Painting for Beginners and Essential Painting Know-How
If you've wanting to learn how to paint, have just begun painting, or wish to refresh your knowledge on some essential technique, this collection of helpful tips and fundamental techniques for all mediums is the place to start.
Painting Problem Solver (31)
Artist's Reference Photos @
Painting Projects/Galleries (7)
Sketchbooks and Sketching (14)
Types of Paint / Mediums (87)
Fine Art and Giclee Prints (12)
Art Composition (15)
Art Glossary A-Z (238)
Painting Tips (193)
Varnishing Paintings (9)
Step-by-Step Painting Demos (77)
Commonly Asked Questions by Absolute Beginners to Painting
No-one is born with a paint brush in their hand, everyone learned from scratch at some stage. This list of commonly asked questions will help you get started on your creative journey as an artist.
No-one is born with a paint brush in their hand, everyone learned from scratch at some stage. This list of commonly asked questions will help you get started on your creative journey as an artist.
Learn to Paint: Your First Ever Painting
What you need to do and know to start painting for the very first time.
What you need to do and know to start painting for the very first time.
How to Decide What Paint to Use
This Q&A help you decide between the most commonly used paints: oils, acrylics, watercolours, and pastels.
This Q&A help you decide between the most commonly used paints: oils, acrylics, watercolours, and pastels.
Painting Techniques: Approaches to Covering the Canvas
A look at the various ways to approaching the creation of a painting, none of which is better or more correct than another but rather a matter of personal preference and technique.
A look at the various ways to approaching the creation of a painting, none of which is better or more correct than another but rather a matter of personal preference and technique.
Six Things To Decide Before Starting to Paint
Ultimately the degree to which you plan out a painting depends on your personality, some people find it essential and others a hindrance. But regardless of how detailed you like to plan (or not), there are several decisions that have to be made before you to start to paint.
Ultimately the degree to which you plan out a painting depends on your personality, some people find it essential and others a hindrance. But regardless of how detailed you like to plan (or not), there are several decisions that have to be made before you to start to paint.
Where to Find Free Reference Photos to Use in Paintings
Find out where you can obtain free reference photos that you can use in your paintings.
Find out where you can obtain free reference photos that you can use in your paintings.
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 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 ways to ruin a painting...
Painting Basic Shapes: A Sphere
The sphere is one of the basic shapes that creates the illusion of reality in a painting. Find out how to paint a sphere, not just a flat circle.
The sphere is one of the basic shapes that creates the illusion of reality in a painting. Find out how to paint a sphere, not just a flat circle.
Art Worksheets
A collection of free art worksheets to use to complete various painting and art tutorials and exercises.
A collection of free art worksheets to use to complete various painting and art tutorials and exercises.
5 Ways to Ruin an Art Paint Brush
If you look after it well, a paint brush can last a long time, but it's very easy to ruin it too...
If you look after it well, a paint brush can last a long time, but it's very easy to ruin it too...
7 Steps to a Successful Painting
An explanation of the seven steps to a successful painting, by Canadian artist Brian Simons. Though this method of painting may seem quite simple and unsophisticated, it works.
An explanation of the seven steps to a successful painting, by Canadian artist Brian Simons. Though this method of painting may seem quite simple and unsophisticated, it works.
Photo Gallery: Inside Artists' Studios
Take a peek inside the studios of various painters in this photo gallery of artist's studios.
Take a peek inside the studios of various painters in this photo gallery of artist's studios.
How to Read the Label on a Tube of Paint
Find out what the 'small print' on a paint tube label means.
Find out what the 'small print' on a paint tube label means.
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.
An explanation of what negative space in a painting is, how and why to use it, and why it's so useful.
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.
An introduction to using a painting knife rather than a brush, including selecting a suitable painting knife and tips on painting with a knife.
Mark Making with a Painting Knife.
The range of marks you can produce when painting with a knife rather than a brush is quite varied, and can produce beautiful effects.
The range of marks you can produce when painting with a knife rather than a brush is quite varied, and can produce beautiful effects.
Are You Holding Your Paint Brush Correctly?
When you pick up an artist's paint brush for the first time, chances are you'll hold it in your hand in the same way you would a pencil or pen, with your fingers close to the ferrule. If you never hold a brush in any other way, you'll be limiting the range of marks you create with a brush.
When you pick up an artist's paint brush for the first time, chances are you'll hold it in your hand in the same way you would a pencil or pen, with your fingers close to the ferrule. If you never hold a brush in any other way, you'll be limiting the range of marks you create with a brush.
How to Paint Glazes
This hub of all my articles on glazing will help you on your way to using glazes successfully in your paintings.
This hub of all my articles on glazing will help you on your way to using glazes successfully in your paintings.
How to Paint Shadows
This hub of all my articles on painting shadows articles will help you on your way to realistic and convincing shadows.
This hub of all my articles on painting shadows articles will help you on your way to realistic and convincing shadows.
Myths About Being an Artist
There are a lot of false beliefs about what it takes to be an artist. Starting with the belief that talent is essential... it's not.
There are a lot of false beliefs about what it takes to be an artist. Starting with the belief that talent is essential... it's not.
How to Create a Body of Work and Distinctive Style as an Artist
If you want to get an art gallery to represent you, you'll need a body of work showing you have a distinct style and sufficient paintings. Artist Martha Marshall has an exercise that's ideal for creating a body of work.
If you want to get an art gallery to represent you, you'll need a body of work showing you have a distinct style and sufficient paintings. Artist Martha Marshall has an exercise that's ideal for creating a body of work.
Painting on Hardboard
What are the advantages of painting on hardboard and how do you prepare it?
What are the advantages of painting on hardboard and how do you prepare it?
Negative Space: What It Is and How to Use It in a Painting
Negative space isn't the place your mind retreats to when a painting isn't going well. Negative space is the space between objects or parts of an object, or around it. Studying this can have a surprisingly positive effect on a painting.
Negative space isn't the place your mind retreats to when a painting isn't going well. Negative space is the space between objects or parts of an object, or around it. Studying this can have a surprisingly positive effect on a painting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
22 Mistakes to Avoid When Painting
Tips on how to avoid mistakes commonly made in paintings, from the Canadan artist Brian Simons, who works in acrylics.
Tips on how to avoid mistakes commonly made in paintings, from the Canadan artist Brian Simons, who works in acrylics.
Painting Video: A Demonstration Using a Painting Knife
A short video painting demonstration showing how to paint using a knife instead of a brush.
A short video painting demonstration showing how to paint using a knife instead of a brush.
How to Deal with Critical Comments About Your Art
Harsh, uncalled for criticism of your art can be devastating. Here are some tips on how to deal with unwelcome and unrequested criticism.
Harsh, uncalled for criticism of your art can be devastating. Here are some tips on how to deal with unwelcome and unrequested criticism.
Canvas Keys: What Are They For?
Why you get those little bits of wood or plastic with a canvas.
Why you get those little bits of wood or plastic with a canvas.
Painting Techniques: Sgraffito
What is sgraffito and how do you use this painting technique?
What is sgraffito and how do you use this painting technique?
Which Painting Subjects Sell Best?
If you want to sell lots of paintings, what subjects should you be painting?
If you want to sell lots of paintings, what subjects should you be painting?
How to Develop a Personal Painting Style
How do you develop a personal, identifiable painting style? Is it something that comes naturally or do you have to work at it? Here are some tips from fellow artists.
How do you develop a personal, identifiable painting style? Is it something that comes naturally or do you have to work at it? Here are some tips from fellow artists.
Light Sources or Directions
When painting, one decision that must be made at composition stage, is where the light is going to come from as this influences the shadows, contrasts, and colours. So what are the choices?
When painting, one decision that must be made at composition stage, is where the light is going to come from as this influences the shadows, contrasts, and colours. So what are the choices?
Painting Shadows: Cast Shadows and Form Shadows
Not all shadows are equal. There are in fact two very different kinds of shadows that occur in any subject -- cast shadows and form shadows. Identifying these and approaching them differently, rather than just painting a generic ‘shadow’, will enhance any painting.
Not all shadows are equal. There are in fact two very different kinds of shadows that occur in any subject -- cast shadows and form shadows. Identifying these and approaching them differently, rather than just painting a generic ‘shadow’, will enhance any painting.
Painting Trees
Trees are not cardboard cutouts with brown trunks and leaves that are simply green if it's summer, red if it's autumn, or absent if it's winter.
Trees are not cardboard cutouts with brown trunks and leaves that are simply green if it's summer, red if it's autumn, or absent if it's winter.
How To Care For Your Brushes
Your brushes are an investment. By cleaning them thoroughly at the end of a painting session, they will last longer.
Your brushes are an investment. By cleaning them thoroughly at the end of a painting session, they will last longer.
What Makes a Painting Good or Bad?
Asking the deceptively simply question: "What makes painting a good work of art?" started a fascinating debate on the Painting Forum. Here are the highlights of the discussion.
Asking the deceptively simply question: "What makes painting a good work of art?" started a fascinating debate on the Painting Forum. Here are the highlights of the discussion.
How To Paint Realistic Clouds
By careful observation and collecting reference photos, you will be able to paint all manner of cloud, from fluffy bunches of cotton wool to moody storm clouds.
By careful observation and collecting reference photos, you will be able to paint all manner of cloud, from fluffy bunches of cotton wool to moody storm clouds.
Having a Painting Framed
What to expect when you take a painting to a professional framer to have it framed.
What to expect when you take a painting to a professional framer to have it framed.
Splitting Brush Hairs
You can painstakingly draw lines or small blocks one by one. Or you can split the hairs of a flat brush and get instant parallel lines or rectangles that represent windows on a skyscraper, roof tiles, bricks or fence poles.
You can painstakingly draw lines or small blocks one by one. Or you can split the hairs of a flat brush and get instant parallel lines or rectangles that represent windows on a skyscraper, roof tiles, bricks or fence poles.
The Light on Your Canvas
How to light your canvas when painting indoors and out-of-doors, under sunlight, 'normal' light, and artificial light.
How to light your canvas when painting indoors and out-of-doors, under sunlight, 'normal' light, and artificial light.
Photorealism: What's the Point?
What's the point of painting in a photorealistic style? Why not just take a photograph?
What's the point of painting in a photorealistic style? Why not just take a photograph?
Safety Tips for Using Art Materials
Most of the safety issues with art materials ought to be common sense, but here are some safety tips to keep in mind when painting.
Most of the safety issues with art materials ought to be common sense, but here are some safety tips to keep in mind when painting.