In my previous article I shared several important tips for safely carving gourds. With those tips in mind, let’s get started on a gourd or two! You may even find that you already have everything you need to get the job done. . . read more
The most important part of a drawing is the start, not the finish. This tutorial will focus on how to start a portrait drawing, using basic blocking-in techniques.. . . read more
Using rocks and sea glass in jewelry is very popular with jewelry-makers these days as an inexpensive, easy way to add interest and color to your work. Unless you plan on wire-wrapping the pieces, however, you first will need to drill a hole in each of your rocks.. . . read more
Have you ever painted with coffee? Believe it or not, it’s a wonderful medium for monochromatic artwork, with a wide range of rich brown hues. You can even use both instant and regular coffee to paint with.. . . read more
Pyrography is an artform that doesn't require expensive tools - you can burn with an inexpensive woodburning tool just as well as you can with a professional burning system. Here are a few options. . . read more
The techniques I use to produce my drawings range from the traditional handling of the pencil, to a glazing technique using powdered graphite to enhance darks. Here are a few of my methods. . . read more
Gourds are incredible natural canvases for art, but they have to be cured and cleaned before you can paint, carve, or decorate them. When working with gourds, there are a few pieces of safety equipment you should use to keep yourself and those around you healthy.. . . read more
When painting a landscape, it is essential that you are able to illustrate a visual "sense" of depth, through your brushstrokes, colors, and composition. We all know that this is important, but how exactly do you create a painting that does not appear flat and devoid of distance?. . . read more
There are billions of possible colors in our world, all with different textures, intensities, temperatures, and variations. Choosing how to mix a particular hue is one of the things that defines your style, and determines how your paintings will look. . . read more
With watercolors, it’s not always easy to achieve pure, intense colors and a full range of values. Worse yet, when you scan a watercolor painting for reproduction, you're likely to lose even more of the color and contrast.. . . read more