Painting Beauty: The Ugly Truth Paperback – January 30, 2026

Are you contemplating finally pursuing your dream of becoming a full-time, professional artist? Are you inspired by the beauty around you, confident that there is still a place for contemporary, naturalistic painting in our modern world? Think again…this path is not for the faint of heart.Featuring 38 illustrations of Larson’s own paintings, the book offers readers a visual survey of the artist’s work alongside his candid reflections on the profession of painting.Jeffrey T. Larson has been a professional fine artist for more than forty years. He trained in the early eighties at the Atelier Lack, one of the last studio ateliers in the world still passing on the lessons of the old masters. He has seen many talented young artists start down this path only to see most of them fail or quit in the end.Successfully pursuing this career requires more than just talent, for talent is common. It necessitates intense training and specific skill sets based upon the standards that have been jettisoned by most of the current art establishment. It requires grit, discipline and hard work. You need to be prepared to enter this field with your eyes wide open, understanding what is necessary and where the pitfalls lie.There are no shortcuts to excellence.Think carefully before choosing the path of becoming a professional artist because you want to, but only if you know in your heart that you have to. If this is you, then this book can serve as a roadmap to help you beat the odds and not only survive but thrive in the pursuit of your dreams. Read more