Hot Painting Tips How-Tos

How To: Paint Chinese bamboo on xuan paper

In this video artist Henry Li demonstrates exactly how to paint beautiful Chinese bamboo on xuan paper. Make sure to grab your ink and brushes to see the magic happen and this wonderful artist paints this wonderful piece. Perfect to practice your skills or paint a excellent piece for everyone to enjoy on your wall.

How To: Paint birds in watercolor

Watercolor painting is a great way to get introduced to the world of painting and fine art. The free flowing nature of watercolor allows you to start out simply as you refine your craft. You can make any shape or image that comes to your imagination. In this video series, learn how to paint birds in watercolor.

How To: Easily paint an orchid

In this art tutorial, you will learn how to draw and then paint an orchid. You will need a Chinese paintbrush, a plate for the paint, water and paper. For paint colors, you should make sure you have red, yellow, black, green, blue and purple. First, dip your brush into the water and then mix yellow, red and black, dabbing some of each color onto the brush. When doing this, do not actually mix the colors on the brush. You want the red on one part of the brush, the yellow on another part, and t...

How To: Oil paint metal objects with Hall Groat

In this Painting Metallic Surfaces Hall video tutorial, learn how to paint metal objects with oil paint. This is a good tutorial to learn how to paint metal surfaces so that it looks like real metal. The examples used in this video is the painting of a pocket watch, ornament, teapot, martini glass, and more. To begin, evaluate the colors of the metal object you are painting. Make sure to pick up colors that are reflected and also make sure to pick up images that appear in the reflection of an...

How To: Paint waterfalls with Hall Groat

When painting the foliage make sure that you use a dry brush technique and that you use this to break up the harsh rock formations that you have created by simply pressing the brush down against the rock formation. Make sure that you don't segregate the areas in the painting. Make sure that you blend the areas together to make the picture complete. You want to take the warm, more contrasting areas and use them to break up the harsher style of the rest of the picture. You want to layer the col...

How To: Mix colors for oil & acrylic paints

This video was very informative and well planned. However, the video does become boring after the first two minutes. It will become easier for an individual to comprehend with this video if perhaps there are better examples that artists can relate too. Perhaps if the demonstrations would relate to more of a younger audience, more people will be able to be more interested to mix oil and acrylic paints. The video can also be much more interesting if there was also some quiet and peaceful backgr...

How To: Paint an avacado

This is a silent video by artist Dan P. Carr. It is filmed in fast action, the video is approximately 3 minutes long but in real time the painting took 50 minutes to complete. It is done on a small canvas with oil paints. It shows the development of the avocado from a simple outline drawing to the final product that is 3 dimensional and uses light and shadow to give a sense of depth to the painting. According to the artist he paints a simple object like the avocado daily as a practice exercis...

How To: Build a simple float frame for your painting

Building a frame for your paintings can save you money and provide one more creation of which to be proud. Normally recommended for abstract paintings, basic float frames offer a professional feel to your art. This video demonstrates how to build a very simple float frame, which compliments a modern, contemporary, abstract painting rather nicely.

How To: Use acetate sheet to develop watercolor painting

This video teaches the secrets of using acetate sheet to develop watercolor painting. Some tips of using acetate sheet to develop watercolor painting are: Acetate sheets will come to use mainly when painting flowers, nature, birds, animals, etc. (e.g., flower in this video). In this case first finish painting the flower and some easy parts. Now painting the weeds is difficult as you may find it tough to get it in the right area. Now you can place an acetate on top of your painting and draw th...

How To: Build a custom pochade box for oil painting

In this how-to video, you will learn how to build your own custom Pochade box for oil painting. You will need 10 feet of 3/4 x 1/2 trim, 1/4 underlayment plywood,, a table saw for squared cuts, a cordless drill, a dowel no smaller than 3/8, a set of hinges and screws, an Allen bolt and nut for triPod mounting, a piece of glass for the palette, gorilla glue water, and chemical proof. Pre-drill everything to make sure the wood does not split. Make sure that when you drill the hole for the dowel...

How To: Paint a magnolia in Chinese painting

This video demonstrates how to paint a magnolia in ink and water, Chinese style. Make gray ink by mixing water with the black ink. Squeeze the brush with a piece of tissue and dip it in glue water made of peach sap powder mixed with water. When he begins to paint, half the brushstroke is gray and half is clear water. In this way you can use the brush to get darker and lighter shades of gray to make the magnolia flower shape that appears to be shaded. He then uses a stiff brush and black ink t...

How To: Watercolor with SU markers on watercolor paper

Maria Bell demonstrates to create the watercolor project, add color to the watercolor paper by first outlining the image or the shape with the SU marker. Then, distribute the color from the edge of the image or shape to the center of the image or shape with an aqua painter or watercolor brush. Fill in the images with shading details as desired. The technique produces gradient shading and a quick spread of colors without the use of watercolor pencils or crayon. Painting watercolors with SU mar...

How To: Understanding the difference between ink & watercolor

Learn how to understand the Difference between Chinese ink and watercolor with Chinese paintings. There are several differences between ink and watercolor art. Learn how to spot these variations with this video tutorial from Blue Heron Arts. This tutorial shows the differences between Chinese and Western culture paintings, which is largely rooted in the use of rice paper in Chinese artwork as well as the stretching of the paper prior to painting. Additionally, different types of paints are us...

How To: Make handmade ink from an ink stone & ink stick

You can create handmade love letters and personal paper gifts by using your very own homemade ink. This video goes in depth on how you can make your own ink at home using an ink stick and ink stone. This is the traditional way that the Chinese make their ink to use in Calligraphy and brush painting. The ink stick is made of soot from burning oil. There are different grades of ink sticks according to the Chinese standard so watch for that when you are purchasing these supplies. The ink stone i...

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: Paint a traditional puppy dog painting

Everybody loves dogs, but not everybody can own one. Although… everyone can own and enjoy a painted dog. And if you want to learn how to paint a puppy dog yourself, this is the video tutorial for you. Make sure to pause the video after each step and look at the screen every few seconds while you are drawing.

How To: Draw & watercolor Na'vi Jake Sully from Avatar

Are you a gigantic fan of James Cameron's film, Avatar and have some artistic talent? Why not wear your badge of "Proud Avatar Fan" on your bedroom wall, with this video tutorial on how to draw & watercolor Na'vi Jake Sully. This video goes in fast motion taking you from the beginnings of a blank page, to the pencil illustration, and finally to water color.

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: Body paint a dragon on a leg

This tutorial is set-up for the novice or beginning body painter or face painter, giving step by step instructions on how to body paint a dragon on someone's leg. Paint colors needed include blue, white, black, red, yellow, gold sparkles and green. Materials are a must and include: A plastic plate or pallet, brushes, make-up or body paint, rubbing alcohol, paper towels, and a model over 18 (with at least one leg).