If painting from photographs or sketching from life just isn't working out, there's another option to consider - why not make a sculptural reference out of clay and create a little scene, or diorama, to paint from?. . . read more
The following article was written by David Patterson: I had such a fantastic time at Desmond O'Hagan's three day workshop in June of 2007, that I thought I'd write down a short review of the event. Desmond paints in both soft pastels and oils, so his techniques work in either medium.. . . read more
The following paragraphs explain my three-step process for adding unbelievable texture to any acrylic painting with acrylic heavy gel and acrylic modeling paste. There's only one secret—the texture comes first. . . . read more
If you've never painted outdoors before (or "en plein air” as the Impressionists would say) it's a wonderful complement to any artist's indoor studio work. I personally use plein air sketches and studies to develop larger paintings in my studio. . .. . . read more
New to oil painting? Here's a complete list of oil painting supplies for the beginning oil painter. And even if you've been painting for a while, this art supply list still might be helpful.. . . read more
What is impasto? Impasto is an art term used to describe thickly textured paint that is almost three-dimensional in appearance. Painters use this technique to leave visible brush strokes in their finished paintings, giving a sculptural quality to a flat work of art.. . . read more
Chiaroscuro is an art term that’s used quite frequently in art circles, but sometimes without an understanding of exactly what it means. This article covers the more important aspects of Chiaroscuro, primarily as it relates to painting.. . . read more
Stretching canvas isn't that hard, but if you're just starting out, here's a step by step tutorial on how to stretch your own canvas. All you'll need is unprimed cotton duck (raw canvas), a staple gun, and some scissors to make your own stretched canvas.. . . read more
This step-by-step tutorial explains exactly how to prime a canvas, including the correct mixture of acrylic Gesso and water. Priming canvases isn't difficult - all you really need is Gesso and a brush.. . . read more
Linseed stand oil and turpentine (or odorless mineral spirits) are the ingredients to a painting medium for mixing oils. Learn how to mix your own oil painting medium with this simple tutorial. Improve paint flow, blending ability, and drying consistency. . . . read more
The differences between organic and inorganic oil paints is something most artists probably don't know enough about. I only found out myself less than five or six years ago, but once I did it completely changed my palette and lowered my frustration level in achieving the effects I was trying. . . read more
When I first started painting there was one thing I really hated about it—scraping old paint off of my palette. But luckily that's all in the past, and these days cleaning up is a breeze. My secret? I ditched the palette. Continue reading. . . . . . read more
If you're an oil painter then you know that mixing neutral colors like brown or black can be just as tricky as any other color. In this tutorial, I'll show you exactly how to mix the blacks and browns that every painting needs.. . . read more
There are a LOT of oil painting brushes available to choose from - big, small, square, angled, and everything in between. All of it adds up to a wide array of options that leads new artists (or artists just getting into oil painting) to ask: "Which brushes should I buy?" Well here's my. . . read more