Painting Tips

Artist Matt Busch finally begins the color painting process, showing how to lay in your under-painting with acrylic washes. The episode also touches on 'procrastination' (let's face it, a common artist trait) and even covers using an Air-Brush! Learn how to paint Star Wars by watching and following along with this video tutorial.

In this hilarious episode, Matt Busch continues the painting process as he pays tribute to the legendary Bob Ross in The Joy of STAR WARS Painting. See how Matt paints with thicker, opaque acrylics, with tips like using a toothbrush to create texture. Learn how to paint Star Wars by watching this video tutorial.

If you want to capture your pet in an oil-based portrait, this video series will help guide you along the way as you paint your animal masterpiece. In the video below, get started by learning about all of the supplies you'll need for drawing pet portraits. To see the other videos in this series, make sure to hit up the link below the video.

This watercolor tutorial shows beginners how to paint a realistic eye. This video has been sped up 8 times.

My grandmother did beautiful painting on porcelain. It was absolutely some of the most beautiful work I have seen. Unfortunately, I didn't pick up that gene.

I usually do step-by-step drawing tutorials, but I found drybrush technique to be fascinating and possibly superior to pencil drawing. Pencils are limited tools because they can only be applied with a point of some sort (with the exception of a graphite stick), while paintbrushes allow artists to think in terms of shapes instead of lines. If you look around the room that you are currently in, I guarantee you that you will not see anything that resembles an edge that a pencil gives you; the...

It's perhaps every male Comic-Con geek's lecherous daydream: Pretty girls slathered in bodypaint, but not just any design or pattern. Superhero bodypaint—a crest of Superman slashed across the chest, a mysterious mask enclosing sultry eyes, a Spiderman hand clutching at… ugh, I just creeped myself out. I sound like I'm composing an Anaïs Nin novel for Marvel geeks. I'm going to stop now so you can scroll down and see for yourself.

Holton Rower's Pour recalls the lysergic 1960s at their most saturated. So much so that, had Timothy Leary been an abstract expressionist, it's easy to imagine that his work might have borne more than a passing resemblance. The process is essentially self-evident: build a flat, geometrical sculpture and pour cup after cup of paint on it. Gravity does the rest. But, gee, what an effect!

This video begins with an unfolded painter's canvas unfolded on a table and a frame which will be used to stretch and mend the canvas. The canvas needs to be laid beneath the wooden frame. The canvas must then be stretched over the sides of the wooden frame and then stapled into place. After the canvas has been stretched and stapled over the wooden frame you can pull the corners to tighten the canvas fabric. After the canvas is being stretched within the frame you must let it sit until it...

This video begins by showing what a folding painting canvas looks like and what the final stretched canvas should look like. The first step shown is to make sure the bars are measured and marked with a simple A and B for easy measurement recall. After a wood frame is added over the canvas you must fold the material over the back of the wood and nail in place. Once the canvas is nailed to the frame you must add A, B, C and D markings to continue proper alignment procedure. The last step shown is...

In this tutorial, we learn how to use the cold pressed watercolor paper technique. Start out with one leaf, then use your brush to apply more color above it. Continue to apply the paint and try to blend it. It will be difficult to blend and get a smooth effect, but it will look great. You can also add your paint to the dry paper by brushing on more paint and creating different layers with your brush. Once you apply enough, you will get the smooth look with the paint and it will look great....

In this tutorial, we learn how to paint a cabbage rose using the one stroke technique. Start out by mixing together white and red with your paint brush. After this, add yellow to the tip of the brush and paint it onto the paper using your hand to move the brush gently up and down. Do this in a circle to make several petals into one single flower. Then, paint on petals around the inside petals to create a larger flower. Add in additional color to the center of the flower to make it pop out more....

In this tutorial, we learn how to oil paint desserts with Hall Groat. You can take a brush to create different textures on the painting. When painting bread, this can show the fluffy texture of it, which looks amazing! In this video, Hal is painting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Use your brush to press down and drag the paint around, looking at the subject to see how it looks. When working on a doughnut, you will move the paintbrush around the top to create small sprinkles. Also add in...

In this tutorial, we learn how to paint a red rose. First, you will add some red paint to your brush and paint along lines of a rose outline. Use an angled brush so you can get a better accuracy while you are painting. After this, continue to paint around the petals until you reach the entire area of the rose. Then, paint the inside of the rose. You will then mix the red together with darker colors and whites to add depth to the flower on the paper. Once finished, you will have a gorgeous red...

Vivian shows us how to use the watercolor salt technique in this video. This is great if you want to make underwater paintings and have a coral effect on them. The salt will cause the painting to look more rough and you can see the salt on the paper and how it absorbed the color. To start, you will wet your cold pressed paper on both sides. Then, add your paint to your brush and continue to paint. Don't apply the paint too dark if you are going to work on it later. When finished, let this dry...

In this tutorial, we learn how to use a round brush for multi-colored scroll work. First, dampen your brush and grab some bright colors. Take and lay the brush into one color at first. Then, turn the brush over and pick up another color. Now, you will push down and lift the brush up as you are twisting around. Next, reload the brush and do the same process over again. Use more of certain colors, then you will have gorgeous mixes of different colors. You can also add in another color at the tip...

In this video, we learn how to watercolor paint a California barn. To start, you will take a small painted brush and start to paint the outline of the barn. next, you will dip the brush into different colors to create the inside of the barn and the details on the outside of it. Once you're finished painting the barn, start to paint the scenery that is around the barn. Use greens to paint in hills and then paint a fence with animals inside. Continue to add in additional details until you're...

In this video, Linnea Rose teaches us how to paint in a Norwegian folk style called "rosemaling". With this, you will double load your brush and do the strokes in the correct way. To double load your brush, first dip one corner into a color, then dip another color into the other color. After this, stroke again in between the two colors. Next, go to your canvas and simply stroke a looped shake on the paper. Firmly press down with your brush and as your curve around you lift it up to the chisel...

These hyperrealistic oil paintings by Pedro Campos are incredible. Inspired? Start small.

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw the back view of a horse. Start by drawing the tail. Use a horse main brush made out of real horse main hair. Change to another brush to use a darker color for the rest of the body of the horse. Paint around the tail that you made to create the rear end and the legs that are on the horse. Also create the feet and make sure to just use one stroke as you are creating these. Next, creating a neck and then the head along with the main on the top of the horse...

If you're a beginner to Chinese watercolor painter then you do have to do a little research and practice before you actually let your paintbrush hit the canvas. From using the right paint to the right brush, every single thing you employ for your art matters in the ultimate creation.

The interesting thing about painting in the Chinese watercolor style is that objects, animals, and plants that look pretty simple, such as goldfish and snakes, are actually made up of a complex array of different layers and colors.

Put down the paintbrush and the easel, you don't need them anymore. At least, if you're wanting to create some cool marble-like art pieces. In lieu of the normal painting supplies, grab some shaving cream and some food coloring and you can create some awesome marbleized artworks. See how!

Fabric painting is a fun hobby, but like most styles of painting there are a dizzying array of tools available to choose from. This video will teach you about different kinds of fabric paint brushes and how to choose the right one for your project.

The concept of the Dragon Vein - the ridge of a mountain range - is an important one for Chinese landscape painters. Using a brush made with chicken feathers, this tutorial shows you how to apply a dragon vein to your own landscape art.

Start with a fresh piece of rice drawing paper, and then follow the steps shown in the video to make your own brush drawing of a Chinese landscape. This tutorial focuses on adding texture wrinkles to the sides of rocks or cliff faces.

Sebastian Kruger is a German artist known for his "star caricaturist" paintings: stylistically exaggerated, realistically painted portraits of pop icons. My personal favorite depicts the classic Clint Eastwood stance (as Harry Callahan: Go ahead! Make my day!). Scroll below for the Stones, Tom Waits, Michael Jackson and more.

In this video, we learn how to build a pochade box for outdoor painting. This box will hold two wet panels in the back and help you hold other things you need to carry. You will need a medium sized box first, then you will need to cut the back and sides of the top to make slits where you can place in the panels. After this, you will create a barrier for the middle that has two slits in the bottom of it where you can slide it. On the bottom of the box you will have a hold where you can thread it...

In this video, we learn how to draw dragonflies in Chinese painting. Start out with rice paper, then soak your medium sized combination hair brush in water. Next, squeeze the moisture and then push the ink out. Now, position the brush so it's comfortable and touches the paper lightly. Draw the wings on the insect first, then draw the tail on the bottom. After this, paint a small circle shape for the head and continue to draw the other dragonflies. You can vary how these look by making the wings...

Have you ever screwed up a painting before? Beyond repair? Well, it might be able to be saved after all, at least, thanks to these tips from Merrill Kazanjian.

Merrill is quite the artist, but he, like everyone else, must "draw" from inspiration. And he has discovered a new technique from Igor Kazarin's YouTube channel Portrait Drawing.

In this video, we learn how to build a canvas frame stretcher. First, you will need to choose lumber that is the size you want your stretcher to be. After you do this, use a hammer and nails to connect all of the pieces of wood together so you have a square shape. You will need to hammer in a lot of nails so the frame stays in place. Use a saw if you need to cut any points down or make it smaller than you have it. When you are done, screw any additional nails into the frame and make sure...

Merrill Kazanjian has this painting tutorial which shows the process of his Hawaiian landscape mixed media painting. Follow along with the video and try to learn some of the painting techniques Merrill uses. He uses acrylic paint and at the end, puts his own twist on a boring landscape painting by using PaintShop Pro to add some island inhabitants.

In this tutorial, we learn how to stretch the perfect canvas. First, measure the canvas. After this, center the canvas and make sure there are no wrinkles. Then cut the canvas and staple it to the frame. This will take several minutes, and you will work your way from the inside to the outer corners. After you are finished stapling hide the folds on all of the corners with the stapler gun. When you are finished with this step, you will be done and ready to paint on your new canvas! These steps...

Italian artist Guido Daniele is a master of illusion. Hired by an advertising agency to create body paintings of animals, Guido more than surpassed the concept with several different campaigns. Check out these insanely well crafted hand paintings, and if you're really digging it, try these temporary tattoo animal hand puppets. Doesn't quite compare to Guido, but fun, nonetheless.

In this video, we learn how to embellish a painted sky. To do this, use white paint and gray paint. Add some clouds with your paint brush and make them loose and puffy in the sky of a painting. Be very loose and let the blue shine through the white like a regular sky. Paint the tops of the clouds more white than the other parts and paint this throughout the entire picture. If you want to take off some of the embellishment, use blue paint to cover up some of the white you have painted on. This...

In this tutorial, we learn how to understand artist tools for painting. The first tool is plastic, which can be use for great textures on the painting. Cheap brushes are great for painting in big spaces and fan brushes are great for painting wider widths. A badger hair brush will be best for painting tails on canvas and different types of papers. A synthetic brush is very easy to clean and perfect for oil or acrylic paint. A hair dryer is a tool that is great to speed up the drying time of...

Wilson Bickford teaches us how to paint believable rocks in this tutorial. To begin, you will first start with an easel and several paints. Wet your small paint brush with a mixture of brown and black and paint a rock shape on the paper. You will do this by drawing many lumps and bumps to make it look like a natural rock. Use white paint on the side of the rock to give it a light glare where the sun would naturally hit it. To finish the rock, paint on browns to it, to add a dirt color and make...

It's no secret, artists are broke. That's why they're referred to as "starving artists". One day these artists will achieve unimaginable success, but for most of their lives, they'll be struggling to survive… struggling to keep their vision alive. That's why they need to work cheap. And that's why they stretch their own canvases, not buy pre-made ones or have the hobby shop do it. If you're a starving artist, save a few bucks, hone your carpentry skills, and stretch your own canvas.

At age 32, Tetsuya Ishida apparently threw himself in front of a speeding train. No huge surprise given his exceedingly twisted paintings. To us, he seems to possess a certain internet sensibility. Precisely executed, bizarre, and dark in theme. We dig him.