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 Mon, 16 May 2011 10:41:39 GMT Mon, 16 May 2011 10:41:39 GMT how-to-draw-and-paint.com http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/drawing-with-confidence1.html Looking at how one holds a pencil may indicate how confident or otherwise, an artist is with their drawing equipment. As a professional T tutor, I watch Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:30:40 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/perception.html When you are painting a face for example, the parts of the face that protrude (i.e. the nose) should be slightly lighter than the rest of the face. To Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:28:26 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/drawing-with-confidence.html Most artists tend to use HB pencils when they are drawing. However, this grade can cut into paper leaving permanent grooves.... I prefer to use a Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:25:00 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/painting-stars.html In one of my compositions, I've wanted to paint stars - and not just as random points of light against the night sky but in constellations. Obviously, Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:19:59 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/cut-price-acryilic-impasto-medium.html Only reccomended for expermenting with as I've no idea about the long term stability of the following. Been expermenting with using decorating acrylic-based Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:16:35 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/cleaning-brushes2.html I use shampoo to clean my brushes instead of dishwashing liquid. If it happens to be a natural bristle brush, I also use conditioner. Shampoos and conditioners Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:13:30 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/acrylic-paint-storage.html Acrylics will keep in medicine (pills, tablets) organizers that are easily available at pharmacies. By spraying regularly with water from a spray bottle Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:10:44 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/push-and-pull-make-the-background-count.html In this rose painting I painted water on the background and only when the shine had gone I painted in shapes of the back ground roses (as the paper was Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:08:46 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/salt-effect.html Inspired by a book I read, I found that while the colour is still wet to sprinkle a small amount of table salt which gives a very intreasting effects, Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:07:11 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-make-gray.html How to make gray - my 2 methods. Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:06:21 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/masking-alternative.html I live in a country where art materials are in short supply. You can buy masking fluid here - 2 shops stock it and it's all from the same shipment - Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:04:42 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/how-to-help-your-oils-dry-faster-without-your-paintings-turning-yellow-over-time.html I use a product called Liquin. You can get it in Original, Light Gel or Fine Detail. I use the Fine Detail, it makes the paint flow very easily and will Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:00:13 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/cheap-non-toxic-clean-up.html Use detergent, yes, regular liquid dishwashing detergent (not the store brands, but standard brands like Dawn, Palmolive, Sunlight) instead of turps, commercially Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:58:42 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/quick-and-easy-storm-clouds.html First, wash in the sky ultramarine blue, then while it still wet, streak in some paynes grey diagonally. Next take a 1 brush and push it into the grey. Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:10:28 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/a-cheap-pastel-holder-for-those-nubs1.html I learned from a thread on Wet Canvas of an idea for a inexpensive holder for the nubs of hard pastels. Use the end of a disposable razor! Here's the thread Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:05:07 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/masking-fluid-tearing-problems.html Having experienced problems when using masking fluid on Bockingford watercolour papers i.e. tearing of the surface of the paper when I attempt to rub it Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:20:49 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/a-cheap-pastel-holder-for-those-nubs.html I learned from a thread on Wet Canvas of an idea for a inexpensive holder for the nubs of hard pastels. Use the end of a disposable razor! Here's the thread Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:52:06 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/ice-tray-pallete.html I don't know if you already knew about this one.... but I like to use an ice tray (the plastic thing where you make ice cubes) as a palette. I prefer using Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:33:39 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/easily-removable-caps.html Have you ever had a cap on a tube of paint so glued on that you needed pliers to remove it, sometimes ripping the tube in the process? When you first get Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:21:00 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/copying-an-image-onto-your-watercolor-paper1.html Ever wanted to copy an image onto your canvas, but you didn't have any tracing paper? Well you still can by covering the backside of the paper your Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:19:34 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/copying-an-image-onto-your-watercolor-paper1_v6753030815111977.html Ever wanted to copy an image onto your canvas, but you didn't have any tracing paper? Well you still can by covering the backside of the paper your Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:19:34 GMT http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/copying-an-image-onto-your-watercolor-paper.html Ever wanted to copy an image onto your canvas, but you didn't have any tracing paper? Well you still can by covering the backside of the paper your Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:19:28 GMT 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