Painting

Painting Projects, Tutorials & Demos

By Marion Boddy-Evans, About.com Guide to Painting

Challenge yourself with the painting projects, or advance your painting skills and generally brush up your knowledge of painting techniques through the tutorials and demos.

Monthly Painting Projects
Step-by-Step Painting Demos
Video Painting Demos
Color Theory Tutorials
Composition for Paintings
Perspective Tutorials
Landscape Painting Tutorials

Abstract Art Tutorials
Figure & Portrait Painting Tutorials
Painting Animals Tutorials
Still Life Painting Tutorials
Paint Like the Old and Modern Masters
Painting for Halloween
Painting for Christmas

Monthly Painting Projects

Each month a new painting project is set with the intention of encouraging you to explore new subjects and/or techniques, to challenge yourself in a new way, and to kickstart your creativity. The details of each month's project will be available on the first of that month. The overall list shows the themes.

Step-by-Step Painting Demos

Follow the development of paintings from start to finish in this collection of step-by-step painting demonstrations and tutorials.

Video Painting Demos

Watch artists at work in this collection of short video painting demos, which includes technique demonstrations and start-to-finished paintings.

Color Theory Tutorials

Knowledge of color theory and color mixing is one of the most important aspects of painting. Don't let the word 'theory' intimidate you, it's not about memorizing facts, but rather about practical experimentation. Color is, after all, a fundamental aspect of painting.

Composition for Paintings

Composition is about how elements are arranged or organized in a painting. There are certain rules, or fundamentals, every painter ought to be familiar with -- even if you're intend on breaking the rules.

Perspective Tutorials

Perspective is the system or technique used by artists to create a three-dimensional illusion of what we see on a two-dimensional surface, that is a canvas or a piece of paper.

Landscape Painting Tutorials

A spectacular landscape makes my fingers itch to paint it. Find out more about how to approach a landscape painting, including deciding what to include or leave out.

Abstract Art Tutorials

In the century or so since abstract art first hit the Western art world, we've learned to take much of it for granted though it's still probably the most misunderstood form of painting. Learn more about what exactly is meant by abstract art, and how to approach the creation of this style of painting.

Figure & Portrait Painting Tutorials

The human figure is a very appealing subject for a painting, but presents an array of challenges, not least getting the proportions right so the result looks like a human and not an alien.

Painting Animals Tutorials

The beauty of animals can make for gorgeous paintings, but there are various unique challenges, not least of which is painting fur and feathers!

Still Life Painting Tutorials

A still life is one of the most exciting subjects for a painting as you've got so much control over what you include, how you arrange the elements, and how you light it.

Paint Like the Old and Modern Masters

Studying and copies the work of famous painters and the Old Masters is both inspiring and instructional. Looking at a painting you wish you'd painted will motivate you to try something similar, while studying the way an artist worked and making a copy of a painting helps improve your own work.

Painting for Halloween

Halloween is a great excuse for getting out your black paint and expressing the darker side of your personality. Just remember not to use art paints to paint your skin!