The latest free step-by-step guides to art techniques are listed below. You can also search for specific art topics using the search box above.

Art techniques

The Artist’s Way

Sometimes the inner critic can dominate your thoughts, making it difficult to be creative and productive. Many years ago, I read The Artist’s Way, an inspirational book for people who feel ‘blocked’ and want to be creative again. One of the things that the author suggested was a weekly ‘artist’s date’…Read more about The Artist’s Way

Memories from my sketchbook, part III

Another sketch from my notebook. I’ve used Inktense pencils again, which is why it’s so garish…I mean vibrant…Read more about memories from my sketchbook

Memories from my sketchbook, part II

Here’s another of my sketches.This is a tree I drew in the rain near Frenchman’s Creek. It brings back memories of seeing the rain splash off my sketchbook making the drawing a little blurry. It was fun to spend a whole afternoon making sketches.

I used Inktense pencils, which have the vibrancy of ink and can be mixed with water or used on their own…Read more about memories from my sketchbook

Memories from my sketchbook, part I

I carry a sketchbook everywhere I go. Often I dislike what I’ve drawn, but then months if not years later, I decide I do like some of the sketches after all. It’s not that I think they are brilliantly drawn, I just like the memories that they evoke….Read more about memories from my sketchbook

Lifedrawing: the Blind Contour method

I was enticed to a life drawing class recently by a leaflet that read “Erotic Line”. Expecting to spend a couple of hours drawing an ample woman of mature years, instead I was faced with two young models, one male one female… Read more about the Blind Contour method…

How to paint a sunset

This is such an easy way to paint a sunset, even a dog with a brush tied to its nose could do it. I used acrylic paints in four simple colours, a light, mid and a dark pink plus white, to create a sunset over water… Read more about how to paint a sunset…

Forget perfectionism, just do it

Today, I muse over the idea of perfectionism and how it can stop you from completion. Imperfection is part of being productive and you will always receive good and bad feedback no matter what you do…Read more about perfectionism…

An introduction to oil paints

Oil paints can be a little tricky at first for the beginner, but it is worth experimenting with them as oil paints can add such rich, luscious color to paintings. Oil paints are very slow drying and can be applied thickly with a palette knife or brush. You can also apply oil paints in thin washes after diluting them with linseed oil or turpentine or a combination of both… Read more about oil paints…

An introduction to acrylic paints

Acrylic paints are the best starting point for beginners. They can have some of the qualities of watercolours or oil paints, but they are much easier to use. You can use them thickly or add water to use them as washes of paint… Read more about acrylic paints…

An introduction to watercolour and gouache

The essential difference between watercolor and gouache is that watercolor is transparent and gouache is opaque. Each has its own qualities, and they can also complement each other too… Read more about watercolors and gouache…