If you want to get paid for commissions you are going to have to take a deposit upfront. Period. This proves the client is ready to make a financial commitment to the artist and will weed out any time wasters who do not plan on paying an artist. I usually take a 50% deposit upfront….
In simple terms, artist block is similar to writer’s block. It is when an artist is unable to produce any new art and can’t seem to find a way out of their situation. Our world is filled with artist blocks, as I mentioned earlier all creative types such as artists, writers, musicians etc suffer from…
Lightfastness means that the light your artwork absorbs won’t cause it to fade. That’s why lightfast paint is an essential ingredient for artists working on long-term projects, especially those involving light. Light can have a negative effect on pigment colors, making them fade over time. As light passes through the transparent layers of oil or…
To be honest, I’m an artist, and I didn’t know what substrate meant, and sometimes even I don’t know which painting substrate to use. What’s the difference between canvas, gessoed canvas, linen, watercolor paper? Which one should I use? What kind of paint can be used on each surface? And how much do each cost…
Alla Prima Painting is a technique used by artists who are looking for fast results and need only one session per artwork. It’s perfect if you don’t have much spare time and still want to make something beautiful! There are no rules with this approach so feel free to experiment with colors, textures, and more!…
The technique of scumbling is a painting process that involves applying paint with the brush over an existing layer to create a blurring effect that blends color, light and shade effects. Scumbling is indeed a painting technique, scumbling consists of applying paint with the hand’s brush over an existing layer. It is a bit like…
Stippling is a technique that has been around for centuries. The Italian engraver Giulio Campagnola is credited as the inventor of stippling as an artform but its true origin is actually unknown. Stippling art is a method of drawing that is a bit like engraving and pointillism done with a pen, ink, or pencil. The…
Fixative is the most common choice when it comes to protecting pencil drawings. It works quickly and is inexpensive, but how do you use it properly without causing damage yourself? Some fixatives have been known to yellow, but this is because people have been using the wrong type of fixative and some have even used…
Sad paintings are a thing. I know it’s weird, but they really are everywhere. You see them in homes and businesses all over the world. They’re hanging on the walls of people who don’t even like sad things or have anything to do with clowns or little girls in fields. So what gives? 7 Original…
Observational drawing is the process of drawing what you see from life. It comes from the word ‘observe’ which is ‘to see’. It is a skill that has been practiced by artists for centuries and is one of the best ways to learn how to draw accurately. When you undertake observational drawing, you are forced…
The Basics of Geometric Drawing Understanding Geometric Shapes Imagine you’re playing with building blocks. Some are squares, some are triangles, and others might be circles or rectangles. When you draw, you’re doing something similar, but on paper. Geometric drawing is all about using basic shapes to create cool pictures. You don’t need to be a…
Artists often struggle with a rigid approach when drawing and this can lead to poor results. In order to improve your art style, you need to develop better hand-eye coordination and learn how not to be so stiff when working on a piece of art. Continuous line drawings, also known as Contour Drawings, provide an…