Hot Painting Tips Posts

How To: Gesso a canvas

You can’t expect to paint a masterpiece on untreated cloth. Here’s how to gesso, or prime, a homemade canvas in a hurry. You will need gesso, water, a plastic mixing bowl, a drop cloth, fine grit sandpaper and a house paintbrush. Tip: some painters prefer to use a squeegee to apply gesso, instead of a brush. The edges of your canvas will drip a little, so use a smaller brush to work the excess gesso back into the sides.

How To: Make a watercolor painting of an existing sketch

Learn how to stretch your paper and prepare it for painting in the watercolor style from this how-to video series. Pick up some techniques for watercolor, like wet on wet paint, using salt for texture, creating shadows, detailing, color choice, and finishing. Watch these video painting tutorials and learn how to watercolor a pre-drawn painting.

How To: Paint a mountain landscape with Aleven Jones

Starting with a glossy 11" by 14" piece of posterboard, artist Aleven Jones goes through the steps of painting a mountain landscape in this how-to video. This technique involves using spray paints, stencils, and knives as opposed to a traditional paintbrush method. Whether you're looking to learn to paint, or trying to pick up some new skills, this tutorial can broaden your artistic talents. Watch this instructional video and learn ow to paint a realistic mountain landscape. Paint a mountain ...

How To: Paint with a palette knife

Sometimes painting with a brush can be a pain in the neck. Try painting with your palette knife instead. You will need a palette knife and oil paints. Watch this video art-making tutorial and learn how to paint with a palette knife.

How To: Paint "Eternity" in Chinese calligraphy

Datong Xu currently teaches Chinese calligraphy and painting in Tucson, AZ. Watch this instructional painting video to paint the symbol of eternity in Chinese calligraphy. The eternity character also means, "flowing water". In Chinese art aesthetics, calligraphy and painting are of common origin.

How To: Paint a Chinese dragon

Watch this instructional painting video to paint a dragon with India ink and watercolor on Chinese rice paper. Use negative space to create a ghostlike effect. This fluid style of painting takes lot of practice and does not allow for mistakes. Every brush stroke counts. Get out some newsprint to practice painting these majestic dragons.

How To: Paint neighing deer by the river

Watch this instructional painting video to paint, "Neighing Deer, By The River". Can deer neigh? Use India ink and Chinese rice paper to try this fluid method of painting. Every brush stroke counts so there is not much room for mistakes. So get out some news print to practice inking these beautiful animals by the river.

How To: Paint a blue heron in front of water

Watch this instructional painting video to paint blue herons in front of water with India ink on Chinese rice paper. This fluid style of painting takes lot of practice and does not allow for mistakes. Every brush stroke counts. Get out some news print to practice painting these beautiful birds.

How To: Paint by numbers

Painting doesn't get any easier than this. Paint by numbers kits come with a drawing ready to be filled in with paint. Each section of the drawing is matched to a number on a paint pot. Use the right number for the right section, and voila, a foolproof masterpiece. Watch this video painting tutorial and learn how to paint. By numbers.

How To: Spray paint with a layering technique

Try out a layering technique using spray paint. Always wear a mask when painting with spray paint indoors. Create interesting compositions on old shopping bags. Add depth and tone to stencils by building up layers of material texture, drawing and spray paint. Dry your work with a heat gun if you have one.

How To: Collage and paint aluminum foil

This video demonstrates how to create an artwork using ordinary aluminum foil from your kitchen. This technique is good for those people who have no inspiration of what to paint but want to be creative. This collage technique is a fun way for beginners to experiment with textures, composition and color. Materials used in this video are aluminum foil, a glue stick, Bitumen (a material used as primer for painting on metal without rusting), collage or textured paper, spray paint, acrylic paint, ...

How To: Paint a bronze metal effect on ceramics

This instructional painting video demonstrates how to paint a bronze effect on ceramics. You can use this technique on just about any surface, such as wood, canvas, metal, plastic, or paper. Apply gold metallic paint, Bitumen, cadmium yellow paint and primary blue paint. Dry the metallic surface with a heat gun if you have one.

How To: Paint the texture of water

Watch this instructional painting video to create a water like effect on the surface of canvas, wood or paper. Use acrylic paint and a spray bottle with some paint thinner. Spray the turpentine onto wet paint and watch the paint separate into shapes that look like the surface of water, splashes and wave patterns.

How To: Stencil with gravel and spray paint

Watch this demonstration of a spray paint layering technique. All you need is some gravel and spray paint to add a unique stenciling effect to the surface of your artwork. Use any object to create negative space with spray paint. Use this technique on collages, paintings, assemblage pieces, and clothing.

How To: Use Bitumen and glue to add texture to paint

This instructional painting video demonstrates how to create texture and layers to a mixed media painting using Bitumen and glue. You will also need acrylic paint, contact glue, a spray paint, rust protector, and some type of thinner. Experiment with these materials to generate unique texture to a collage or painting.

How To: Layer mixed media with collage

This instructional fine arts video demonstrates how to collage with sand paper, paint and other mixed media. The term collage derives from the French "coller" meaning "glue". Before you throw anything away, consider its potential for patterned or textured collage material. Almost any type of material can add new textures and layers to an assemblage piece.

How To: Paint a wall landscape mural

A blank wall makes an excellent canvas for a large-scale mural to add a special and personal touch to any room. Follow along with the demonstrating artists as she transform the white wall into a landscape mural. When using latex house paints, be sure to create a design that doesn't not involve mixing paint colors, as they dont' mix well. Watch this video painting tutorial and learn how to paint a wall landscape mural.

How To: Paint a beached whaler seascape with Jim Ingraham

Painter Jim Ingraham shows the steps of painting a marine landscape in this video tutorial. Watch as a prepared canvas transforms into a seascape, complete with the beach, the ocean, and the sky. Render and mix paints as you go, this technique is not particularly rigid. Watch this video painting tutorial series and learn how to create a seascape.