Category How to Start

During my painting classes I frequently get this question: “How do you know when a painting is finished?” All artists are faced with this dilemma. Shall I add this or remove that? On and on it goes. I like this quote from Leonardo Da Vinci: “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” Even though that says quite a bit, it doesn’t say it all.

In TransitArtist Kathryn Keller Larkins risks everything by embracing gigantic dimensions and a radically limited palette. She’s no longer a novice artist, but she still has some of the best tips for beginners to try.Larkins’ work is distinguished by many things. It’s distinguished by her decision to use a highly restricted palette, to start.

Drawing hands is one of the most popular topics learning artists ask about. That’s because knowing how to draw hands is essential if you are drawing the figure. But it can also be intimidating. That’s why I want to share with you this article on hand drawing made simple from one of our favorite instructors, Brent Eviston.

Watercolor Brushstrokes for the Beginner ArtistThe way you hold your brush, and move it, has a direct effect on the marks you make. Here are four simple brush-holding tricks for brilliant results:Choke Up: Hold the brush close to the ferrule, or bristles, for more controlled, detailed marks.On the Tip: When you grip the brush at a higher point—further away from the bristles—you have more freedom to produce lovely loose strokes.

Still lifes have been a go-to genre for artists over hundreds of years. And when it comes to creating a successful still life composition is key.Whether you’re a beginner artist wanting to master your first still life composition or a more advanced artist looking for a refresher on the fundamentals, these tips from artist Helen Oh will help set your still life up for success.

Beginner Watercolor: All About the PaintsSelecting a palette of colors often means limiting the choices, making studies and experimenting along the way. One of the keys to being successful as a beginner watercolor artist is to choose a workable set of colors.Delve into what your palette can be and then start experimenting.

When it comes to starting out with anything, practice makes perfect. And with practice comes trial and error.A wise person once said, “You must learn from your mistakes.” But, lucky for you, we have put together a list of eight common beginner painting mishaps — so you can learn what not to do, without actually having to find out the hard way.

Fresh Perspectives and New GoalsSpring brings to mind new perspectives and new goals for us all. Finding new drawing habits, tips and exercises to try is one way to keep your art commitments going. Or, if you’ve been growing your art for a while, this can be a way to reconnect with the painting and drawing you love.

Beginner Art Questions: The Paint Is Drying … Now What?Artist Ginny Gluege approached us with an interesting question and an informed take on what artists can and should consider when debating whether or not to title an artwork.“I don’t like to title my acrylic paintings because I feel strongly about not influencing the viewers’ freedom to develop their own thoughts, interpretations, enjoyment of the piece.

Portrait Drawings and Paintings That Do Everything RightThere is a sweet and simple science to positioning your subject matter on your paper or canvas. No matter what type of portraiture that interests you — whether it be portrait drawings or portrait painting — the Golden Ratio, the Eye of God and certain other “sweet spots” are good to know about.

When it comes to learning how to draw people, start simple to ensure success. And what is simpler than drawing armatures? They are almost like glorified stick figures!When you stop worrying about getting the proportions of the torso and legs just right or making sure your eyes are the same size and align perfectly, you can focus more on the basic idea of the body — where things go, how they work together, how they move.

A simple floral arrangement can be the perfect subject for beginner still lifes. by Janet WalshWith many years of experience as a watercolor instructor and artist, I have developed a simplified approach to painting flowers in watercolor.In this article, I have divided the approach into two segments. The first half focuses on exploring and developing confidence in drawing and painting the different shapes, colors, and individuality of each flower.

The method for preparing a canvas varies from artist to artist. Here, we outline the choices available so that you can confidently begin to know how to paint.by Naomi EkperiginThe method for preparing a canvas varies from artist to artist. Here, we outline the choices available so that you can confidently begin to work in oil.

The Next Level in Watercolor Painting TechniquesAt least I feel that way. I set myself a goal this week—I wanted to learn a few new watercolor painting techniques because I feel like when I contemplate working in watercolor, I only know the “first gear” approaches.Watercolor Painting Tips, 1-2-3In order to rev it up a little, I did some sleuthing and found some great watercolor painting techniques that might be out of my league right now, but it was still enlightening to look at the watercolor art created with them, and they definitely inspired me to keep moving forward.

Gorgeous color and fun organic shapes make up every single rose — and every single rose drawing. Discover how to draw a rose from stem to bloom step by step in graphite pencil and colored pencil in two drawing roses demonstrations from artist and instructor Gigi Chen.You’ll discover how ease and accessible drawing this most famous of flowers can be!

Beginner Watercolor Tips for Painting FlowersJust starting out in watercolor? Need a refresher? Or want to spruce up your skills for painting watercolor flowers?Below, botanical artist and instructor Adele Rossetti Morosini shares advice for getting started with florals as well as great beginner watercolor essentials, regardless of subject matter.

Beginner Drawing Tutorial on Shadows and Light ShapesAn object is almost never in simply light and shade. For this reason, it is important for beginners to understand the nature of shadows and light.Forms of Shadow and LightArtists refer to six basic concepts when describing the behavior of light on a form, listed here in order of brightness: highlight, direct light, reflected light, shadow, core shadow and cast shadow.

Drawing is a fundamental skill for artists, emphasis on “skill.” That means there are basic drawing rules and approaches that work, including these six tips on how to draw anything accurately.1. Start by drawing shapes, not identifiable objectsYou’ll hear this advice over and over again in art classes and workshops.

Regardless of your skill level, preferred medium or creative process, having a dedicated drawing practice is key. Below, artist Carrie Bloomston makes the case for drawing: why it matters, and why it should matter to you, too. Plus, learn two quick and easy ways to enhance your own drawing practice and then explore the variety of drawing resources available to you now.

Carefully choosing the right drawing tools for a given subject gives a draftsman a tremendous advantage.It’s true that a talented artist could make a successful drawing of virtually anything using almost any material. But carefully choosing the right drawing tools for a given subject gives any draftsman a tremendous advantage.