Painting Tips for Beginners
An ever-growing collection of helpful painting tips that are relevant to all painting mediums, submitted by fellow artists.
Painting Tip: Attaching a Frame to a Canvas
A useful tip on how to attach a frame to a canvas.
A useful tip on how to attach a frame to a canvas.
How to Cut Hardboard Panels for Painting
A useful explanation on how to cut a variety of size painting panels from a large sheet of hardboard. It's a real money-saving painting tip.
A useful explanation on how to cut a variety of size painting panels from a large sheet of hardboard. It's a real money-saving painting tip.
Creating Texture in Gesso
A tip on how to save paint by creating texture in the gesso or primer.
A tip on how to save paint by creating texture in the gesso or primer.
Painting a Sunset Sky with Yellow on the Horizon
Tips on how to paint clouds.
Tips on how to paint clouds.
Painting Tip: Enlarge a Sketch onto a Canvas Without Drawing a Grid
A helpful painting tip on a technique for enlarging a drawing or sketch onto a canvas without drawing a grid over it.
A helpful painting tip on a technique for enlarging a drawing or sketch onto a canvas without drawing a grid over it.
Getting a Paint Tube Cap Back On
A painting tip on how to solve the problem of paint tube cap getting clogged up and not wanting to screw back on.
A painting tip on how to solve the problem of paint tube cap getting clogged up and not wanting to screw back on.
Painting Tip: Sketch on a Canvas with Pastel
A helpful painting tip on what to use when sketching or drawing on a canvas.
A helpful painting tip on what to use when sketching or drawing on a canvas.
Storing Paintings Done on Paper
Painting tip on where to find a cheap board when painting on paper.
Painting tip on where to find a cheap board when painting on paper.
Painting Tip: Quick Background
A painting tip on how get a background painted quickly and smoothly.
A painting tip on how get a background painted quickly and smoothly.
Tips on Selling Your Paintings and Getting into a Gallery
Advice on how to make a living from your art from an experienced artist.
Advice on how to make a living from your art from an experienced artist.
Storing Paintings Done on Paper
Painting tips on how to safely store paintings done on paper without framing them.
Painting tips on how to safely store paintings done on paper without framing them.
Painting a Straight Edges Using a Canvas Key
A tip on how to painting a straight edge using a canvas key.
A tip on how to painting a straight edge using a canvas key.
Painting a Sunset Sky with Yellow on the Horizon
A tip on how to paint a sunset sky.
A tip on how to paint a sunset sky.
Advantage of Brown Wooden Palette
A painting tip explaining the advantage of using a brown wooden palette when painting with oils.
A painting tip explaining the advantage of using a brown wooden palette when painting with oils.
How to Cut Panels from Hardboard for Painting
A useful tip on how to cut a variety of size painting panels from a large sheet of hardboard.
A useful tip on how to cut a variety of size painting panels from a large sheet of hardboard.
Tip on Painting Shadows on Flowers
A helpful painting tip on what colors to use to paint shadows on yellows flowers.
A helpful painting tip on what colors to use to paint shadows on yellows flowers.
Tip on Painting Abstracts
A helpful painting tip on what colors to use to paint shadows on yellow flowers.
A helpful painting tip on what colors to use to paint shadows on yellow flowers.
Perspective Painting Tip -- Managing Distant Vanishing Points
A useful tip on how to manage distant vanishing points and keep control of a ruler while doing so.
A useful tip on how to manage distant vanishing points and keep control of a ruler while doing so.
Tip on Priming a Large Canvas
A helpful painting tip on priming a very large canvas easily.
A helpful painting tip on priming a very large canvas easily.
Tip on Painting Water
A helpful painting tip on how to paint realistic water.
A helpful painting tip on how to paint realistic water.
Value or Tone in an Underpainting
A tip on how what values or tones to use for a successful underpainting.
A tip on how what values or tones to use for a successful underpainting.
Using Fan Brushes for Painting Grass
A tip on using fan brushes as an easy way to paint realistic grass.
A tip on using fan brushes as an easy way to paint realistic grass.
Containers for Rinsing Paint Brushes
A useful tip on how to make your own containers for rinsing your oil or acrylic paint brushes.
A useful tip on how to make your own containers for rinsing your oil or acrylic paint brushes.
Painting Tip: Putting Down Detail
A tip for beginners on how to put down detail in a painting when you're struggling to do it with a brush and paint.
A tip for beginners on how to put down detail in a painting when you're struggling to do it with a brush and paint.
Painting Tip: Draw on Canvas With a Brush Not a Pencil
A helpful painting tip on how to 'draw' a design or composition on a canvas without it smudging when you start painting.
A helpful painting tip on how to 'draw' a design or composition on a canvas without it smudging when you start painting.
Painting Tips: Drying Your Painting Brushes
A tip on how to dry your painting brushes.
A tip on how to dry your painting brushes.
Painting Tips: Painting Wet-on-Wet
How to use a brush when painting wet on wet.
How to use a brush when painting wet on wet.
Painting Tips: What To Do If a Paint Tube Cap Breaks
What you should do if the cap from a paint tube splits or breaks.
What you should do if the cap from a paint tube splits or breaks.
Painting Tips: Landscapes
A tip on taking reference photos for landscape paintings.
A tip on taking reference photos for landscape paintings.
Painting Tips: Using a Toast Rack for Brushes
A painting tip on what to use to stop brushes with paint on them from contaminating one another.
A painting tip on what to use to stop brushes with paint on them from contaminating one another.
Painting Tips: Beating Painter's Block
A tip on what to do when you've got a creative block.
A tip on what to do when you've got a creative block.
Painting Tips: Don't Get Discouraged
A tip on why you shouldn't get discouraged with the first two coats of paint.
A tip on why you shouldn't get discouraged with the first two coats of paint.
Painting Tip: Making Tubes for Leftover Paint
A tip on using aluminum foil to make tubes for leftover paint.
A tip on using aluminum foil to make tubes for leftover paint.
Painting Tips: Put in Mid-Tones First
A tip on why you should first paint in the mid-tones, not the lights.
A tip on why you should first paint in the mid-tones, not the lights.
Painting Tips: Adding Tooth to Hardboard
A tip on how to add tooth to hardboard you want to paint on.
A tip on how to add tooth to hardboard you want to paint on.
Painting Tip: Using Pipe Clamps to Attach a Canvas to a Frame
A useful tip on how to attach a frame to a canvas.
A useful tip on how to attach a frame to a canvas.
PaintingTips -- Use Modern Gesso for Fresco
A tip on how to choose the size of artwork for your wall
A tip on how to choose the size of artwork for your wall
PaintingTips -- Choosing the Size of Artwork for Your Wall
A tip on how to choose the size of artwork for your wall
A tip on how to choose the size of artwork for your wall
Painting tips -- Seeing as a Painter
A painting tip on how it's crucial to view the world through a painter's eyes.
A painting tip on how it's crucial to view the world through a painter's eyes.
Painting tips -- Protecting Reference Material
A painting tip on how to keep paint off your reference material.
A painting tip on how to keep paint off your reference material.
Painting tips -- Using a Proportion Wheel
A painting tip on how to use a proportion wheel.
A painting tip on how to use a proportion wheel.
Painting tips -- Getting Last Paint Out of a Tube
A painting tip on how to get the very last bit of paint out of a tube.
A painting tip on how to get the very last bit of paint out of a tube.
Painting tips -- Fixing Brush Hairs
A painting tip on straightening the hairs on a brush.
A painting tip on straightening the hairs on a brush.
Painting Tips: Create a Series
A painting tip on why you should paint variations of an idea, as a series.
A painting tip on why you should paint variations of an idea, as a series.
Painting tips -- Easy Way to Use a Hairdryer
A painting tip on how to set up a hairdryer on your easel so it's always easy to use.
A painting tip on how to set up a hairdryer on your easel so it's always easy to use.
Painting Tip: Shampooing Brushes
Painting tips on shampooing brushes: washing your brushes carefully will prolong their useful life.
Painting tips on shampooing brushes: washing your brushes carefully will prolong their useful life.
Painting Tip: Removing a Dent in a Canvas
Painting tips on how to remove a small dent from a canvas.
Painting tips on how to remove a small dent from a canvas.
Painting Tip: Stamps for Face Painting
Have you ever thought of using rubber stamps for quick details when face painting?
Have you ever thought of using rubber stamps for quick details when face painting?
Painting Tip: Photographing Objects for a Still Life
A useful painting tip on using photos for the objects in still life.
A useful painting tip on using photos for the objects in still life.
Painting Tip: How to Set Up a Successful Still Life
A useful tip on how to set up the objects for a still life painting.
A useful tip on how to set up the objects for a still life painting.
Painting Tip: Barn Roofs
A useful tip for when you're painting barn roofs.
A useful tip for when you're painting barn roofs.
Painting Tip: Choosing Between Cotton and Linen Canvas
A tip on how to decide between linen or cotton canvas as a painting ground.
A tip on how to decide between linen or cotton canvas as a painting ground.
Painting Tip: Making Varnish Less Glossy
A painting tip on how to reduce how glossy a varnish is.
A painting tip on how to reduce how glossy a varnish is.
Painting Tip: Preventing Stuck Paint Tube Caps
A painting tip on how to solve the problem of paint tube caps getting stuck.
A painting tip on how to solve the problem of paint tube caps getting stuck.
Painting Tip: Cleaning an Eraser
A painting tip on how to easily clean an eraser when it becomes dirty.
A painting tip on how to easily clean an eraser when it becomes dirty.
Painting Tip: Keeping Brushes From Going Hard
A painting tip on how to prevent your paint brushes from going hard during or after painting.
A painting tip on how to prevent your paint brushes from going hard during or after painting.
Painting Tip: Using Low Tack Masking Tape
A painting tip on how to use low tack masking tape to mask out areas in a painting.
A painting tip on how to use low tack masking tape to mask out areas in a painting.
Painting Tip: Using Impasto to Hide a Dent
A painting tip on how to hide a dent in a painting by using impasto.
A painting tip on how to hide a dent in a painting by using impasto.
Painting Tip: Shape of Canvas for Landscape Painting
A painting tip on what the best shape is for a canvas for a landscape painting.
A painting tip on what the best shape is for a canvas for a landscape painting.
Painting Tip: Photographing 2D and 3D Work for a Portfolio
A painting tip on how best to photograph 2-d and 3-d work for a portfolio
A painting tip on how best to photograph 2-d and 3-d work for a portfolio
Painting Tip: Rescuing Fuzzy Brushes
A painting tip about how to tame fuzzy hairs on a brush. Though you'll need a steady hand to do it!
A painting tip about how to tame fuzzy hairs on a brush. Though you'll need a steady hand to do it!
Painting Tip: Cleaning a Palette When Plein-Air Painting
A painting tip on how clean a palette when plein-air painting
A painting tip on how clean a palette when plein-air painting
Painting Tip: Tearing a Sheet of Paper in Half Easily
A painting tip on how to tear a sheet of paper in half easily and with a straight edge.
A painting tip on how to tear a sheet of paper in half easily and with a straight edge.
Painting Tip: Organize All Your Brushes
A painting tip on how to organise all your brushes in your studio.
A painting tip on how to organise all your brushes in your studio.
Painting Tip: Use Daylight Bulbs in Your Studio
A painting tip on why you should use daylight bulbs in your studio.
A painting tip on why you should use daylight bulbs in your studio.
Painting Tip: Retaining Brush Shape
A painting tip on how to dry your brushes so they maintain their shape
A painting tip on how to dry your brushes so they maintain their shape
Painting Tip: DIY Moisture-Retaining Palette
A painting tip on how to create your own moisture-retaining palette.
A painting tip on how to create your own moisture-retaining palette.
Painting Tip: Storing Paper for Easy Access
A painting tip on how to store you paper so you have easy access to it.
A painting tip on how to store you paper so you have easy access to it.
Painting Tip: Straight Lines
A painting tip on using a foam brush to get staight lines.
A painting tip on using a foam brush to get staight lines.
Painting Tip: Tightening Loose Canvas
A tip on how to tighten a loose canvas without taking it off the stretchers.
A tip on how to tighten a loose canvas without taking it off the stretchers.
Painting Tip: Making a Frame to Mail a Painting Safely
A tip on making a frame to mail a painting safely.
A tip on making a frame to mail a painting safely.
Painting Tip: Converting a Stepladder into an Easel
A tip on converting a stepladder into an easel.
A tip on converting a stepladder into an easel.
Painting Tip: Use Standard Size Canvasses
A tip on using standard size canvasses so you can buy pre-made frames.
A tip on using standard size canvasses so you can buy pre-made frames.
Painting Tip: Framing Pastels
A tip on how to frame pastel paintings.
A tip on how to frame pastel paintings.
Painting Tip: Making Your Own Strip Frames
A tip on how make your own strip frames.
A tip on how make your own strip frames.
Painting Tip: Paint the Edges of the Canvas Instead of Framing
A tip on painting the edges of a canvas instead of framing.
A tip on painting the edges of a canvas instead of framing.
Painting Tip: Look At What Framing the Top Galleries Are Doing
A tip on basing your framing decisions on what the top galleries are presently doing.
A tip on basing your framing decisions on what the top galleries are presently doing.
Painting Tip: Leave the Framing to the Buyer
A tip on leaving the decision about what frame to have on a painting to the person who buys it.
A tip on leaving the decision about what frame to have on a painting to the person who buys it.
Painting Tip: Convincing Shadows
A tip on how to get convincing shadows in a painting.
A tip on how to get convincing shadows in a painting.
Painting Tip: Adding VAT to a Painting's Selling Price
A tip on adding VAT to the selling price of a painting at a gallery.
A tip on adding VAT to the selling price of a painting at a gallery.