Updated Articles and Resources

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

Art Glossary: Pencil Hardness Created: Sunday, December 19, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 24, 2013
An easy-to-understand explanation of the different levels of hardness found in pencils, from hardest to softest.
Art Glossary: Graphite Created: Friday, May 24, 2013 Updated: Friday, May 24, 2013
An explanation of what a 'graphite' is when you're talking art. Hint: it's what you typically get inside a "normal" pencil.
Finishing a Painting: Are We There Yet? Created: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Find out how to know when a painting is completed, when to down brushes and declare it finished.
When is a Painting Finished? Created: Friday, July 08, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tips and advice on how to decide when a painting is finished, or whether you should keep working on it.
Elements of Composition: Movement Created: Sunday, October 21, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
See what is meant by movement in art composition and how to achieve it in your own paintings, with a look at one by Van Gogh as an example.
7 Techniques for Creating a Painting Created: Thursday, August 23, 2007 Updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
A look at the different ways you can create a painting, with a photo showing an example of each.
The 5 Stages in Making a Painting: From Start to Finish Created: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Find out what it takes to make a painting, and understand the stages or steps in every painting's creation.
Basic Supplies for Pastels Video Created: Monday, May 13, 2013 Updated: Monday, May 13, 2013
When using pastels, make sure you have the appropriate paper that's used for either pastel or charcoal drawing, and that you have a selection of pastels that give you a range of colors.
Basic Supplies for Watercolor Painting Video Created: Monday, May 13, 2013 Updated: Monday, May 13, 2013
When using watercolors, the basic supplies you need involve a brush and heavy, block paper; appropriate for watercolor painting. Learn about different types of watercolor paint, and various waterco...
Tips for Working With Acrylics Video Created: Monday, May 13, 2013 Updated: Monday, May 13, 2013
Learn how to mix acrylic paint, in addition to using acrylic ink, a much thinner version of acrylic paint that adds a different texture and style to your next creation.
What are Pastels? Video Created: Thursday, May 09, 2013 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Pastels come in a range of colors, and are relatively easy to blend. Learn how to blend pastels, and the best way to make pastel colors pop.
What Is Acrylic Paint? Video Created: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
There are a number of acrylic paint varieties, including fluid acrylic and medium to heavy body paints. Learn about the various ways this paint can be used, and how to create layers with acrylic pa...
What Is Watercolor Paint? Video Created: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Watercolor is very fluid, and easy to blend type of paint. Learn a general overview of water color paint, and why it's so easy to use.
How Does Water Soluble Oil Paint Work? Created: Sunday, January 08, 2006 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Find out how water soluble oil paint works, given it's supposed to be impossible to mix oil and water together.
How to Get Your Creative Itch Back Created: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Feeling uninspired and blocked? Find out how you can get your creative itch back in only 15 minutes a day.
How Do I Overcome My Fear of a Blank Canvas or Sheet of Paper? Created: Sunday, November 19, 2006 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Find out what to do when being faced with a new, blank canvas paralyzes you with fear into inaction.
How Long Should It Take to Finish a Painting? Created: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Updated: Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Just how long should you expect it to take you to finish a painting? Should it be a few hours, days, or longer? Find out here.
The Dawn by Dittz De Jesus Created: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, May 07, 2013
from the Abstracted Landscapes Project Gallery.
Paint Pigment: Perylene Green or Black (PBk31) Created: Monday, February 09, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Information on perylene green paint pigment, including its characteristics. It's sometimes called Perylene black.
Two Very Early Paintings by Marion Boddy-Evans Created: Sunday, December 05, 2010 Updated: Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Share a photo of your oldest or first painting using this online form, and take a look at other artists'.
Digital Art Papers Created: Sunday, November 09, 2008 Updated: Tuesday, May 07, 2013
A look at the various types of digital art paper available, suitable for making prints of your paintings, for printing original digital art, and more.
Are the Sizes for a Painting Given With or Without the Frame? Created: Friday, August 04, 2006 Updated: Tuesday, May 07, 2013
How are the measurements for a painting calculated? Should the frame be included or not? Find out in this Painting Problem Solver.
Learn a New Hobby Created: Thursday, February 02, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 06, 2013
If you've decided it's time to take up a hobby or learn a new one, here's a list of ideas, with links to the information you need to get started.
Review: Winsor & Newton Artist's Oilbars Created: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Updated: Monday, May 06, 2013
My thoughts on what Winsor & Newton's Artists' Oilbars are like to use. In short, if you like drawing and painting equally, you may be in heaven using them!
Painting Content Contributor: Gerald Dextraze Created: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 Updated: Monday, May 06, 2013
Brief biography of painting content contributor Gerald Dextraze.
New Moon Rising by Bamboo Created: Saturday, May 04, 2013 Updated: Saturday, May 04, 2013
Using color and composition powerfully in an abstract inspired by the moon and darkness; from the Abstracted Landscapes Project Gallery.
A Warli Village by Meera Ahuja Created: Saturday, May 04, 2013 Updated: Saturday, May 04, 2013
Using a traditional form of art from India to convey the abstracted essence of a landscape; from the art project gallery.
Turn a Canvas Sideways Created: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Updated: Saturday, May 04, 2013
Learn to improve your painting compositions with these before and after examples. Here it took turning the canvas 90 degrees to make the painting work.
Painting Composition Examples Created: Monday, April 07, 2008 Updated: Saturday, May 04, 2013
Learn how to improve your painting compositions with these before and after examples of actual paintings.
How Do I Measure Canvas on a Roll for Painting? Created: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
You've bought a whole roll of blank canvas, now find out how to get pieces to the size suitable for painting.
What You Need to Know Painting Canvas Created: Thursday, April 23, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Learn about the different types of canvas available for painting, and tips on how to decide what canvas to use.
Spring Storm at Myrtle Edwards by VortexOne Created: Thursday, April 25, 2013 Updated: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Can trees be too bright green? See for yourself in this painting from the Abstracted Landscapes Project Gallery.