Painting Methods, Tutorials, and History

Learn how making thumbnail sketches and using them as value studies helps you create winning painting compositions. How to sketch the value and tone relationships, create an interesting composition by testing out value and tone of your masses. Tips to plan a good painting.

Painting rocks to look like ladybugs is a fast and easy project for children and beginners alike. This is a great project to do on a rainy day with materials you probably already have laying around your home.

If you are used to painting in the studio, the first few paintings you do outdoors are going to be very challenging. However, painting en plein air can be a great experience and teach you a lot. Here are 11 tips that can help you make outdoors painting a little easier and more successful.

If you’d like to learn how to paint with oils, this three-part series will show you what supplies you'll need, how to prepare a canvas, choose a subject, and get started on your first oil painting.

A list of alcohol ink painting supplies including inks, surfaces, and other materials used for creating colorful art with this unique medium.

The rule of thirds helps artists and photographers to plan a winning composition. Use it as a guide to composing pictures that looks balanced and interesting. Keep the rule of third as guidance, but integrate more structural elements to make the scene visually pleasing.

Painting is a wonderful activity that promotes well-being and peace of mind. With a few supplies, you too can release your creativity and benefit from this amazing process.

Learn the acrylic ink pouring technique in this tutorial for beginners. Find out what supplies are used, learn the basic steps of pouring ink, and some helpful tips for creating beautiful paintings.

Abstract Wheels created with three primary color Sennelier oil pastels and one black Caran d'Ache Neopastel for the strong black lines. If you're looking for a fine art medium that is clean, portable, lightfast and powerful, consider oil pastels. ...

Opacity sounds like a good quality for paint to have, right? Maybe. Discover the differences between opaque watercolors and transparent watercolors to see which is best for your paintings!

From the inadvertent discovery in a lab beaker to coating Ferrari’s, this pigment has a story as rich as it’s red hue.

Would you love to paint on canvas, but feel you have "little...to no" artistic talent? The tutorials found here will give you the needed confidence to try.

Some common mistakes quickly ruin paint brushes. How you clean and store paint brushes determines their life span and how they stay in shape. Great tips for beginner artists.

Still life painting challenges: setting up a successful composition, lighting it, sketching it, and getting ready to paint or draw it.

People have asked me if watercolor was hard. I had heard that too and avoided watercolor for a long time in favor of oils; I was afraid it would be too hard to tackle. My fears were unfounded.

If you are tempted by boxes of miniatures and figures at your local hobby shop, or keep seeing cool figures online, and don't know how to even begin painting figures, discover what supplies you need to get started in the hobby.

Having problems mixing colors when you paint? Understanding color theory will simplify color mixing for you. We start with the basics and move to the more complex including some video demonstrations.

As it’s coming up to Mother’s Day, I thought I’d celebrate by compiling a hub about Mothers in Art. Initially, I thought of blue gowned Renaissance madonnas, or chubby Renoir babies balancing on the knees of fresh cheeked country girls.......

Varnishing step-by-step. Your acrylic painting is complete. As a final step, apply the best varnishing techniques to protect your artwork, and getting it ready to hang or to be sold. Learn how to brush on or spray the varnish, and how to remove it.

Create a pencil drawing sketch and a digital color study for an acrylic landscape painting! I've included step-by-step instructions and a time-lapse video to help you visualize what you need to do.

One of the most recognizable subjects in Japanese art are the giant waves that lap its shores. These waves have been famously depicted in Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa", which is widely regarded to be the most famous ukiyo-e print of all."Japanese Wave Paintings" explores this and other works of Japanese art that depict these gigantic waves, as well as their meanings and history.

An example of how to paint an abstract painting using acrylic paint, masking tape, and bubble wrap on canvas.

I explain what artist trading cards are and share my technique for creating them.

10 great tips to paint gorgeous skies and clouds. Both sky and clouds have some of the softest edges you can find in nature. Learn to notice things like atmospheric and linear perspective, and how sky colors are less intense in the distance and more intense in the clouds closer to us.

Acrylic painting tips for beginner artists. Learn the seven supplies you need to paint with acrylics, how to get started, how to plan your painting composition, and how to proceed in the painting process.

Excellent advice for beginner artists. The tips included in this guide will provide you with information on the 10 main things you need to learn and practice to continually improve your painting skills.

Tips and tools for creating art with watercolor. Real works of art are discussed and examined. Artists and creators need encouragement and inspiration to continue to create successfully.

An art lesson on how to draw and paint American flags and easy fireworks for the 4th of July. Step by step instructions on using oil pastels, watercolor and acrylic paint to create one-of-kind-art.

Landscape paintings - or 'shan shui' ("Mountain and water") paintings - have been a part of Chinese art for many thousands of years. They have deep spiritual and political meanings and are an expression of the artist's inner soul. "Chinese Landscape Paintings" takes a look at Chinese landscape paintings throughout the centuries, the basic components of a shan shui painting, and landscape paintings in modern-day Chinese art.

How to improve your landscape paintings. A list of eight practical and helpful tips to help you improve your artwork.

Can you happily create representational paintings but despair at the thought of attempting something that isn't supposed to BE anything? If so, then you are not alone, help is at hand.

How to paint areas where sky and tree meet, making them look natural and believable. Learn how foliage and thin branches change the color of the sky. How to make sky holes believable carefully varying placement, shapes, color, value and temperature.

Learn the 12 things you need to plan before starting a painting. What to paint? How? With what techniques and styles? Learn how to take the most important decisions before and during the painting process.

Columbine, 4" x 6" watercolor on cold press watercolor paper by Robert A. Sloan. The finished painting for this step by step demonstration. This step by step demonstration can be done using my colors and choice of flower, or you can use the...

In this beginner’s guide to oil painting step-by-step tutorial, you'll learn how to turn a blank canvas into a finished oil painting.

Why is it better to paint on toned canvas? What color should you tone your canvas with? Starting a painting on a colored ground speeds up the painting process and helps to create tonal harmony within the finished piece.

Basic oil painting supply list. The 8 things artists need to start painting with oils. The answers to the common questions of all beginner painters. Gift ideas for oil painters.

Fine Art Tips. What makes a painting good? Learn what elements to include in your paintings. Focus on technique and technical aspects, personal and emotional involvement, and novelty.

Learn acrylic pour painting tips about the process, things to avoid, and ways to improve your skills so you can accelerate the path from beginner to experienced pour painter.

Need to paint a dark background in watercolor? Need help in achieving depth or luminosity in your painting? This tutorial is my step-by-step process for creating both dark and luminous backgrounds.

Connie Hayes’s paintings are often recognizable for her vibrant use of color and her loose painting style. Well-known as a painter of Maine landscapes, she uses color and composition to create unique views of small towns and unseen places in Maine. Her paintings beautifully depict the quiet moments of daily life.

Make your watercolours more interesting by adding texture with these simple tips and techniques.

Self portrait, Winsor & Newton Artists' Field Box watercolors in 5" x 8 1/2" Moleskine watercolor journal. Copyright Robert A. Sloan, October 2007, all rights reserved. In the watercolor self portrait I started my Moleskine watercolor journal with,...

Do you want to create a beautiful acrylic landscape painting on a toned canvas? I've laid out step-by-step instructions for the painting process and included a time-lapse video of the sketching that you can reference.

Lines and shapes are essential elements of painting. How you use them in art strongly affects the composition and overall feeling of the painting.

In this article, I discuss five cleaning fluids to removed dried acrylic paint from surfaces. I discuss the properties of each cleaner and any hazards involved.

Do you want to try watercolor painting? Take these baby steps and soon, you'll be creating your own masterpieces. I've provided a list of materials that you'll need and tips on how to use them.

If you enjoy painting but just aren't inspired, check out these painting ideas. Lots of photographs are included!

The Bob Ross Joy of Painting series is a tutorial for beginning oil painters and a very good one.

Learn how to paint a seagull with acrylic paints! I've created a detailed step-by-step tutorial with photos and a video that shows how to create a painting of a seagull standing on a beach. You'll also learn some general tips and techniques for painting with acrylics.

A step-by-step overview of the different stages and decision making involved in a landscape acrylic painting, with an example featuring a cow in an Alpine pasture.

Learn how to do a flip cup painting in this step-by-step tutorial with photos of this fun and creative acrylic pouring technique.

Most beginners make the same mistakes, and for some reason they can be picked up also by the non-artist. Here is a list of the most common habits to avoid, so that artwork is not seen as mediocre. From failing to simplify, to being stingy with paint, see what jumps out to the viewer as amateurish.

Painting from photos vs. from life. What are the differences and the challenges? Learn the 9 things artists should be aware of when painting from photos, plus 9 tips and solutions to maximize the use of photo references and make great paintings.

Learn the process of completing a still-life oil painting in one session. Watch the video that shows the painting process and delves into how I chose the colors of my limited tetrad palette. Alla prima is a direct painting technique, also known as wet-on-wet.

Before you can paint on raw canvas, the fabric should be primed. How do you prep a canvas for acrylic or oil paint? Step-by-step instructions on how to prime a canvas with acrylic gesso.

What kind of presents can you get for an artist that paints with acrylics? A list of tools and supplies that would make great gifts for any painter.

Learn the nine steps to painting trees, starting with the most important feature of the tree, its contour, and ending with the details. Robie Benve shares her nine secrets to painting trees that are believable and that present character and dimension.

I will cover some novel methods to prepare a matte paint finish with gloss paints without having to buy separate matte medium or matte paints.

Step by Step instructions on how a professional artist created an abstract acrylic painting using texture and various paint techniques.

A guide for fine art painters on how to choose and use paint brushes, the best artist's working tools. To achieve the desired painting effects you must choose the right brush for the job.

Value measures the lightness and darkness in visual art, like drawing, painting, and photography. Learn how value is the key to a successful painting, not color. How to understand and see values in art.

Water-Soluble-Oils have come to the rescue of people who love to paint with oils but are allergic to many of the components of traditional oil painting. Here's some help to make the transition easier.

Learn how to create an acrylic pour painting on a budget using craft acrylic paints, glue, and a few other inexpensive supplies from a dollar or craft supply store.

Learn how to prepare acrylic paints with a muller and glass slab. The method discussed in this article will minimize the clean up while expediting the dispersion of pigments into the acrylic medium.

Here is a complete list of acrylic pour painting supplies for anyone who’d like to try pour painting. You’ll also learn about each of these supplies, how they'll be used in your painting, and where to buy them.

This article will explain my approach to painting images of vintage cars. It will follow my process step by step to help artists create beautiful watercolor images of some of history's greatest cars.

Detailed explanation of the mother color painting technique, a great way to create color harmony. Learn about how to pick the mother color and how to mix paint harmoniously, unifying the color scheme.

Paint a rock cat, step-by-step - detailed description and over 30 photos.

Acrylic painting for beginners: all you need to get started. Great info about art supplies and materials needed to start painting with acrylics for beginners. Tips on what paint, brushes, canvas, and easel they should buy.

A guide on how to paint simple pet portraits for beginners.

How do you represent distance and depth in art? Learn aerial perspective and tips on how to render the illusion of recession in painting.

The way elements are arranged in the picture acts as the armature and supporting structure of a painting. To make a piece successful and interesting for the viewer, plan a composition with a strong value structure. Squinting helps. Seeing simplified shapes, it’s easier to “see” the composition.

This article gives information on how to avoid having watercolor paper warp and buckle when creating a watercolor painting. Several methods and materials are discussed.

The appearance of a painting is influenced by the effect of light and atmosphere, the arrangement of darks and lights, and the harmony and balance of color. Light influences all of these factors.

Roy Lichtenstein is best known for his work as a Pop artist, but his work goes deeper and makes a statement about art, culture, and what would soon become of both.

How to clean up acrylic paint from brushes, painting palettes, or clothes whether they are still wet or after they are dry.

Many brushstroke techniques can be used for fine art painting, including crosshatching, hatching, dry brush, flat wash, scumbling, stippling, etc. Learn the different brushstrokes and become a more successful painter.

This article covers traditional, historical, and relatively new and innovative yellow inorganic pigments, as well as their properties.

If you'd like to learn how to do a pour painting, this tutorial for beginners will teach you what supplies you’ll need, how to prepare a canvas, mix paints, and the steps to create your very own painting.

Painting tips for beginners. A guide to acrylic paint techniques you can use to get creative effects: splattering, pouring, masking, collage, and more.

Learn how to add color to clear lacquers with pigments and dyes to create fast-drying custom paints and toners!

Making and stretching your own canvas doesn't have to be difficult. It's actually an art in itself. Learn how in this hub.

Learn how to prepare the canvas, choose a subject, and transfer a sketch from a drawing pad to your canvas.

Acrylic paints provide the opportunity to experiment both watercolor and oil painting techniques. A review of the most popular acrylic painting techniques.

Oil painting tools and materials for beginners. Which are the best oil painting materials and tools to buy for a new artist? How do you choose the best art supplies? How do you avoid buying art materials that you don't need? This guide will help you get started with oil painting - economically.

This covers the methods of making unique metallic and pearlescent coatings with mica pigments. A few mixing techniques will be discussed.

I’m presented with the “beauty” issue all the time. What galleries want and don’t want to hang; what people want and don’t want to decorate around; what is and isn’t beautiful. So what is beauty?

How to mix brown using a limited palette of primary colors and different colors of paint. Any shade of brown can be obtained from some kind of red, yellow, and blue.

In this article, I discuss the materials and equipment needed to prepare liquid pigment dispersions using a rock tumbler.

In this article, I discuss the wide variety of fillers and extenders used in paint formulation.

I love watercolor. It isn't as hard as everyone says. Armed with just a few simple techniques, you can be turning out some fabulous paintings with impressive skies. Come and see for yourself.

Pros and Cons of Plein air painting. A lot of artists think that painting landscapes on location is the best way to go. Learn about the advantages and challenges of painting outdoors. Would you enjoy it? Plus, tips to help you have an easier and more successful outdoor painting experience.

Here is a list of art supplies beginners need to start drawing, painting, and exploring their creativity. Get tips on how to choose the best materials and find out where to buy them.

For thousands of years, the process of converting tree resin into lacquer to add beauty and longevity to everyday objects has been practiced and perfected by Asian craftsmen.

The color wheel is a great tool that helps artists decide what color scheme they want to use with a geometrical mixing method, taking into consideration the distance between colors on the wheel. Learn how to use it and how the color wheel can help you choose color schemes and mixing colors.

Learn about the materials and processes that are used to make a solvent-based, quick-drying acrylic paint primer.

Learn about rock painting and ladybug rock art. How to paint ladybugs and ladybirds on rocks, and other ladybug rock painting ideas and tips for painted rocks. I show you how to paint rocks to look like ladybugs. These sell very well at my craft shows.

Being in control of color temperature is crucial in painting, especially when creating a mood, the illusion of depth, and form. Learn how to manipulate and change the temperature in color mixing.

Learn to make colorful bookmarks using simple watercolor techniques and materials! A fun project for artists of all ages, making bookmarks is a great way to enhance your enjoyment of reading!