I do a lot of blending in my art, and after going through quite a few tortillons over the years, I decided to make my own. Luckily, tortillons are fairly easy to make. Here's my process:. . . 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
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
Almost all colored pencil instructional books cover topics like varying pressure, burnishing, blending, edging and lifting. These techniques are great - but drawing super-realistic colored pencil artwork will take a different skill.. . . read more
Today’s post contains quite a few resources for anyone interested in learning to draw at a college level without paying an expensive tuition. It’s also the second post in my series on getting an art education for free.. . . read more
How much do you think about the rules of linear perspective when you draw or paint? Just establishing a horizon line and setting up orthagonals can be such a chore that many artists find it too stifling to deal with.. . . read more
The Japanese concept of "notan" is a compositional strategy based around seeing shapes of light and dark. A good notan drawing will simplify the full range of a subject’s values into a powerful black and white design.. . . read more
No matter what anyone may tell you, drawing is a very learnable skill, no different than reading, writing, or riding a bike. Today's article explains the most basic drawing skill that EVERY artist needs to learn. All you’ll need for this tutorial are some pieces of paper and a pencil. . . read more
Learn to draw and sketch with these easy drawing tips. Read step-by-step instructions (with pictures) explaining how to draw what you see. If you want to be able to draw realistically, these 12 drawing techniques will help improve your drawing skills.. . . read more
How do you make a great composition? First, by realizing that the best compositions don't just happen by accident - then study these 9 tips for better compositions. I guarantee that these compositional tips can (and will) help you improve your art.. . . read more