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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 Because acrylic paint can set quickly, decide which edges should remain…
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Reference
Latest 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. Routine cleaning helps preserve the tools and makes the next session more predictable. Do not close damp…
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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 Choosing watercolor paint is easier when you begin with your habits rather than a…
Continue Reading›A Beginner’s Guide to Oil Painting Supplies
A Beginner’s Guide to Oil Painting Supplies Plan a simple working setup Wipe excess paint from brushes before cleaning them, and follow the instructions for the specific paint and cleaning materials. Good cleanup protects both tools and workspace. Do not pour paint residue or solvents into a drain.…
A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint›
A Practical Guide to Getting Started with Acrylic Paint Know the pace of the medium Because acrylic paint can set quickly, decide which edges should remain sharp and which should blend. Work wet-in-wet when you want a softer transition, or let a layer dry…
Continue ReadingBrushes
How to Choose Watercolor Brushes by Shape and Purpose↗
Selecting Brushes for Oil and Acrylic Painting Begin with the painting surface Flat brushes are useful for broad strokes, blocky shapes, and defined edges. Filbert brushes have a rounded edge that can soften transitions. Test a brush by making several kinds of marks instead of judging it…
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…
Read the Full PostMixing
Using Palette Knives for Mixing and Expressive Marks
Using Palette Knives for Mixing and Expressive Marks Understand the two main roles A shallow angle can spread paint across a surface, while a steeper angle may leave a narrower mark. Practice with a few strokes on a test surface, varying one factor at a time.…
Read the Full PostHow 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 drawing kit should support the kinds of images you actually create. Quick sketches, precise line drawings, shaded studies, and mixed-media illustrations require…
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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…
Continue Reading→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 Some artists prefer to sketch directly on the surface, while others make a preliminary drawing elsewhere. Decide how you will transfer the composition…
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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 Palette care depends on the paint type and the palette material. Follow the appropriate cleaning guidance rather than using one method for everything. Remove residue before it interferes with fresh mixtures, 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. For…
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. For an unfamiliar subject, test likely combinations before leaving. A smaller selection is easier to monitor and…
Read Article↗Organization
Organizing a Watercolor Tin for Efficient Painting
Organizing a Watercolor Tin for Efficient Painting Build a palette around subjects Avoid contaminating one well with another color. If a surface becomes messy, clean it gently and allow it to dry as appropriate. Organize colors so that neighboring wells are easy to distinguish, especially when several colors look similar at full…
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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 Choose a small number of tools that can serve more than one role. Versatility is most helpful when you understand the tool well; unfamiliar equipment may add complexity rather than convenience. A brush that creates both a…
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 Dip and load the brush with a deliberate amount of water and paint. Too little liquid may create dry gaps; too much can leave pools that move unpredictably. There is no single correct…
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. Compare the mixture against the reference and neighboring colors rather than…
Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration
Selecting a Surface for Mixed Drawing and Illustration List the materials in your process Think about how the finished work will be stored, scanned, displayed, or transported. Keep hands and work surfaces clean and…
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. When uncertain, test…