Why Raphael’s Art Style Still Inspires My Paintings Today

Today, I want to talk about one of my absolute favorite painters — Raphael.

Now, a lot of people instantly think of Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo when we talk about the Renaissance, but for me… Raphael just hits differently.

His colors, his composition, and that almost magical sense of balance — they’ve completely changed the way I approach my own paintings.

Raphael, born Raffaello Sanzio in 1483, was one of the great masters of the High Renaissance.He’s known for creating harmony in his paintings — everything feels calm, graceful, and beautifully composed.Where Leonardo was scientific and Michelangelo was dramatic, Raphael brought a sense of peace and clarity.

His figures seem alive, but never chaotic. It’s like he found the perfect balance between realism and ideal beauty.

What I love most about Raphael’s art is his use of color.He had this incredible understanding of how hues interact — soft blues, warm reds, and golden tones that just glow.

There’s this technique I’ve started using myself: applying a blue background before layering red over it.It’s something Raphael did to make his reds richer and more luminous.Honestly, every time I try it, I’m blown away by how it transforms the entire painting. It feels like magic.

And the crazy thing is — Raphael did this centuries ago, with so few materials compared to what we have today.He truly was a genius who understood color on a level that still feels modern.

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