How to Store and Protect Art Supplies Between Sessions - art supply storage & paper protection

How to Choose Watercolor Paints for Your Practice

How to Choose Watercolor Paints for Your Practice Start with the way you paint Make a small chart with each color shown at full strength and diluted with…

Selecting Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Painting Begin with the painting surface Remove excess paint before cleaning and follow the care guidance for the paint and brush. Avoid forcing bristles into a container or leaving them bent while drying. Reshape the head after washing and store the…

How to Organize Brushes and Keep Them Ready to Use

How to Organize Brushes and Keep Them Ready to Use Organize around workflow Consider the available desk space, the length of your brushes, and whether the holder can…

•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;…

How to Choose Paper for Drawing and Painting

How to Choose Paper for Drawing and Painting Match paper to the medium A smoother surface can make fine lines and small details easier to control. A more textured surface may catch dry media and create…

Building a Practical Drawing and Illustration Kit

Building a Practical Drawing and Illustration Kit Start with the work you want to make A drawing kit should support the kinds of images you actually create. This approach keeps your kit portable and makes each tool easier…

How to Choose an Easel for Your Workspace›

How to Choose an Easel for Your Workspace Think about where you work The right easel depends on whether you paint at a fixed studio station, move between rooms, or work outdoors. An easel that fits…

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 Canvas and rigid panels offer different working experiences. Try both on a small study if you are unsure which response you prefer. Your…

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 A palette becomes easier to use when colors have consistent positions and mixed colors have their own space. The exact arrangement is personal, but keeping it stable helps you recognize colors quickly…

Porcelain or Plastic Palette: What Should You Consider?

Porcelain or Plastic Palette: What Should You Consider? Compare the way each surface feels Palette material can influence how paint spreads, how easy it is to see mixtures, and how the surface feels during cleanup. Actual…

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. Choose colors that can be combined into the range you expect to need, rather than filling every…

Organizing a Watercolor Tin for Efficient Painting›

Organizing a Watercolor Tin for Efficient Painting Build a palette around subjects The same paint can create very different effects depending on water content. Notice how quickly the brush releases water and how the paint behaves on your paper. This makes the small palette feel more predictable and helps prevent accidental blooms…

When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting

When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting Understand the purpose Paint behavior depends on the relationship between the medium and the palette surface. Some paints may spread or absorb differently on paper than on a non-absorbent palette. Test a small amount before relying on the palette for a…

Choosing a Brush Holder for a Small Art Space

Choosing a Brush Holder for a Small Art Space Measure the space first In a compact workspace, a holder should improve access without taking over the desk. A tall holder may make tools easy to see but can be unstable in a crowded area; a low holder may…

Managing Color Mixing in Oil Painting↗

Managing Color Mixing in Oil Painting Set up the palette clearly Leave room between the colors you place on the palette and reserve a separate area for mixtures. Use small amounts at first, especially…

•Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration

Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration List the materials in your process A surface that works well for one drawing tool may not behave the same way with another. Consider the order…