Updated Articles and Resources

By Marion Boddy-Evans, About.com Guide since 2002

Elements of Composition -- Rhythm Created: Friday, May 25, 2012 Updated: Saturday, May 26, 2012
See what is meant by rhythm in art composition, in this analysis of the underlying structure of a painting.
Composition -- Art Glossary Definition Created: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what is meant by composition in a fine arts context, and what the basic elements are.
Blocking In -- Art Glossary Definition Created: Monday, January 23, 2006 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what is mean by blocking in when working on a painting.
Elements of Painting -- Art Glossary Definition Created: Thursday, November 26, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what is meant by the elements of painting, sometimes called the formal elements art, from the About.com Art Glossary.
Placing Elements in a Painting Composition Created: Thursday, November 26, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Using this method makes it easier to decide where to place things in a painting, to set the layout or composition, without the risk of ruining anything.
What is a Still Life Painting - Art Glossary Definition Created: Thursday, August 30, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what is meant by a still life painting, and what objects are typically included.
Art Glossary Eugene Delacroix -- French Painter Eugene Delacroix Created: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
An explanation of who the French painter Eugene Delacroix was, and his importance to painting.
Painterly -- Art Glossary Definition Created: Friday, February 01, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what is meant by the term painterly when talking about art.
Photos of Paint Color Mixing Charts Created: Friday, February 13, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Share in the joys of color mixing and exploring color theory in this photo gallery of sample mixing charts.
Color Mixing Charts with a Colored Background Created: Friday, July 30, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Discover how working on colored paper influences the results of your color mixing when painting.
Watercolor Color Mixing Chart -- Viridian Green and Alizarin Crimson Created: Friday, February 13, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
A color chart showing the range viridian green and alizarin crimson produce when mixed together in varying proportions.
Watercolor Color Mixing Chart -- French Ultramarine and Cadmium Orange Created: Friday, February 13, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
A color chart showing the variety you can get when mixing French ultramarine and cadmium orange.
Watercolor Color Mixing Chart -- Ultramarine Violet and Cadmium Yellow Created: Friday, February 13, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
A color chart showing what you get when you mix ultramarine violet and cadmium yellow.
Watercolor Color Mixing Chart Sap Green and Rose Madder Created: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
A color chart mixing two colors, sap green and rose madder, showing how useful such a chart is when learning to paint.
Watercolor Paint Color Chart Created: Friday, January 16, 2009 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Painting up a color chart gives you an at-a-glance visual reference for each color or pigment. Take a look, then give it a go yourself.
Famous Artists Giorgio Morandi Biography Created: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
A look at the life and style of the 20th century Italian artist Giorgio Morandi famous for his serene still-life paintings of bottles, vases, and jars.
Fat Over Lean Oil Painting Technique Created: Friday, January 09, 2004 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Find out what fat-over-lean is about and why it's an essential technique for oil painting. It's a rule you ignore at your peril!
Rigger or Liner Paint Brush Created: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Find out more about rigger brushes in this introduction to the different types of art paint brushes that you can use for painting.
Types of Art Paint Brush Created: Sunday, June 03, 2007 Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012
Learn about the different types of art brushes you can use for painting, and what you can do with each, with this photo index.
The Most Tedious and Boring Art Tasks Created: Monday, January 31, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Being creative through art is rewarding and enriching, but there are some unavoidable art tasks that are simply tedious and boring. This is a list of what I think are the worst.
What is the Most Dull Task in Painting an Artwork? Created: Monday, January 31, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Share what you think the most boring, dull, tedious, hideous task involved in art or painting task there is.
Book Review 4th Edition Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards Created: Saturday, June 07, 2003 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
My review of the classic text by Betty Edwards on enhancing creativity by using the right side of your brain when drawing. The 4th edition was issued in 2012.
Free Printable Number Stencils Created: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A set of free printable number stencils.
Painting Poetry -- A Month of Ideas for Painting Poetry Created: Sunday, February 15, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A month's worth of ideas for paintings inspired by poetry.
Badlands Canyon 1 by Starrpoint - Submit an Entry: Painting Project Abstracting Nature Created: Sunday, May 20, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
Take a look at a painting inspired by a Badland's canyon in the photo gallery for the abstracting nature project.
Badland's Canyon 2 by Starrpoint - Submit an Entry: Painting Project Abstracting Nature Created: Sunday, May 20, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
Take a look at another painting inspired by canyons in the Badlands in the photo gallery for the abstracting nature project.
Red Sky by Mickey Oberman - Submit an Entry: Painting Project Abstracting Nature Created: Sunday, May 20, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
Take a look at a painting inspired by a red sky at night in the photo gallery for the abstracting nature project.
Engraving -- Art Glossary Definition Created: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what is meant by an engraving, in a fine arts context.
Emerging Artist -- Art Glossary Definition Created: Sunday, April 30, 2006 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what makes someone an emerging artist, from the About.com Art Glossary.
Etching -- Art Glossary Definition Created: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what an etching is in art.
Sword Brush Created: Sunday, May 20, 2012 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
A sword brush is a versatile tool for creating flowing, expressive lines in a painting.
Egg Tempera -- Art Glossary Egg Tempera Created: Thursday, March 08, 2007 Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2012
An easy-to-understand explanation of what egg tempera paint is (and what part of an egg is used!).

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