Hot Painting Tips How-Tos « Painting Tips

How To: Use the Tarahikomi technique in Sumi-e painting

Check out this video to learn the Tarashikomi technique of Sumi-e painting. The Tarashikomi technique, originated by Sotatsu Tawaraya, a 17th century painter, is a good technique for short hair animals like dogs, horse, or bulls. In this video the technique is used to paint a dog.

How To: Paint a sunrise in oil paints

Sunrises are a very popular painting subject. Learn about the brushes and paints needed for a painting of a sunrise in this free oil painting lesson from our experienced painter. Paint a sunrise in oil paints - Part 1 of 15.

How To: Mount a large Chinese rice paper painting

This video tutorial shows how to mount a large Chinese rice paper painting. Rice paper is extremely fragile and prone to tearing, thus requiring a technique sensitive to it's structure. Learn how to mount a large Chinese rice paper painting by watching this instructional framing video.

How To: Paint a lightsaber and a poster for Star Wars

In the second part of creating the Style D One Sheet movie poster for REVENGE OF THE SITH, Artist Matt Busch begins painting and takes you through the complete process. Learn how to paint a light saber from Star Wars by watching this video art tutorial.

How To: Paint in a Norwegian folk style called "rosemaling"

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...

How To: Bodypaint a dragon on a female body

Body painting isn't just art, it's sexy. More and more people are shedding their clothes and adding some paint for a new shocking look that is bound to drop jaws. If you're not into being painted into a Picasso, then maybe you'd like to try your hands on the other side of the paint brush…

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: Begin Sumi-e ink painting

Check out this video for a primer on Sumi-e painting. This video show you how to prepare your ink, table and brush to begin painting.

How To: Paint on plexiglass

Watch this instructional painting video to begin painting on plexiglass. Create some cool effects using spray paint, paint thinner, acrylic paint. Make marks and unique textures using your finger, scratching tools and stencils.

How To: Paint believable rocks

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 mak...

How To: Do Acrylic Painting on Feathers

In this video series, watch as artist Carolyn Travisano teaches how to d acrylic painting on feathers. Learn how to choose the feathers, choose brushes, choose paint, how to get inspiration, how to prepare the paint pallet, how to design a layout, how to fill in colors, how to do stage comparisons, how to work the feathers, how to add detail, how to do shadowing, how to do the finishing spray, and how to mount the feathers.

How To: Paint a Realistic Eye with Watercolors

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

How To: Paint goldfish in freestyle Chinese painting

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.

How To: Paint on ceramic dinner plates

In this how-to video, you will learn how to paint on your ceramic dinner plates. You will need a ceramic paint kit, a soft pencil, masking tape, a porcelain painter pen, scrap paper, scissors, scrap paper, tracing paper, Celtic patterns, and a jar of water. Place the tracing paper over the copy of the Celtic patterns. Tape both down to the surface with the tape. Trace the pattern onto the tracing paper using the pencil. Clean the plate and stick tracing paper over the plate. Trace over the pa...

How To: Paint cows and bulls in sumi-e ink

This video painting tutorial shows how to paint cows and bulls in Sumi-e ink. The Sumi-e ink painting process is a traditional Japanese painting technique from the Niigata prefecture, demonstrated here with a stone ink well. Learn how to paint cows and bulls by watching this instructional video.

How To: Paint a Star Wars poster with opaque acrylics

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.

How To: Paint a geisha kimono in Sumi-e ink

This video shows you how to draw a geisha kimono in traditional japanese Sumi-e ink style. Part 1 of 2 - How to Paint a geisha kimono in Sumi-e ink.

How To: Make gum tragacanth for printmaking and painting

Watch this video to learn how to make gum tragacanth. This is the binder that is used to thicken natural dyes for painting, printing, stamping and much, much more.

How To: Use the cold pressed watercolor paper technique

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. Ei...

How To: Paint a pomegranate

In this tutorial, we learn how to paint a pomegranate. First, paint the circle for the pomegranate. After this, shade the right side with a dark red and the rest with a lighter shade of red. From here, add in a medium red all over the pomegranate and then add another shade over that. From here, start to layer on more additional colors of red to the pomegranate to make it appear more realistic. When finished, paint on the background with whites and grays that are mixed together. Add white to t...

How To: Use a round brush for multi-colored scroll work

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 ti...

How To: Fix mistakes while oil painting a colored portrait

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.

How To: Build a canvas frame stretcher

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 ever...

How To: Use opaque watercolors in Chinese watercolor painting

The esteemed tradition of Chinese watercolor goes back thousands of years and hasn't changed much in terms of composition, subject matter, and materials used. So back then as much as today sky dieties and kings would sip green tea outside pagodas perched high above the clouds, surrounded by monumental mountains and far removed from mortal space.

How To: Paint sand in your composition

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to paint sand. Users will need a palette knife and paint brush. The colors needed for the sand are: iron oxide, pure white, burnt umber and burnt salmon. Collect all 4 colors on the palette knife and apply it lightly onto the canvas. If it is too dark, add some more white paint. Then use a paint brush to smooth out the edges and blend the sand together. This video will benefit those viewers who are interested in art and painting, and would like to lea...

How To: Paint a guitar body using spray paint

In this video Teddy Zane shows you how to paint a guitar with spray paint. It begins by painting the whole guitar with one color of flat paint, and then creating a panel where you want the picture, out of tape. Next lay your picture on top of the tape and use a scalpel or razor to cut out the design as a template carefully ensuring you do not cut the guitar, only the image and the tape. Once the entire image is cut, pull off the tape to expose the guitar beneath. Cover the rest of the guitar ...

How To: Transfer a painting done on rice paper to silicone

This video shows you how to dry-mount a painting done on rice paper with silicone release paper. This method is to transfer the silicon adhesive film to the backing material first, then take the release paper off and mount the painting on. Artist, Henry Li gives you everything you need to know to properly mount your beautiful painting on the silicone to transfer as you please.

How To: Paint your pet's portrait without an art background

Dog trainer Emily Larlham from Dogmantics teaches how to paint your pet's portrait without having a background in art. Colors used in this tutorial include Titanium White, French Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna (a brown), Burnt Umber (a dark brown), Alizeran Crimson (a red), Cadmium Yellow, and Cadmium Orange. Other colors that are a good beginners palate include Cadmium Red and Yellow Ochre.

How To: Glaze artwork (painting with transparency)

Watch this tutorial to learn how to glaze artwork (painting with transparency). Make sure to pause the video after each step and look at the screen every few seconds while you are drawing.

How To: Do an underpainting for portrait painting

Sessions Online School of Fine Arts brings you this tutorial video on painting. Search WonderHowTo for Sessions Online School of Fine Arts for more art tutorials. This video art lesson demonstrates how to do an underpainting for portrait painting.

How To: Mount a Chinese painting or Sumi-e ink drawing

This two part video shows you the materials needed to mount a Chinese painting. Chinese brush work leaves finished paintings a bit wrinkled and wavy. You will need a specific mounting brush and all purpose flour to make a mounting paste.

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: 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: Paint on glass

Glass painting is both beautiful and easy to learn. In this free online series of instructional art lessons, learn how to paint on glass and everything you need from supplies to techniques, all taught by expert Jason Painter.

How To: Paint the human body

Painting the human body can be difficult and takes a lot of practice. Our art expert is here to teach you all about figure painting, including tips on mixing paint colors for skin tone, lighting, depth and even backgrounds, in this free video art lesson.

How To: Paint shrimp with sumi-e ink

This video painting tutorial shows how to paint a shrimp in Sumi-e ink. The Sumi-e ink painting process is a traditional Japanese painting technique from the Niigata prefecture, demonstrated here with a stone ink well. Learn how to paint a shrimp by watching this instructional video.

How To: Paint a landscape painting

Unlike many other video painting tutorials which are time lapse speed painting set to music, these lessons will actually teach you how to make a finished painting. These pieces will be small, simple and easy to follow. You may take bits and pieces of these lessons and apply them to your own work or feel free to follow along and create your own version of this painting. Learn how to paint a landscape painting by watching this instructional painting video.