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A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint→
A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint Know the pace of the medium Acrylic paint is valued for its flexibility and its relatively quick…
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Briefing
Recent Articles
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How to Store and Protect Art Supplies Between Sessions
How to Store and Protect Art Supplies Between Sessions Create simple storage zones Remove paint from brushes and palette knives using methods appropriate to the medium. Reshape brush heads and allow tools to dry as needed. Do not close damp tools in airtight containers unless their instructions specifically allow it. Routine cleaning helps…
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Mixing
How to Choose Watercolor Paints for Your Practice
How to Choose Watercolor Paints for Your Practice Start with the way you paint Watercolor is transparent by nature of how it is commonly used: light passes through…
Read Article›A Beginner’s Guide to Oil Painting Supplies
A Beginner’s Guide to Oil Painting Supplies Plan a simple working setup A modest group of colors can teach you a great deal about mixing. This reduces waste and leaves room for mixtures. Rather than squeezing out every color at once, place small amounts on the palette and…
A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint›
A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint Know the pace of the medium Acrylic paint is valued for its flexibility and its relatively quick drying time. Work in planned sections, mix only what you need, and keep the palette organized so that…
Read the Full PostBrushes
How to Choose Watercolor Brushes by Shape and Purpose↗
Selecting Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Painting Begin with the painting surface The surface and the way you apply paint influence which brush feels right. Consider the scale of the work too: large areas are easier to cover with broader tools, while small forms need greater control.…
Organization
How to Organize Brushes and Keep Them Ready to Use
How to Organize Brushes and Keep Them Ready to Use Organize around workflow A brush holder is most useful when it supports the way you paint. Grouping by…
Read ArticleMixing
Using Palette Knives for Mixing and Expressive Marks
Using Palette Knives for Mixing and Expressive Marks Understand the two main roles A palette knife can mix paint on a palette and, when suitable for the medium and surface, apply paint directly to a painting. Mixing is usually about combining colors evenly and managing consistency;…
Open ArticleHow to Choose Paper for Drawing and Painting
How to Choose Paper for Drawing and Painting Match paper to the medium Paper affects how marks appear and how a work develops. Before choosing a sheet, consider the materials you intend to use, the amount…
Building a Practical Drawing and Illustration Kit
Building a Practical Drawing and Illustration Kit Start with the work you want to make A basic kit may combine a primary drawing tool, an eraser suited to your approach, paper, and a way to keep tools organized.…
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Setup
How to Choose an Easel for Your Workspace
How to Choose an Easel for Your Workspace Think about where you work An easel lets you step back and see the whole image, which can reveal proportion and balance problems that are less obvious at…
Open Article→Canvas or Painting Panel: How to Choose a Surface
Canvas or Painting Panel: How to Choose a Surface Decide how you want the surface to respond The size of the work affects how easy it is to store, carry, and display. A small rigid panel can be convenient for…
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A Better Way to Mix Colors on an Artist’s Palette
A Better Way to Mix Colors on an Artist’s Palette Arrange colors for a clear workflow Before combining paints, decide what the mixture needs to do: match a reference, create a shadow, soften a bright hue, or connect two areas of a painting. Add small amounts gradually and…
Porcelain or Plastic Palette: What Should You Consider?
Porcelain or Plastic Palette: What Should You Consider? Compare the way each surface feels If you paint in different locations, the weight and shape of a palette may matter as much as its mixing area. A…
How to Set Up a Folding Palette for Painting Away from Home→
How to Set Up a Folding Palette for Painting Away from Home Plan a compact color selection A folding palette is most useful when its contents are planned for the session. A smaller selection is easier to monitor and leaves room for practical mixtures. For an unfamiliar subject,…
View Full Article↗Organization
Organizing a Watercolor Tin for Efficient Painting
Organizing a Watercolor Tin for Efficient Painting Build a palette around subjects A compact watercolor tin works best when the selected colors fit the subjects you paint. A familiar limited palette can be more versatile than a crowded selection. Landscapes may call for a different balance from portraits or urban sketches, but…
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Mixing
When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting
When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting Understand the purpose A disposable paper palette can provide a temporary surface for mixing paint and may simplify cleanup when used with compatible materials. Check the product guidance and consider whether the surface holds the paint in a way that allows…
Read the Full Post17Supplies
Building a Compact Art Kit for Sketching and Painting
Building a Compact Art Kit for Sketching and Painting Choose a purpose before packing A portable kit should support a specific kind of session. Decide what you want to make, then select the tools required for that activity. Packing for every possible situation can make the kit heavy and harder to…
Choosing a Brush Holder for a Small Art Space
Choosing a Brush Holder for a Small Art Space Measure the space first A useful system is one you can reset in less than a minute. Organization should support painting, not become another project. If brushes frequently end up in the wrong place, reduce the number of categories…
Practicing Smooth Watercolor Washes with the Right Tools
Practicing Smooth Watercolor Washes with the Right Tools Prepare a small practice sheet Try the same wash with different brush shapes or paper surfaces, changing one variable at a time. The goal is not to find one perfect setup but to understand the options available. Note…
Mixing
Planning Layers in an Acrylic Painting
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Managing Color Mixing in Oil Painting
Managing Color Mixing in Oil Painting Set up the palette clearly When a mixture seems wrong, identify the kind of difference you see. Is it too light, too dark, too vivid, or too warm…
Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration
Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration List the materials in your process Fine linework often benefits from a surface that allows the tool to move predictably, while textured paper can add character…
A Simple Palette-Cleaning Routine for Artists
A Simple Palette-Cleaning Routine for Artists Identify the paint and palette type Cleaning should begin with the materials involved. Read the relevant care instructions and avoid assuming that a cleaner suitable for one material will be safe for another. Water-based paints, oil…