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Painting: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Right Brain Quiz for Artists -- The Questions
This right brain left brain quiz for artists will help you determine whether your right or left side of your brain is dominant
Free Stencils: Christmas
A collection of free Christmas stencils to print and cut out.
Free Stencils Collection
A collection of free stencils to print and cut out. New stencils are added regularly. Subjects include animals, flowers, food, nature, sea, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween stencils. Even stencils for painting pumpkins.
Top 10 Acrylic Painting Tips
Acrylic paints are extremely versatile, fast-drying paints. These 10 tips to help you get started painting with acrylics.
Art Glossary: 'A' Paper Sizes
An explanation of what the various 'A' paper sizes are, and how the system works.
Wassily Kandinsky: Murnau Street with Women
Get an understanding for the impact Vincent van Gogh had on German and Austrian Expressionist painters with this photo gallery of paintings from the "Van Gogh and Expressionism" Exhibition held at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Neue Galerie in New York.
Color Theory Basics for Art
All the basic information you need to know about color theory and color mixing, arranged in easy-to-understand color theory lessons.
Right / Left Brain Artists
An easy-to-understand explanation of the theory behind the right brain left brain concepts and why it's relevant to painters.
Color Theory Quiz
Test your knowledge of basic color theory with this quiz
Free Nature Stencils
A collection of free printable nature stencils to print and cut out, for personal use.
10 Oil Painting Tips
Top 10 oil painting tips for professional results with oil paints.
Monet's Bridge Painting Demo
Follow artist Karen Day-Vath as she paints a scene from Monet's garden at Giverny.
Free Stencils to Print and Cut Out - Alphabet Stencil 1
Free stencil designs for personal use - alphabet 1
Painting Personality Quiz: What Paint Should You Use?
Find out what kind of paint would best suit your personality with this quick, fun, 10-question quiz
Symbols Dictionary: Flowers
Art Symbols dictionary - flowers and plants. Add hidden meaning to your paintings by using specific flowers to symbolize love, jealous, and more.
Free Stencils -- Tree 1
Free stencil designs for personal use: Tree 1: free stencils boddy
Free Stencil - Snowflake 1
Free, printable stencil designs for personal use: snowflake
10 Tips for Fabric Painting
With a few colours and a suitable brush, fabric painting opens up endless opportunities for transforming your wardrobe and your home. Here are some tips to help.
Top 10 Tips for Face Painting
If you've never done any face painting or body painting before, these painting tips will help you get started.
How to Cut a Stencil
Step-by-step instructions on how to cut your own stencils.
Handmade Christmas Cards
Want to create your own, handmade Christmas cards? It's quick and easy with this wax-resist painting technique.
Making Art or Giclee Prints
What are Giclee or Art Prints and how are they made? What kind of quality result do they give?
Free Stencils -- Tree 2
Free stencil designs for personal use: Tree 2: free stencils boddy
Free Christmas Stencils -- Reindeer
Free stencil designs for personal use -- Christmas -- Reindeer
Painting Quiz: Oils or Acrylics?
Find out what kind of paint would best suit your personality with this quick, fun, 10-question quiz
Free Stencils: Thanksgiving
A collection of free Thanksgiving stencils to print and cut out.
Free Stencil - Snowflake 2
Free, printable stencil designs for personal use: snowflake 2
Free Stencil: Star
From the collection of free crafts stencils to print, cut out, and paint for personal use.
Free Stencils -- Christmas Star
Free stencil designs for personal use -- Christmas Star
Starting with Acrylics
Acrylic Painting Class: What you need to start painting with acrylics.
"The Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci
A gallery of famous paintings by famous artists to inspire you and to help you expand your knowledge of great paintings, such as Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting.
How To Stretch Your Own Canvas
Stretching your own canvas is easier than you may think, and can cheaper than buying ready-made canvases, and certainly means you get just the size canvas you're after.
Number Stencils: No. 1
A set of free printable number stencils.
Free Stencil - Angel with Trumpet
Free, printable stencil designs for personal use: angel with trumpet
Free Stencils -- Words and Phrases -- Merry Christmas
Free stencil designs for personal use -- Word and Phrases -- Merry Christmas
Free Stencils - Snowman 3
Free printable stencil designs for personal use - snowman with top hat and scarf
Number Stencils: No. 2
A set of free printable number stencils.
Art Glossary: Medium
An explanation of what the term medium means, in a fine art context.
Painting Christmas Cards
Want to make your own Christmas cards this year? Here's a list of various painting techniques you can use to make Christmas cards.
Paint a Christmas Ornament
How to paint a faux stained glass Christmas ornament, complete with free pattern to print.
Online Color Mixing Palette for Painters
Get familiar with the way the primary colors -- red, yellow, and blue -- mix with this online paint color mixing palette, designed specifically for painters.
Acrylics: Basic Color Palette
With so many colors available, which ones should you buy when you first start painting with acrylics?
Number Stencils: No. 3
A set of free printable number stencils.
Clouds at Sunset by Jan Atkinson
May's project is about painting clouds and cloudy skies. Take a look at the various paintings sent in for this painting project, such as this one.
Free Stencil - Snowflake 3
Free, printable stencil designs for personal use: snowflake 3
Learn to Paint
Learn to Paint: Find out what you need to do and know to start painting for the very first time, and create your first ever painting.
How to Paint Trees
The 'secret' to painting believable trees is an understanding of the underlying structure of trees complemented by observation of different species.
Write an Artist's Statement
Tips to help you write a personal artist's statement to accompany your paintings.
Tones or Values in a Painting
What is a tone in a painting, how it tone different from color, and why is it important for artists? Find out in this article on painting tones or values.
Top 5 Color Mixing Tips
Tips to help you get the best results when mixing different paint colors.
Free Stencil - Snowflake 5
Free, printable stencil designs for personal use: snowflake
Right Brain Left Brain Inventory
A table setting out what is characteristically right brain and left brain thinking
Abstract Art: An Introduction
An introduction to abstract art and abstract painting -- what it is, how it developed, and what characterizes abstract art.
Painting Clouds -- Painting Different Types of Clouds
Types of Clouds, their characteristics, and how to paint them.
Color Theory Lesson: Primary and Secondary Colors Triangle
A free art worksheet for a color theory lesson on primary and secondary colors using a color triangle.
Free Stencils - Holly Wreath
Free printable stencil designs for personal use - holly wreaths
How to Clean Your Brushes
Your brushes are an investment. By cleaning them thoroughly and properly at the end of a painting session, your brushes will last longer.
How to Make a Monotype
Making a monotype needn't be complicated, nor involve special equipment or paint. Learn how to make an monotype print in this easy, step-by-step tutorial.
Free Stencil - Snowflake 4
Free, printable stencil designs for personal use: snowflake
Landscape Painting Tips
A collection of tips to help you with your landscape paintings.
Free Stencils - Snowman 1
Free printable stencil designs for personal use - snowman 1
Free Stencils: Sea
free stencils printable stencilling stenciling Sea
Right Brain / Left Brain Quiz
Test whether your right or left side of your brain is dominant with this quiz devised specially for artists.
Famous Paintings: Claude Monet "Water Lilies"
A gallery of famous paintings by famous artists (and some not quite so famous) to inspire you and to help you expand your art history knowledge, such as this one by Claude Monet.
Free Stencils - Holly
Free printable stencil designs for personal use - holly leaves and berries
Make Christmas Cards -- Fold and Paint Your Own Christmas Cards
Tips on how to fold your own Christmas cards ready for painting.
Van Gogh's Palette
Van Gogh's adventurous use of color changed the direction of art history. Just what colors did he have in his palette?
Free Stencil - Thanksgiving Turkey
Free, printable stencil designs for personal use: Thanksgiving turkey
Number Stencils: No. 5
A set of free printable number stencils.
Intro to Water-Soluble Pencils
Information on how to use watercolor pencils or water-soluble crayons, techniques and approaches to try.
Painting Glass
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.
Glossary: Complementary Color
An explanation of what 'complementary colors' are in a fine arts context.
Free Flower Stencil: Daisy
A stencil from the collection of free flower stencils to print and cut out for personal use.
Free Stencils - Alphabet 2
Free stencil designs for personal use - alphabet 2
Free Stencils - Snowman 2
Free printable stencil designs for personal use - snowman 2
Prime a Canvas For Acrylics...
When you've stretched a canvas, the next step is to prime it so you can paint on it. With a ready-made gesso suitable for both acrylic and oil painting, priming a canvas is easy.
Vincent van Gogh: Self-Portrait With a Straw Hat and Artist's Smock
Get an understanding for the impact Vincent van Gogh had on German and Austrian Expressionist painters with this photo gallery of paintings from the "Van Gogh and Expressionism" Exhibition held at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Neue Galerie in New York.
Face Painting: Easy Clown
Step-by-step with photos showing how to create an easy clown face with face paints.
Best Acrylic Paint Brands
Which is the best brand of acrylic paint on the market? Here's my choice of my favorite acrylic paints.
Abstract Art Step by Step
Follow the development of a piece of abstract art step by step in this painting demo.
Number Stencils: No. 4
A set of free printable number stencils.
Tips on Mixing Skin Tones
A tip on what colors to use to mix skin tones for a figure painting or portrait.
Buying Oil Painting Supplies
What to consider before you buy oil painting supplies.
Face Painting: Easy Butterfly
A step-by-step demonstration of how to face paint an easy butterfly design.
Painting on a Big Canvas
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.
Famous Paintings: John Virtue London Painting
A gallery of famous paintings by famous artists (and some not quite so famous) to inspire you and to help you expand your knowledge of great paintings, such as this one by John Virtue of London.
Painting on Hardboard
What are the advantages of painting on hardboard or wood and how do you prepare it?
Painting and Art Styles
A look at the different types of painting and art styles that exist, from realism to abstract.
What Colors are Shadows?
How the Impressionists changed the colors we use to paint shadows.
How to Paint Abstracts
How to paint abstracts using a reference photograph as a starting point and source of inspiration.
Negative Space in a Painting
An explanation of what negative space in a painting is, how and why to use it, and why it's so useful.
Oil Painting: Fat Over Lean
What the oil painting technique 'fat over lean' is and why it's one of the basic techniques of oil painting.
Painting Skin Tones
An in-depth look at how to paint skin tones (both realistic and expressionist), what pigment colors to use, and how to mix suitable skin tones.
How to Paint like Monet
Learn how to paint like the Impressionist Claude Monet, starting with the colors of the paints on his palette and his use of broken color as a painting technique.
Where to Find Photos to Paint
Find out where you can obtain reference photos that you can use in your paintings.
Monthly Painting Projects 2009
Challenge yourself with these monthly painting project. Sometimes it's a subject, sometimes a technique, and sometimes in the style of a particular artist. If you complete a project, email a photo of your painting so it can be added to that project's gallery. Or post a photo of it in the Painting Forum.
Oil Painting: Drying Oils
A look at the properties of the various drying oils or mediums used in oil painting.
Free Stencil: Human Footprints
From the collection of free crafts stencils to print, cut out, and paint for personal use.
Art Quiz -- Vincent van Gogh Art Quiz
Test your knowledge of Vincent van Gogh's life with this quiz
Basic Techniques for Pastels
An introduction to the various ways in which pastels can be used in a painting.
Buy a Painting Easel
What to consider before you buy a painting easel and explanations of the types of easels are available.
Which Subjects Sell Best?
If you want to sell lots of paintings, what subjects should you be painting?
How to Varnish a Painting
Varnish is more than simply a layer to protect your painting from pollution in the atmosphere on and abrasion. It will also bring out the colours to the brilliance they had when you applied them.
Turn Acrylics to Fabric Paint
Turn your acrylic paints into fabric paints using the GAC900 acrylic medium from Golden which leaves the fabric soft.
Absolute Beginner Painting FAQ
Find answers to commonly asked questions by absolute beginners to painting.
How to Use a Painting Knife
An introduction to using a painting knife rather than a brush, including selecting a suitable painting knife and tips on painting with a knife.
Painting Clouds Wet -on-Wet
A step-by-step demonstration of painting clouds working wet-on-wet, using acrylics or oil paints.
Top 7 Tips for Painting Glazes
Tips for artists on painting glazes, whether you’re using oil paints, acrylics, or watercolor.
Face Painting Designs: Mask
Get ideas and inspiration for face painting in this photo gallery of face painting designs, such as this mask design.
Symbols Dictionary: Love
Symbols dictionary - love. Add hidden meaning to your paintings by using specific love symbols.
Leigh on a Green Sofa by Lucian Freud
A photo gallery from the MoMA exhibition on the paintings and etchings of the artist Lucian Freud.
Number Stencils: No. 6
A set of free printable number stencils.
All About Painting Glazes
Answers to frequently asked questions on painting glazes with oils or acrylics.
10 Tips for Stenciling
Stencils allow you to reproduce a pattern or design over and over again, as many times as you like. These tips will help you get good results.
Free Flower Stencil: Daisy Border
A stencil from the collection of free flower stencils to print and cut out for personal use.
Famous Paintings: Andy Warhol Campbell's Soup Cans
A gallery of famous paintings by famous artists (and some not quite so famous) to inspire you and to help you expand your knowledge of great paintings, such as this one by Andy Warhol of Campbell's Soup Cans.
Free Flower Stencil: Rose
A stencil from the collection of free flower stencils to print and cut out for personal use.
Number Stencils: No. 7
A set of free printable number stencils.
6 Things to Do Before Painting
Planning a Painting: Decisions to Make Before Putting Brush to Paint
Number Stencils: No. 8
A set of free printable number stencils.
Face Painting Safety Tips
Professional face painter Cindy Trusty shares her top safety tips for face painting, gleaned from years of experience.
Free Stencils
Free stencil designs for personal use butterfly basic
Free Stencils -- Christmas Shepherd
Free stencil designs for personal use -- Christmas shepherd
5 Ways to Ruin a Painting
Not every painting is destined to be a masterpiece, but some are doomed to failure right from the start. Here are five easy ways to ruin a painting...
Free Stencils -- Christmas Three Wise Men
Free stencil designs for personal use -- Christmas Three Wise Men
How to Frame a Canvas
How do you frame a painting done on canvas? Do you need to remove the canvas stretchers, or not? Find out in this Painting FAQ.
Free Flower Stencil: Sunflower
A stencil from the collection of free flower stencils to print and cut out for personal use.
Face Painting Designs: Tiger
Get ideas and inspiration for face painting in this photo gallery of face painting designs, such as this head-and-shoulders tiger design.
Famous Paintings: The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
A gallery of famous paintings by famous artists to inspire you and to help you expand your knowledge of great paintings, such as 'The Starry Night' by Vincent van Gogh.
Free Stencils - Alphabet 1
Free stencil designs for personal use - alphabet 1
An Artist's Glazing Secrets
An experienced oil painter reveals the simple secrets behind his success with glazing.
Color Theory Quiz
Test your knowledge of basic color theory with this quiz
Free Dog Stencils Collection: Paw Prints
A pawprint stencil from the collection of free dog stencils to print and cut out.
Art Glossary: Primary Colors
An explanation of what primary colors are, and why it is important to know about these for color mixing when painting.
Face Painting Designs: Easy African Design
Get ideas and inspiration for face painting in this photo gallery of face painting designs, such as this easy African design.
Leonardo da Vinci Art Trivia
Some intriguing facts and trivia about the life of the great artist, Leonardo da Vinci.
Figure Painting Proportions
While no-one's built exactly the same, there are certain standard proportions that help when painting figures and portraits.
How to Paint Reflections
A watercolor painting tutorial that teaches you three different way to paint reflections in water.
Free Halloween Stencils
A collection of free Halloween stencils to print and cut out.
Using Water Soluble Oils
What are water soluble oils like to use? Find out with these first-hand accounts from artists using water soluble oils.
Oil Painting Quiz
Test your knowledge of oil painting with this quick quiz
Acrylic Mediums for Painting
An explanation of the various types of acrylic mediums available for acrylic paints and what you can do with them.
Painting Tips: Composition
Use these painting tips to create stronger compositions in your art.
Landscapes: Sun Direction
One of the most crucial aspects for getting a landscape painting to look authentic is to have the direction of the light right. So what are your options?
Number Stencils: No. 9
A set of free printable number stencils.
Where to Find Painting Ideas
If you haven't got painting ideas, then all the technical painting skills in the world will do you no good. This list tells you where to find painting ideas and how to develop them into your own, original paintings.
Art Glossary: Glaze
An explanation of what a glaze is, in a fine arts or painting context.
December Painting Project In the Style of Van Gogh: Instructions
December Painting Project In the Style of Vincent van Gogh: Read what the project is about and take a look at the various paintings sent in for this painting project.
Know Your Paint Brushes
What types of hairs and bristles are used in painting brushes and which are the best?
Right Brain Exercises: Line
Use this right brain exercise to stimulate your artist's right brain, by capturing the essence of a subject through quick, gestural marks or scribbling across a page.

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