http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-draw-blog.html The How to Draw & Paint Blog tells you what's new at the site... en-us how to draw Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:45:24 GMT Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:45:24 GMT how-to-draw-and-paint.com http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/bright-colours.html I have painted for years in acrylic and I find that using too much water will fade the colour and at the same time dull your painting. Try using paint Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:45:18 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-clean-a-brush-that-has-dried-hard-with-acrylic-paint.html Soak in acetone. When brush is starting to soften gently coax the bristles apart with a pointed object such as a darning needle. Soak again and repeat Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:43:44 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/washing-your-brushes.html Don't wash your brushes in the sink. Acrylic paint clogs the drains. Thanks for your great site. Sheena. (Good point. It's always best to clean excess Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:42:53 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/keeping-acrylics-from-drying-out.html Does anyone have any tips on stopping tubes of acrylic paint getting dried up? I keep mine in a dark cupboard in a cool place, but if anyone has any better Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:29:56 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/a-cheap-and-effective-palette-which-cleans-easily.html Buy one of those enammelled plates from your ironmongers or better still, try to get an old enamelled butcher's tray from a junk shop. When you have finished Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:25:16 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/blending-with-acrylic-paint-as-easily-as-with-oils.html when I'm painting in a sky that will have alot of clouds or sunset coloring, I first spray my canvas with a small amount of water. Blot off excess, then Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:21:56 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/cheap-painting-surfaces.html I have used masoninte board as a cheap painting surface. Masonite is the brown compressed board (some have little holes, like for hanging tools), usually Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:55:48 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/brush-cleaning-product.html I have wonderful results cleaning my brushes for oils, acrylics and watercolor stainers... It is a product called Murphy's oil soap. I keep one plastic Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:53:43 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/painting-tips-for-cleaning-brushes.html I discovered how to clean my brushes when I was washing my hands. I was using Dawn dishwashing liquid and the oil paint came off. So I thought I would Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:50:33 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/oil-painting-without-solvents.html If you are having problems with the fumes associated with traditional oil painting, do as I did. I tried water miscible oil paints. Now, they are the Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:49:13 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/quick-drying-of-oil-paintings.html Hi, This is one of the tricks I use for my oil paintings to dry. 1) Apply a coat of turpentine and linseed oil mixture on the area before you start Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:48:08 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/testing-a-color-seemingly-on-the-painting-before-adding-it.html You can place a piece of clear acrylic over your dry but unfinished painting to test a colour or value before actually applying it to the painting. The Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:29:36 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/easy-light-direction-reminder.html Get a pack of sticky notes. Draw an arrow on one with a Sharpie or other big marker. Stick it to the corner of the paper just outside your painting, or Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:26:45 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/a-cheap-alternative-to-expensive-fixative.html I actually received this tip from an art teacher years ago.......instead of using fixative on drawings and pastels, you can use hairspray which is just Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:25:15 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/reusable-buddha-board-for-painting-practice.html Hi everyone, in your travels as an artist have you ever come across something called a Buddha Board? It allows the user to really live in the moment Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:24:35 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/surprise-palettes.html I have found that plastic take out containers - dish & lid - serve as fantastic palettes! I fill the dish with water & lay in the brushes to keep them Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:19:47 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/brush-care-when-using-oils.html Hi Bob, I've just read your article on brush care, good work. I'll add something I've found worthwhile. From DIY stores one can buy a brush cleaner that Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:18:32 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/scrap-paper-for-pallet-pages.html I like to use old phone book pages for the paper on top of a plastic palette for water and acrylic painting... the pages are kept in the old book until Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:14:48 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/best-and-cheap-soap-for-brush-cleaning.html I have so many favourites, so I just want to share a tip. Instead of using the solid soap they sell for brush cleaning - you know, you used to be able Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:09:16 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/dont-throw-awaythose-broken-pastels.html I learned from Cheap Joe's catalogue to not throw away your crumbling, broken pastels. Pulverize them with a mortar, then mix in a bit of alcahol or mineral Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:20:24 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/mixing-landscape-greens.html Especially if you're using student grade pastels, the range of greens you have might all be very bright true greens. In nature, the greens in many climates Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:22:27 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-save-on-framing.html Before you sketch, lay a pre-cut mat on prepared paper and run a pencil along the inside lines so you can see the rectangular area of the painting in front Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:18:46 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/mix-your-own-color-palette.html One of the many mistakes I made in my new enthusiasm for learning to paint with acrylics was not mixing my own color palette. I had to think back when Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:12:38 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/chromacolour-paints.html I would recommend using chromacolour paints to anyone. For painting fine detail they cannot be beaten. This is the only acrylic paint I have found that Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:07:19 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/paintbrushaboriginal-handmade-traditional.html I don't work with acrylics, but am planning to (I use oils) but I also live around the Aboriginies up the top end of Australia. Their art work is quite Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:06:57 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/tips-when-using-acrylics.html To preserve your brushes use a straw cut into different lengths, use to store brushes. To clean brushes when using acrylics use washing up liquid. To Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:00:59 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/storing-left-over-oils.html I put my excess oil paint on a piece of palate paper and then inside a plastic box.(doesn't have to be large) This then goes into my freezer.Sometimes Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:35:38 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/dont-use-linseed-oil-or-expensive-thinning-mediums.html Instead of foul smelling and sometimes dangerous linseed oil or buying expensive oil paint mediums you can use fairly inexpensive vegtable oil, its a trick Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:35:00 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/when-using-masking-fluid.html Work a drop of dishwashing liquid deterent into the bristles of your brush, shaping it as required, BEFORE dipping into the Masking Fluid. After placing Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:28:18 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-erase-soft-pastels.html I use scotch magic tape. It is has less glue and does not stick, tear, or leave glue on the paper. Put the sticky side down over the part you want to erase Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:26:25 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/suede-mat-board.html Suede Mat board is a wonderful surface for soft pastels. It absorbs so much color and is excellent if you are using many layers of color. It can be easily Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:58:42 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/applying-masking-fluid.html I think I learned this from Leisure Painter magazine. I have always found using a brush to apply masking fluid frustrating if not disasterous to the Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:14:26 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/a-hot-watercolour-painting-.html Use boiling water to mix your watercolours-this breaks down the paint's molecules and will give some stunning effects! Miles - I've not come across Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:12:16 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-keep-watercolour-in-control.html IN WATERCOLOUR EVERY TIME YOU PAINT YOU END UP WITH A MESS BECAUSE WATERCOLOUR ARE THE THE MOST DIFFICULT MEDIUM. SO JUST REMEMBER THAT WHEN Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:03:20 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/keeping-pastels-clean.html I use chickpea flour instead of rice to store the pastels I am using. It's very effective. It also means I can keep the rest clean and therefore easy Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:56:43 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/for-your-protection.html If you are like me and like to blend pastels with your fingers, there is a very good barrier cream made in Australia by Hamilton Pharmaceutical pty. Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:55:49 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/smooth-shading-blending.html Many artists agreed that a 0.5mm mechanical pencil is best for smooth shading and blending. So, I also used this pencil to create a smooth texture Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:46:13 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/colouring-with-oil-pastels-giving-life-like-effect.html After you have coloured your picture with oil pastels, take a white cloth and smudge over one area of the drawing. suppose you drew an orange and Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:43:46 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/getting-it-even.html I find that if I check out how my drawings are progressing by looking at them through a mirror i.e.any uneven un-symmetrical or imbalanced subjects Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:40:03 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/painting-over-acrylics.html Hey there. One thing I noticed is the fact that if you make a mistake with acrylics it's easy to go over. However, I noticed darker colours are Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:36:32 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/medium-to-use-for-sand-effects.html The Australiam aborigines here use lumps of sandstone and other rocks found on gravel tracks.Then with a coarse rasp, grate rock in a collector bowl. Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:34:28 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/acrylics-on-cardboard-semigloss.html I started experimenting with white cardboard and acrylics. It gives you a lot of different textures and can be erased with water if you make a Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:25:35 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/oil-painting-techniques.html you're just a couple of clicks away from a whole series of articles and videos on oil painting techniques which will help you get started in this classic painting medium. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:36:22 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/about.html Discover a bit about how to Draw & Paint and the artist behind it Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:01:54 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-paint-elephants.html Learn how to paint an elephant in watercolor with this free video Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:29:19 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-draw-a-monkey.html Discover how to draw a monkey with this step-by-step guide Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:28:21 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/Watercolor-pencil-part2.html Part 2 of a series of 3 videos on using watercolor pencils. This part shows how to create the subtle shiny tones of a mallard duck and compares using watercolor and cartridge paper Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:24:13 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/googlehostedservice.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:46:07 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/index.html Anyone can learn how to draw and paint if they're shown the basics and given encouragement! Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:36:09 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-remove-dried-masque-from-brushes.html I used Goo Gone household cleaner to remove stubborn dried masque (masking fluid) from my brush which still had accumulated the gunk despite being Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:23:15 GMT