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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 Start with a small selection that can produce a broad range…
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Highlights
From the Archive
Use this section when you want to compare several headlines first.
How to Store and Protect Art Supplies Between Sessions
How to Store and Protect Art Supplies Between Sessions Create simple storage zones Different paints and tools have different storage needs. Do not assume that one storage method suits every medium. Keep supplies away from direct heat and out of reach of children and pets. Close containers securely, follow the label instructions, and…
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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 A practical starting palette includes a warm and a cool option in the main…
Read the Full Post›A Beginner’s Guide to Oil Painting Supplies
A Beginner’s Guide to Oil Painting Supplies Plan a simple working setup Brush shape influences the edge, texture, and direction of a stroke. The right choice depends on the mark you want, not a universal ranking. Flat shapes can make broad marks and defined edges; round shapes can…
A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint›
A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint Know the pace of the medium Start with a small selection that can produce a broad range of mixtures. If a mixture looks different after drying, record that difference; wet paint can look unlike the…
View Full ArticleBrushes
How to Choose Watercolor Brushes by Shape and Purpose↗
Selecting Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Painting Begin with the painting surface Some painters reserve particular brushes for broad coverage, detail, blending, or specific colors. If you use the same brush for several purposes, clean it thoroughly when changing paint type or when residue would affect the…
Organization
How to Organize Brushes and Keep Them Ready to Use
How to Organize Brushes and Keep Them Ready to Use Organize around workflow Before leaving the studio, return clean, dry brushes to their places and remove residue from…
View Full 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. These activities require different handling. Mixing is usually about combining…
Continue ReadingHow 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 Instead of testing every tool at once, make short exercises: a page of lines, a page of value scales, a page of simple…
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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…
View Full 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. Think about where the work will dry and…
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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 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 If possible, try mixing a few familiar colors on each type. The best palette is the one that supports consistent mixing in…
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 Remove unwanted mixtures and clean the palette according to its material and paint type. Let it dry fully if required before closing it for storage. A quick post-session routine keeps the…
Read the Full Post↗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. Landscapes may call for a different balance from portraits or urban sketches, but there is no universal list. Choose colors you know how to mix…
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Mixing
When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting
When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting Understand the purpose Squeeze out smaller quantities and replenish them when necessary. Keep useful mixtures separate from unwanted residue, and avoid discarding paint simply because the palette looks untidy. At the same time, do not keep paint that has changed in…
View Full Article17Supplies
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. Packing for every possible situation can make the kit heavy and harder to use. Decide what you want to make, then select the tools required for that…
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…
Practicing Smooth Watercolor Washes with the Right Tools
Practicing Smooth Watercolor Washes with the Right Tools Prepare a small practice sheet A wash is a useful way to understand the relationship between brush, paper, paint, and water. Draw a few simple rectangles and label each attempt so you can compare the process rather than…
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 Leave room between the colors you place on the palette and reserve a separate area for mixtures. A consistent arrangement makes it easier…
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…
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…