If you've wanting to learn how to paint, have just begun painting, or wish to refresh your knowledge on some essential technique, this collection of helpful tips and fundamental techniques for all mediums is the place to start.
No-one is born with a paint brush in their hand, everyone learned from scratch at some stage. This list of commonly asked questions will help you get started on your creative journey as an artist.
Want to start painting but not sure what paint to use? Here's help on deciding how to choose between the most popular types of paint used.
What you need to do and know to start painting for the very first time.
This Q&A help you decide between the most commonly used paints: oils, acrylics, watercolours, and pastels.
A look at the various ways to approaching the creation of a painting, none of which is better or more correct than another but rather a matter of personal preference and technique.
Ultimately the degree to which you plan out a painting depends on your personality, some people find it essential and others a hindrance. But regardless of how detailed you like to plan (or not), there are several decisions that have to be made before you to start to paint.
Not every painting is destined to be a masterpiece, but some are doomed to failure right from the start. here are five ways to ruin a painting...
If you look after it well, a paint brush can last a long time, but it's very easy to ruin it too...
If you hold a paint palette correctly it's far less tiring on your arm and hand.
A collection of free art worksheets to use to complete various painting and art tutorials and exercises.
Find out what it means to paint in an expressive or painterly style, and how to do it.
What many people mean when they say they'd like to learn to paint, is they'd like to learn to paint realism. To create a painting where the subject looks like it does in real life, or "real". It's only when you're up close you see the skillful manipulation of color, tone, and perspective to create the illusion of reality.
The sphere is one of the basic shapes that creates the illusion of reality in a painting. Find out how to paint a sphere, not just a flat circle.
Whether it's a portrait of a person or a pet, having a relatively simple or uncluttered background allows the focus to fall entirely on the subject. This sequence of photos shows how to paint a background
It's essential to have accurate ellipses on any cylindrical objects in a painting for them to appear real. Here are some tips on how to achieve accurate ellipses.
Setting up a still life for painting isn't a matter of throwing few objects onto a table top and then starting. For a successful still life, you want to put some thought into the choices available to you.
An explanation of the seven steps to a successful painting, by Canadian artist Brian Simons. Though this method of painting may seem quite simple and unsophisticated, it works.
Take a peek inside the studios of various painters in this photo gallery of artist's studios.
Find out where you can obtain free reference photos that you can use in your paintings.
Find out what the 'small print' on a paint tube label means.
An explanation of what negative space in a painting is, how and why to use it, and why it's so useful.
An introduction to using a painting knife rather than a brush, including selecting a suitable painting knife and tips on painting with a knife.
The range of marks you can produce when painting with a knife rather than a brush is quite varied, and can produce beautiful effects.
When you pick up an artist's paint brush for the first time, chances are you'll hold it in your hand in the same way you would a pencil or pen, with your fingers close to the ferrule. If you never hold a brush in any other way, you'll be limiting the range of marks you create with a brush.
This hub of all my articles on glazing will help you on your way to using glazes successfully in your paintings.
This hub of all my articles on painting shadows articles will help you on your way to realistic and convincing shadows.
Dividing the bristles in a brush creates easy parallel lines or blocks.
There are a lot of false beliefs about what it takes to be an artist. Starting with the belief that talent is essential... it's not.
A look at what Painting by Numbers involves, and why I think it's a helpful technique for beginners.
If you want to get an art gallery to represent you, you'll need a body of work showing you have a distinct style and sufficient paintings. Artist Martha Marshall has an exercise that's ideal for creating a body of work.
What are the advantages of painting on hardboard and how do you prepare it?
Negative space isn't the place your mind retreats to when a painting isn't going well. Negative space is the space between objects or parts of an object, or around it. Studying this can have a surprisingly positive effect on a painting.
What color is glass, and how do you paint it? There's no simple answer as glass is influenced by what's around it. You need to observe very carefully.
If you dream of painting on a big canvas, but already feel intimidated when facing a 'normal-sized' canvas, here are some tips to help you turn a vast expanse of a big, white canvas into a painting.
Tips on how to avoid mistakes commonly made in paintings, from the Canadan artist Brian Simons, who works in acrylics.
A short video painting demonstration showing how to paint using a knife instead of a brush.
How do you set out the colors on your painting palette? Share a photo of how you do it here, and tell us why.
Harsh, uncalled for criticism of your art can be devastating. Here are some tips on how to deal with unwelcome and unrequested criticism.
Why you get those little bits of wood or plastic with a canvas.
What is sgraffito and how do you use this painting technique?
If you want to sell lots of paintings, what subjects should you be painting?
How do you develop a personal, identifiable painting style? Is it something that comes naturally or do you have to work at it? Here are some tips from fellow artists.
When painting, one decision that must be made at composition stage, is where the light is going to come from as this influences the shadows, contrasts, and colours. So what are the choices?
Not all shadows are equal. There are in fact two very different kinds of shadows that occur in any subject -- cast shadows and form shadows. Identifying these and approaching them differently, rather than just painting a generic ‘shadow’, will enhance any painting.
Trees are not cardboard cutouts with brown trunks and leaves that are simply green if it's summer, red if it's autumn, or absent if it's winter.
Your brushes are an investment. By cleaning them thoroughly at the end of a painting session, they will last longer.
Asking the deceptively simply question: "What makes painting a good work of art?" started a fascinating debate on the Painting Forum. Here are the highlights of the discussion.
By careful observation and collecting reference photos, you will be able to paint all manner of cloud, from fluffy bunches of cotton wool to moody storm clouds.
What to expect when you take a painting to a professional framer to have it framed.
How to light your canvas when painting indoors and out-of-doors, under sunlight, 'normal' light, and artificial light.
What's the point of painting in a photorealistic style? Why not just take a photograph?
Most of the safety issues with art materials ought to be common sense, but here are some safety tips to keep in mind when painting.
