists have influenced me in significant and quite different ways and there's an immeasurable volume of things to be learned from them. 

An ad for a free course on acrylic painting for total beginners
By Jed Dorsey February 8, 2025
Essential Tools for Acrylic Painters Acrylic painting is one of the most versatile and accessible forms of painting. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, having the right tools can make all the difference in your creative process. In this post, we'll go over the essential supplies every acrylic painter should have if you're a TOTAL beginner. Even if you're used to Acrylic Painting, you'll learn a lot from this! There's a lot of unhelpful information out there that makes it seem like it's more difficult to figure out than it actually is. There's only a few supplies you need and you're all set to master Acrylic paints 1. Acrylic Paints Student vs. Artist Grade Paints There are two main types of acrylic paints: student grade and artist grade . Student-grade paints are more affordable and work well for beginners, but they contain less pigment and more filler, which can result in weaker colors. Artist-grade paints have a higher concentration of pigment, providing richer, more vibrant colors and better mixing capabilities.
By Jed Dorsey January 20, 2025
Acrylic University reviews Reddit and more reviews from real members
By Jed Dorsey January 20, 2025
Use design and composition to improve a painting!
More Posts
Share by: