Want to learn to paint online, for free? We've got you covered!

 Our free painting lessons include acrylic painting tutorials, easy watercolor tutorials, and online oil painting classes for beginning painters and up. With over 100 articles available on every painting topic, you'll learn about different kinds of paint, artist brushes, painting styles, canvas preparation and more.


In short, if you have the desire to become a better painter and artist, EmptyEasel can help. Bookmark us, and enjoy!

Check out our free painting tutorials below:

Mixed-media birds by Kellie Day
Hi, I’m Kellie Day, a mixed-media painter, art mentor, and art educator for Golden Paints. It’s important to have quick, easy projects to get you painting...
Chinese Brush painting supplies for painting a chrysanthemum flower
Chrysanthemums are the symbol of the Fall season in Chinese Brush painting. Mums come in a variety of colors from the traditional yellow to orange, red, pink, purple, and white. For this painting we will be using the xieyi or “Freehand” style of painting which focuses on conveying the essence or spirit of a subject rather than an exact likeness. Required Chinese Brush Painting Supplies...
Have you ever lost track of time watching painting tutorials on YouTube? I know I have! And I’ve found some AMAZING painting videos I’d like to share. Today I’m going to list over 50 of the best “how to paint” videos that I’ve watched in the last few weeks. I’ll start with the videos that apply to all painting mediums, and then share several videos...
painting of a nigh sky with stars over silhouetted mountains and lake
Have you ever wanted to paint a night sky, with all its stars and galaxies? Today’s tutorial will show you how! This tutorial tends to be...
Painting supplies for a Chinese Brush Painting lesson, including a brush, and watercolor paint tubes
In my last tutorial we explored painting sunflowers in the Chinese Brush painting style. This time we will be painting Magnolia blossoms on a branch. Required Chinese brush painting supplies For this painting you will need a medium-size mixed-hair brush, often called a “flow” or “combination” brush. The inner part is made from stiff bristles which help the brush retain a nice point. The outer...
3 framed sunflower paintings painted in the Chinese brushpainting style
Sunflowers are very fun to paint in the Chinese Brush painting style. This is a painting style that uses simple brushstrokes to convey the essence of a subject. For today’s project we will be focusing on the xieyi style which means “to write a picture.” There is no pre-drawing of a subject; all painting is done with the brush. The idea is to convey the...
Photo of thick and thin paint layers
Many so-called “rules” of art are more suggestions than rules. It’s helpful to know what they are, but you don’t have to follow them rigorously to make great art. However—when it comes to oil painting, there are three rules that you absolutely, positively MUST understand and follow if you paint in layers, or your work will fail every time. They are: Fat over lean Thick...
Are you trying watercolors for the first time? If so, here are 5 tips to kickstart your watercolor painting experience: 1. Start off light With watercolors you have to paint from light to dark (the reverse is almost impossible). So try to go as light as possible for your initial layers, and plan for your darker layers later. 2. Add multiple layers to increase contrast...
I am a Canadian watercolourist and have been painting landscapes, florals, and buildings with lots of character for over 30 years. I especially enjoy scenes that are sunshiny days with dancing shadows across the landscape or buildings. While watercolour is my preferred medium, I do enjoy trying my hand at various other mediums, like this painting, Guardian of Thornloe, where I used watercolour crayons on...