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 Choosing watercolor paint is easier when you begin with your habits rather than a…

Selecting Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Painting Begin with the painting surface Flat brushes are useful for broad strokes, blocky shapes, and defined edges. Round brushes can create lines and smaller marks. Filbert brushes have a rounded edge that can soften transitions. These are tendencies rather than…

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…

•Using Palette Knives for Mixing and Expressive Marks

Using Palette Knives for Mixing and Expressive Marks Understand the two main roles Remove paint before it hardens and follow the relevant cleaning instructions for your medium. Handle the edge carefully, keep the knife away from the edge of the table, and store it where it…

How to Choose Paper for Drawing and Painting

How to Choose Paper for Drawing and Painting Match paper to the medium Keep unused sheets flat, clean, and away from excessive moisture and direct sunlight. Handle paper with clean hands when a pristine surface matters.…

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 Before beginning, place the easel on a stable floor and check that its moving parts are secured. These habits matter especially when stepping…

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. A flexible surface may move slightly under pressure, while a rigid support can feel more…

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 When you find a color that works, record the paints used and the approximate proportions in a sketchbook. A small set of tested mixtures can make a longer painting session more consistent.…

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. Observe whether the paint beads, spreads, stains, or cleans up in…

How to Set Up a Folding Palette for Painting Away from Home Plan a compact color selection Use the palette's compartments or open areas consistently. Keep unmixed paint separate from mixtures, and avoid dipping a brush loaded with one color into a clean well. A simple arrangement makes…

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. Choose colors you know how to mix and leave room to understand their relationships. A familiar limited palette can be more versatile than a crowded…

When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting

When Paper Palettes Are Useful for Painting Understand the purpose Before starting, arrange colors along an edge or in a consistent sequence, leaving open space for mixtures. If you work with many mixtures, use a fresh area rather than repeatedly scraping through old paint. This helps prevent the…

Choosing a Brush Holder for a Small Art Space

Choosing a Brush Holder for a Small Art Space Measure the space first Open holders make it easy to identify tools quickly, while compartments can separate brushes by size or purpose. The brush heads should not be pressed against one another or against a lid. If a holder…

Managing Color Mixing in Oil Painting↗

Managing Color Mixing in Oil Painting Set up the palette clearly Follow the paint and medium instructions, keep the workspace ventilated as appropriate, and keep materials away from food and drink. A consistent routine…

•Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration

Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration List the materials in your process Compare test samples side by side and choose the surface that best supports the intended result. The aim is not…