The Sad Face - New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Children Going Home
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Bill Clinton
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Blue Bowl
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Lady in Black
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Pigeons
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: The Creators
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Two Faces
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: No Parking Cityscape
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: An Early Morning in Spring
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: A Trip to Venice
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Christmas Bulbs
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: An Afternoon with Raggedy
- New Critique in the Learning Gallery: Fruit Still Life in Oil - The WetCanvas! Art Critique Center is now available!
Debates, Art & Society, etc.
- Using Artistic Talents to Tackle Social Issues
: Join artist/teacher Larry Seiler, sharing from his experiences of keynote addressing high school students with one very special program. You'll feel challenged and perhaps inspired to consider ways that your own talents might touch others.
- Once again the country is enthralled with another art funding controversy, this time at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Join contributing editor J. William Haas as he asks the question - Does this exhibit demonstrate artistic freedom or poor taste?
- So painting is dead again? There has been a lot of controversy over the medium of painting, at
least in Canada, where academics have tried to rule it out for today's artist. Read what noted artist
Gregg Simpson has to say about it in The Politics of Painting.
Decorative Arts/Murals/Faux
- Decorate Your Own Mailbox!: Acrylic artist, Leslie Pease, shares her easy to follow steps to decorating a mailbox with her own design of veggies and peas! Create your own unique design and let the neighbors wonder how you did it!
- A Painted Poppy Cupboard: Have you always admired painted furniture? WetCanvas! husband and wife team, DuncanBerenice, share their experience painting a home-made cupboard using a decorative design.
- Decorative Leaf Pins!: Take a walk with nature; bring back some leaves and start creating! Creative member, sajemak shares her spectacular Fall Harvest pins that rival real leaves.
- New Article: Marci Blattenberger of Porcelain Painters International Online provides an excellent Beginner's Lesson in China Painting, as well as a new china painting project entitled Forget-me-Nots!
Digital Art
- Digital Weaving 2: Advanced Shapes: Go beyond the basics introduced in Mark Newmayer's first Digital Weaving article by focusing on creating more complex shapes using Adobe Illustrator's Divide command, the Punk & Bloat filter, and even some stars. If you thought the patterns you made the first time around were addictive, watch out, and kiss your free time goodbye.
- Digital Weaving: Want to learn more about creating interwoven geometric patterns using Adobe Illustrator? WC! member Mark Neumayer shares a few basic concepts to get you started even if you are using a different illustration program.
- Photoshop6 - Art History Brush Demo: Learn how to use the art history brush from Photoshop6 in this demonstration of painted peonies by artist, Crystal Russell. Amazing results are just a click away!
- Join noted digital artist Craig Mullins for a futuristic painting demonstration using Photoshop! Don't miss "The Suit"...
- Join Roger for an exciting new digital art lesson - this time, he tackles one approach
to creating a cloudy moonlit night!
- Join Roger for his latest digital painting lesson, this one entitled A Walk in the Woods!
- Join Roger for an exciting look at doing Digital Portraits! - this is
the latest in this digital-art kick of his (somebody stop him!!!).
- Join Roger for the latest installment in his Digital Art for Beginners series! This time,
Roger shows you how to create digital watercolors!
- Join Roger for the fifth lesson in his Digital Painting for Beginners series - this time, he walks you through
the steps needed to create an incredible digital seascape!
- Join Roger as he continues gathering momentum on this "digital art" kick of his! Learn some
simple, yet effective ways of creating the perfect Digital Sunset!
- Join Roger for Deep in the Woods,
a step by step demo, and the latest in his Digital Painting for Beginners series!
- Join Contributing Editor Rod Webb as he shows you how to use a Genius hand held scanner
to scan in large paintings!
- Wow, what a response! Join Roger for the second lesson in his new Digital Painting for Beginners series! Learn how
to "layer" images onto your canvas!
- Find out what happens when traditional techniques in painting are used in digital art! Join
Roger for a new series entitled Digital Painting
for the Beginner!
- Join Contributing Editor Ted Bragg for the inaugural lessons in our new Digital Art section! To tempt your artistic side, Ted offers up lessons on digital portraiture, seascapes, and even a cityscape!
Drawing & Sketching
- Get That Sketchbook Out and USE it!!: What are you doing with your sketchbook? Try some new ways to spice up your sketches, keep an illustrated journal or flesh out ideas for new paintings.
- Drawing Value: To draw realistically, the concept of value - the relationship between light, dark and grey - is important. This article discusses the basics of value, including how to find the light source, looking for value in reference photos, drawing a value chart, and using value contrasts.
- Afternoon's Pencil Study After William Turner: An afternoon's pencil study based on the watercolour painting, "The Great Falls of the Reichenbach" by William Turner. Step-by-step instructions demonstrating the rapid build up of composition, and use of hatching to create texture.
- Using Photoshop to Evaluate Preliminary Sketches: Ever looked at your preliminary sketch and know that something isn't quite right but you are not sure what is off in your drawing? Cathy Sheeter's tutorial will show one technique using Adobe Photoshop to check your sketch against your reference photo.
- Types of Drawing Papers/Surfaces: Not sure which drawing paper is right for your next project? Murray Cholowsky will explain the use of various types of papers for drawing with different types of mediums - graphite, ink, pastel etc. - and hopefully help you to make that decision.
- Creating A Misty Moonrise In Graphite And Charcoal: In this step-by-step demonstration, Mark Reep uses graphite pencils and powdered charcoal to add a misty moonrise to a pen and ink landscape. Join Mark for an in-depth discussion of composition, 'underpainting' with charcoal, developing
and finishing graphite passages, refining inked passages with graphite, more...
- Silverpoint Drawing Methods: A multi-hundred years old method of drawing, metalpoint, used by one famous Renaissance master draughtsman, Albrecht Du'rer, is coming back into vogue! Join Marilyn Schlueter as she demonstrates several drawing methods that you can try using copper wire, sterling silver, and even 24K gold!
- The Nude Figure in Charcoal: Charcoal (especially vine charcoal) can be a tricky medium to manipulate successfully. This article follows a step-by-step example in drawing the human figure using a different approach that will hopefully yield more satisfying results.
- Basic Drawing: A compilation of short articles on basic drawing skills, culled from the small, rural California monthly newspaper where Todd Cooper, aka coyote, serves as Art Editor...in exchange for a free ad.
Artists just starting out in drawing may find direction, while more experienced scribblers are just liable to pick up a useful tip they hadn't heard before.
- Coloured Pencils On Black Paper: Join our top-poster, TeAnne, for a demo on doing self portraits on black paper using coloured pencils!
- Drawing Portraits with Charcoal: Join artist Ruth Cox as she explores a method of doing charcoal portraits without using lines.
- Blind contour drawing is drawing the contour outline of your subject without looking at your paper. Join contributing editor Carol Rosinski for an excellent introduction!
- Drawing Room Update! Join resident drawing guru, Michael Hansen, for the third installment in his exciting figure drawing lessions. Using Line and Construction Line for Develop a Composition
- Drawing Room Update: Join Contributing Editor, Michael Hansen, for the latest installment in his figure drawing lessons - Seeing Shadows as Shapes!
- Join Contributing Editors Michael Hansen, Randy Robinson, and Larry Seiler as they kick off The Drawing Room, a new series of drawing lessons.
- Join Contributing Editor, Randy Robinson, to learn one way of handling angles and shapes when drawing from photos.
- Join Contributing Editor Michele Weston/Widry as she demonstrates an excellent exercise in sketching an egg. It's not as easy as it sounds!
- Join Contributing Editor Larry Seiler as he takes you on a journey into his sketchbook in his latest lesson entitled Sketching: Dictation from Life!
- ArtSchool Online Update: Join Roger for Lesson #3 in
his new Drawing in Perspective series - this time, he covers drawing a cube via freehand!
- Join Roger for Lesson #2 in his new Drawing in Perspective series!
- Join Roger for the launching of a new lesson series - Drawing in Perspective!
- Join Contributing Editor Joe Broome for a step-by-step lesson on cartoon graffiti!
- Join Roger for the final two lessons (eleven and twelve) in the Basic Anatomy for Artists series!
- New Article: Lesson #10 in the Basic Anatomy for Artists series is now available!
- New Article: Join Roger for lesson 2 in his new Painting from Photographs series. In this installment, you'll learn how to "transfer" your photos to your canvas or paper.
- New Article: Join Roger for lesson 8 in his popular Basic Anatomy for Artists series! In this installments, Roger covers dives into the posterior aspect of leg muscles, the back, and the scapula.
- New Article: Join Roger for lesson 6 and lesson 7 of his popular Basic Anatomy for Artists series! In these installments, Roger covers forearms, hands, and wrists.
- New Tutorial: Joe Broome's Modernizing Asha, the Indian Goddess of Hope
- New Tutorial: Joe Broome's Renaissance Perspective - a Barn
- New Article: 4 Lessons on Drawing Ships
Fantasy/Sci-Fi Art
- Getting Started in Fantasy Art: Have some drawing experience and want to get started with fantasy art? Michelle Parker explains a few of the steps and pitfalls you might encounter while trying to begin creating art in a fantasy genre.
Figure, The
- Pastels for Life: A demonstration showing how Pastels are ideal for creating the subtle translucent effects of human skin.
- Why do WetCanvas! artists study the human figure?: Why is it important for an artist to study the human figure?
The Figure Forum staff proposed that question in a more personal way to twenty of the long time regular artists in the forum by asking them... "Why do you study/draw/paint the figure?"
Here is what they had to say...
- 'Body Soul & Line': Figure artists, professional and beginners, come together for a successful Life Drawing Group exhibition at Noosa Regional gallery.
- Capturing Organic Form in Oil Paint: An article on realist figure painting with oil paint, emphasizing (1) principles of organic form; (2) the shape and structure of light on curved organic forms; and (3) how to capture realistic human form in oil paint. Based on the teachings of Ted Seth Jacobs.
- Pastel on Dark Paper - Just Add Light: Pastel and dark paper is a great combo to create light effects. Follow Michael Newberry has he takes you through a step by step 3-hour pastel session with a life model.
- Thus Spoke Bruin70.....: Ever wonder what happened when popular WC! artist Debra Jones, aka djstar, attended her workshop with fellow WC! member and noted artist, Milt Kobayashi, aka bruin70, at the Scottsdale Artist's School November 2001? To find out, read on!
Glass Art
- Fuse Your Glass Rod Shorts!: Wondering what to do with those short pieces of glass rods? In this tutorial, Cindy Gimbrone shows you how to make glass pendants from your left over bits of glass rod.
- Digital Imaging For Glass Beads: Are you tired of dull, dark, unfocused digital images of your glass beads? Here is an easy tutorial by Lori Greenberg that will show you how to set up your images and refine them with Photoshop Elements.
- Encasing Lampwork Beads with Glass Stringers: Encasing is regarded as one of the most difficult lampworking skills to do well. Many different techniques have been developed in an effort to make the process easier and more fool proof. This article is about the method I use, an adaptation of the 'Around the World' technique using stringers.
- How to Make a René Marble: Join WC! member Jim Boles as he shares his techniques for making a unique marble, inspired by glass artist René Roberts.
- Greg Chase of CD Lampwork Interview: Greg Chase of CD Lampwork has been working in the arts a good portion of his life. He began with stained glass, but now works in lampworking and wood. Greg has graciously agreed to be interviewed by the Glass Masters Contributing Editor, Katie Green. Sit back, grab your favorite snack and get to know Greg and his art!
- Enamels and How to Use Them: Enamels, very fine colored glass dust, are fun things to add to your glass palette, but can also be hazardous to your health. Join Laura Brito, glass enthusiast, as she shares both tips on safety and proper handling of enamels.
- The Origins of Glass in the Near East: Uncover the ancient origins of glass with artist and researcher, Mag Alef. Explore how glass was made, what tools and techniques were used, and learn which amazing discovery forever changed the glass industry.
- Featured Glass Artist Interview: Dave Bross: In this exclusive interview with glass artist Dave Bross, we take a wonderfully reminiscent journey from childhood curiosity to present day glass mastery. This is a glass artist that gives new meaning to the word diversity as his background crosses many glass categories, from sculpture to off-hand. Join Dave as he generously offers his photo-enhanced, step-by-step process of creating a round bead the easy way.
- Glass Alchemy Colors: Hey glass artists! Join Christopher Rice for a discussion on how to get the proper results when working with colors by Glass Alchemy. Learn how to break down the colors into groups as well as proper flame settings.
- Hot Glass Studio Part 2: Join noted glass artist Laura Brito as she discusses the various tools available for working with hot glass. Subjects include ventilation, safety, hand tools, torches, and more!
- Featured Glass Artist Interview: Jennifer Geldard: In this exclusive interview with glass artist Jennifer Geldard, she reveals and illustrates how she makes her signature bead, ‘the twisted glass heart.’ You will see photos of her studio set up, some of her favorite works, and learn all about how this self-taught artist got to where she is today…and where she’s headed.
- Watercolor Effects with Enamel and Glass: Is that wonderful enamel sampler just gathering dust on your bench? Get needed inspiration from hot Glass Artist Carolyn Driver as she demonstrates a watercolor "painting" technique using just glass and enamels.
- An Introduction to the Lampworkers Studio: Thinking of setting up a glass art studio? Artist, Laura Brito, shares how to choose the tools you need and how to avoid costly set up mistakes.
- Journey of a Thousand Beads: Dale Lynn, master of many trades, shares his journey into the world of Hot Glass Bead making in a delightful, humorous discovery journal.
- Zebra Print Bicone Beads: Animal print beads are always “hot” and seem to sell well year-around. Join Artist Beth Boal as she directs our focus on one method of creating a zebra design bicone bead, using gravity as the primary "tool" and based loosely on Jim Smircich's Wavy Bead design.
- The Unknown Health Hazard: Hot Glass Workers: Are you subjecting your skin to intense heat and IR/UV rays on a constant often daily basis? If so, this article written by Artist Laura Brito is a must read for you.
Illustration
- Forget the Presidential inauguration! Join longtime WetCanvas! denizen Larry Seiler as he provides the inaugural piece for our new illustration section - he takes us on a journey with his amazingly talented son: Cartooning with Jason Seiler
Landscapes
- Step-by-Step Landscape: In this article, Mike Callahan demonstrates his underpainting technique in the creation of a landscape painting in oil. By utilizing this technique, an artist is able to paint complex areas accurately and quickly. Follow along as Mike paints "Gold Lake" a High Sierra Lake that he hiked to last summer.
- Plein Air Painting - In or Out?: Can you paint en plein air indoors as well as out? Join international artist, Diane Johnson as she explores painting From My Window...
- Plein Air Oil on the Shores of Lake Superior: Enjoy a summer's day on the inviting beaches of Marquette, Michigan's Presque Isle with master painter, Larry Seiler. Another indepth step by step demo of the plein air oil method.
- Painting a Fast Running Waterfalls On Location!: What can be harder than painting fast action water over falls? Larry Seiler, breaks it down for you with his plein air of the Popple River's Big Bull Falls.
- Painting a Landscape on Commission - PART 2: Painting a Landscape on Commission - PART 2, View the development and finish of the customized landscape Diane Johnson began for her client in Part 1 of this project.
- Painting a Landscape on Commission: Join noted artist Diane Johnson for the first part of an in-depth demonstration on how she paints an actual landscape on commission. This first installment addresses the research, planning, and initial drawing for client approval. Painters doing commissioned work of any kind will benefit from this demonstration.
- Join Contributing Editor, Larry Seiler, as he continues his landscape plein air adventures in America's Heartland - watch as he creates a roadside masterpiece!
- Our good friend and Contributing Editor, Diane Johnson, is back with an exciting lesson on the basics of landscape composition - don't miss it!
- Learn the basics of "building" your plein air paintings from Contributing Editor, L. Diane Johnson!
- Join Contributing Editor Larry Seiler as he paints a Plein Air Session on Wisconsin's North Branch Oconto River!
- Contributing Editor Larry Seiler provides another update in his Landscape lesson, Painting the Rat River. This time, he reworks
the original plein air piece, adding vibrant color!
- Join us for the latest installment in our Learning from Photos series. In our continued studies
of sunsets, we focus on sunsets against water.
Pick up some tips, as well as browse over 50 new sunset photos that you can study and paint!
- Larry Seiler provides a followup to his wildly successful lesson on painting the Rat River, en plein air. See what
happens when you rework a good idea into a better one!
- Join long-time WetCanvas! exhibitor and new contributing editor, Larry Seiler, as he presents a new landscape plein air demo, Painting a Plein Air of the Rat River!
- Struggling with bare winter trees? Fear not! Join Johannes for a look at the
anatomy of a winter tree!
- Join the staff of WetCanvas! for a new landscape series entitled
Learning From Photos!
We'll use photographs of nature to study various elements in landscape painting. First up, Sunsets!
- Need some ready-to-go-photos to jump right in and paint? Most of the composition has been solved to make it
easier for you. We sent Johannes into the one of America's favorite artist vistas, Teton National Park!
Johannes has done it again!
- Join us for a quick oil/landscape lesson on capturing the Morning Sunrise!
- Join Johannes for an excellent session covering the anatomy of a cloudy sky! This is the first lesson in our new dedicated Landscapes section!
Marine Art
- Painting the Breaking Wave: If you love the sea, join Byron Pickering as he demonstrates ways of achieving transparency, breakover, patterns, and foamburst in the basic breaking wave. Surf away with them. Change the composition, alter the color and mood - use your own style, and please, post the results for all of us to see!
Miniature Art
- Display Board for Miniature Art: How to make a display board for miniature artwork from an inexpensive bulletin board.
Mixed Media/Alt. Materials/Other
- Paint Skin Part III, The Re-Animation: You've read part I & II on Paint skin. Now read the philosophy that made it happen.
Part III, to Re-Animate or bring back the dead works which have nothing left to give, or do they?
- Making Encaustic Medium: My method of making encaustic Medium
- The Ink Resist Technique: Ink Resist (or "Wash-off", as it is sometimes called) relies on the use of gouache paint, which is soluble and Indian ink, which is waterproof.
Despite the planning involved at the outset, the final results can surprise! This step-by-step article aims to de-mystify the process.
- Paint Skin Part 2 - Mixed Media: In Al's first article Paint-Skin Collage and Mosaic, you learned how to make paint skin. Now see how it can be used to make mixed media artwork as well as defy some common rules and misconceptions.
- Pyrography, the Art of Woodburning: Join Matthew DeGelleke for an introduction to the process of woodburning techniques on a piece called "The Accountant".
- Introduction To Silk Painting: Join silk artist, Li Newton, in a beginner's course in the ancient art of silk painting. From choosing your materials, stretching the silk, and creating designs, to steam setting your finished painting, Li will guide you step by step.
- Making Marbled Paper: Shari Kalb shows a step-by-step demonstration of how to make marbled paper using acrylic paints. She includes what tools you need and how to make them, where to get supplies, a great book list, and ideas for using your marbled paper. Marbling is MAGIC!! Each piece of paper is a beautiful creation. WARNING: MARBLING IS ADDICTIVE!!
- Painterly Encaustic Techniques: Due to popular demand, Ed Zawadzki (LazarusCMII) shares a quick explanation of his encaustic technique! He takes a more "painterly" approach to encaustics, using brushes to paint with melted, pigmented wax and a heat gun to fuse.
- Soft Lights and Music: What do you do with all those old CD's from Computer Magazines and ISP's offering you their services? Watch as Joe Majury turns "useless" items into a beautiful 3-D sculpture as once again, we're amazed by his creativity!
- From T-Shirt to Garden Sculpture: Follow Joe Majury as he makes a garden statue from an old t-shirt and a few other items easily obtained around the home or in craft shops.
- Create A Twisty Bracelet: Join Jeannette Randall as she ruins her nails and creates a nifty twisted wire and wire-wrapped marble bracelet. With her techniques, you'll be able to create a new ensemble of jewelry for yourself!
- Trumpet Vine - Fabric Collage:
Diane McDonnell combines her expertise in design, painting and fiber arts, to demonstrate how she creates her beautiful "collaged fabric paintings". She gives instruction in both sewn and unsewn techniques...so join the fun and create your own fabric masterpiece!
- The New Arrival - Simulated Stained Glass: Have you ever wanted to try working in stained glass, but thought it would be too difficult? Join artist Joe Majury as he shares his straight-forward method of creating a wonderful piece of art that simulates stained glass using materials that are easily bought and used.
- Papier Mache' Firdemu: Join Virginia artist Leaflin as she creates a wonderful whimiscal creature using just about everything but the kitchen sink.
- Joe's Introduction to Encaustic Art: Artist Joe Majury gives an introduction to Encaustic Art, an art form believed to be at least 2,500 years old. Follow the step-by-step examples using hot irons to melt and manipulate coloured wax and create your own very versatile, durable and exciting encaustic art.
- Papier Mache' Rainmaker: Want to learn how to make rain? Let Virginia Artist "Leaflin" show you how to construct a Papier Mache' Rainmaker. It's fun, easy and guaranteed to work!
- Papier Mache' Van Gogh: Come join Virginia Artist Leaflin in a step by step demonstration on creating your own Papier Mache' Van Gogh.
- Murals on Canvas - A How-To!: Join Ilia Anossov as he shares his tips on successful installation of murals on canvas.
- Fresco Painting: Fresco Painting - almost forgotten. Join Ilia Anossov (fresco painter) and Ian Hardwick in their online demonstration of the tachnique of the Buon Fresco!
- Using Scratchboard with Acrylics: Join Diana Lee for an explosive demonstration of using white scratchboard with transparent acrylic paints!
- Using Scratchboard with Oils: Diana Lee leads you through a quick demonstration of using white scratchboard with oil paints!
- Scratchboard Basics: Learn the basics of working with scratchboard from the master, Diana Lee!
- Join contributing editor Cheong Thye-Ming for a wonderful series of introductory lessons to Chinese Painting! The first seven lessons are available now, and more are forthcoming!
- Contributing Editor and resident scratchboard guru, Diana Lee was married! Congrats!
- New Tutorial: Joe Broome's Lesson in Chinese Wash Techniques
- New Tutorial: Joe Broome's Lesson in Japanese Ink Technique
- How to Use Scratchboard: More tips on using scratchboard from Diana Lee - join her for a visual demonstration!
New User Channel
- Beginner's Guide to WetCanvas!: Welcome to the best place on the web for artists! We know this is a huge site, so we’ve put together this guide to give you an idea of what is here.
- How to Search the Site - For Product Reviews!: It's a big site with a lot of information to look through, so how do you find what you need successfully?
This article will show you the way when looking for Product Reviews. We'll learn how to use the regular site's search function, as well as the Product Review's special search function.
- How to Search the Site - Searching the Forums!: It's a big site with a lot of information to look through, so how do you find what you need successfully?
This article will show how to search the site forums. We'll show you how to narrow down your search criteria so you receive the most accurate information possible. We'll also show you how to keep track of those informative threads once you've found them.
- How to Search the Site - Looking for Users!: It's a big site with a lot of information to look through, so how do you find what you need successfully?
In this article we are going to find out how to search the user directory for members. Also, we will search for posts by members, and will show you how to find your own posts and images on this site.
- Creating a Signature Banner: Have you ever wondered how people made those colourful image strips attached to every comment they post? Maria Khurram and Marty C have come forward, with some help from hlee on the mysteries of GIMP, to show how everyone can make a signature banner from popular imaging programs, including Photoshop, Irfanview and GIMP. In a few easy steps, you'll have one up in no time!
- Personalizing WetCanvas!: Perhaps one of the most daunting things about using a new forum is learning how to change your settings so you will be able to use it YOUR WAY. In this artice, Cori Nicholls attempts to demystify the MyWC! area to make it easier for you to enjoy the Wet Canvas experience.
- Making an Animated Avatar: Making an avatar that moves is actually very easy with a little bit of know-how. WC! member hlee shows you step-by-step how to create a simple animated avatar from some boring still snapshots using Adobe Imageready.
- Using the WetCanvas! Article Publisher: Have you found the Article Publisher to be confusing? Cori Nicholls untangles the confusion with an Article aimed at helping members to take advantage of the opportunity to share their knowledge with the rest of us through published articles.
- Making Avatars for Use on WC!: The mystery of Avatars, also known as "tinyheads", is unveiled by Artie's guest writer (hlee) showing how easy it is make and upload your own with the freeware programs readily available on the web!
- Where Should I Post My Art? -- Guide to the Forums: Confused about where you should post questions or your art? Here's where you can learn about the various forums on offer, learn how to get a critique, cross-posting, and the three-strikes rule.
- Using the Private Message System: Wondering how to make contact with other WetCanvas! members? Check out Artie's step-by-step instructions to the Private Message System, and soon you'll be in touch, too!
- 6 Steps to Registering Your Account!: Been lurking long enough? Want to join WetCanvas! and get in on all the neat benefits of membership? Well, it's easy and it's free, so just check out this 'how-to' article and you're on your way!
- The WetCanvas! Award System: Not sure how or why you received an award? Artie will tell you everything you need to know about the WC! Award System, about how to earn your own awards, and how you can vote for others in attaining merit and mentor awards.
- How To Rate Threads: Artie is at it again with helpful hints for New Users in this Article on How To Rate Threads! Ever wonder how some threads get those little stars? Step-by-step, you'll find out how!
- How to Chat at WetCanvas!: Want to chat with other WetCanvas! members? Here's a step-by-step introduction to the Chat System, affectionately known as the Cafe Guerbois Chat!
- Uploading Images to WetCanvas: Having trouble trying to figure out how to put images in your posts? Uploading files and attaching images will be a cinch after you check out this step-by-step article showing how to use the Image Uploader and Image/File Attachment Manager!
- How to JOIN a Project, CHAT & UPLOAD Your Work!: Bobby Aquitania, resident chat nut and cartoonist, asks Leo, Remy, and Vinnie how to join a project, upload work and enter the WC! chat room where members discuss their work.
Oil Painting
- Painting Is A Miracle: The virtue of painting has more to do with what happens to us when we make the painting than the painting itself.
- Painting The Luminous Skin: Achieving convincing skin tones is one of the most challenging tasks the artist must confront. This brief article shows the work of three artists, with tips in their own words for achieving the luminous skin. Although the examples and tips are for oil painters, the principals are the same for any of the color media.
- Make Your Own Damar Varnish: Making your own damar picture varnish and retouch varnish is both cost-effective and easy. This step-by-step tutorial by Robert Roberts removes the mysteries of oil painting's most frequently used varnish.
- Canvas Production, A Low Cost, Good Quality Way: Chris Spangler demonstrates a way of creating your own stretched canvases with excellent step-by-step photos and tips on cutting costs - not quality!
- Glazing With Oils: Have you been wanting to try your hand at glazing but just didn't know where to start? Join Bill Martin as he shares his glazing techniques in this step-by-step process.
- CANVAS STRETCHING MADE EASY: Like to stretch your own canvas, but don't have a clue how to start? Use this step-by-step lesson and images to guide you along your way.
- Knife Painting Oil Landscape Demonstration: Challenge yourself to paint more loosely with oils....join Jack Schuller as he shares his knife painting techniques in this demonstration of Old Baldy, a mountain landscape.
- Painting in the 21st Century: In this day of the pixel, the artist's tool box has become bigger. Mike Callahan shows how he deals with the creation of a painting using real oil paint on real canvas, but in the twenty-first century - utilizing digital tools to make the task less arduous, allowing for more enjoyment in the doing of the painting. Using the camera and the computer as a layout tool, Mike shows why he believes the end result is better for it.
- How to Make a Wet Canvas Carrier: Oil painters are always seeking new ways to transport wet paintings from the field or workshops. Watch as Wetcanvas! member, Lorelou, provides a unique at home construction lesson for a wet-canvas carrier!
- How to Varnish an Oil Painting: Learn how to varnish your oil paintings with a traditional Damar varnish in this article by WetCanvas! member, JamieWG.
- Underpainting - A primer for the new painter: This article discusses underpainting as a tool to learn value and how to represent a realistic 3d impression on a 2d surface. Specifically, the article covers the verdaccio underpainting method. It is geared to painters who want to paint in a realist manner.
- Melvin the Hound: For those wishing to consider an alternative approach to oil painting that is very forgiving of the time and steps required, step inside the
world of Dave (Iconoclast) Dowbyhuz, as he shows you his step by step creation of a portrait of his Basset Hound, Melvin.
- New Gamblin Oil Painting Medium: Gamblin introduces Neo-Megilp, a new oil painting medium based on Turner's 18th century secret. Come get the scoop!
- Painting An Oil Plein Air Scene- Armstrong Creek: Catch the excitement. Take on the sun! Shed winter's cabin fever in an early spring oil plein air session with Larry Seiler. Covering- your scene options; the set up; and getting it done!
- Oil Painting Demonstration - Book Club: Scott Burdick extends a special invitation for you to view a still life oil painting demonstration by his wife Susan Lyon.
- Oil Painting Demonstration - The Letter: Join noted artist, Scott Burdick, as he demonstrates a new oil painting: The Letter, a scene from China!
- Free Gamblin Paint for Artists in April: Gamblin Artist Colors Offers New Paint Color - Torrit Grey 2001 - for free in April.
- John Hagan begins an interesting discussion of painting roses - don't miss it!
- Join John Hagan as he creates a "cyberscape", painting something contemporary using past techniques. Can he make something as uninteresting as a map of the world into something to turn heads? Don't miss it!
- Join noted artist Scott Burdick on a remarkable journey as he creates a stunning portrait entitled "Portrait of Ruth".
- Gamblin Conservation Colors now in use at museums globally
- Join noted artist John Hagan for an insightful (and entertaining!) lesson on painting friends and relatives!
- Join John Hagan for his latest lesson, "How to get the sparkle into painted eyes", or "The Grape, the Cherry, and the Eye"!
- Join Associate Editor, John Hagan, for a discussion on painting for money. Add some
commercial appeal to your work!
- Utrecht announces a new line of oil painting mediums, including Damar Varnish, Retouch Varnish, Gloss and Matte Varnishes,
Copal, Japan Drier, and an Alkyd Glazing medium.
- Do words like chroma and emulsion confuse you? Not to worry! Pierre Labeau is back with a new beginner's art glossary.
- The cantankerous Pierre Labeau is back from vacation, serving up some nifty tips for cartooning!
- Join noted fantasy artist and surrealist Michael Csontos for an exciting new lesson which
focuses on his wash techniques for oil painting as applied to surrealism and fantasy art!
- An artist's bread and butter ... the Golden Mean or the Golden Triangle?
- Join Pierre Labeau as he provides tips for seascapes in his latest QuikTip!
- Join Pierre Labeau for his latest QuikTip entitled, The Anatomy of a Tree!
- Resident cantankerous denizen, Pierre Labeau, provides an excellent
overview of various types of trees in his
latest QuikTip!
- Join Pierre for a short, but useful QuikTip on Drawing Horses!
- Join John Hagan as he presents his revised collection of intro and advanced painting lessons.
Painting with John Hagan is a now fully integrated within
ArtSchool Online!
- Daler-Rowney offers free oil painting video: Understanding Oils.
- Winsor & Newton announces Winton Oil Colour Soft Mixing White.
- The Oil Painting Guide has been updated with Maimeri's new web site at www.maimeri.it and product information.
- See two different approaches for drawing a jaguar in Pierre's latest QuikTip!
- English paint maker Daler-Rowney has updated its line of Georgian Oils.
- Join Pierre for his latest QuikTip - this time, he doles out some useful tips on painting rocks!
- What artist can avoid painting florals? You can't!!! Join Pierre Labeau for his latest QuikTip which deals with painting a bunch of roses!
- Having trouble painting trombones, rings, or other items made of metal? Be sure to take a look at Pierre's latest QuikTip entitled The Trouble with Trombones!
- Pierre shows you the ins and outs of painting the proverbial "green bottle"!
- Pick up some quick tips on painting a burning candle in Pierre's latest QuikTip!
- Doing reflections in a drinking glass aren't tough at all. Be sure to see Pierre's latest QuikTip!
- Spend your 4th of July with Pierre learning how to paint water droplets!
- Joine Pierre Labeau as he shows you the easy way to paint a bunch of grapes!
- All artists are asked to paint a rose at some point or another - well, learn the basics from Pierre in his latest QuikTip!
- Join Pierre Labeau for another exciting QuikTip! This time, he tackles working with kinetic motion - he paints a burning matchstick!
- New Article: Pierre Labeau's QuikTips #1: Painting Ice Cubes
- Winsor & Newton announces a new series of Artisan Brushes for use with water-soluble oil paints.
- Cadmium Red Hot Product Review! Johnnie Liliedahl's Gardenias and Rosebuds video oil painting lesson!
- New consumer comment: Sennelier Extra Fine Artists Oils
- Admiral Cowdisley Shovel: The first lesson in a new series for beginning oil painters.
- Product Review: Johnnie Liliedahl's Landscapes of France, oil/landscape video lessons
- Product Review: Johnnie Liliedahl's The Forked Path, oil/landscape video lesson
- New Oil Painting Tutorial: Painting a Simple 8x10 Vase in Still Life
- New Product Review: Walter Foster's Oil Painting, A Complete Kit for Beginners
- Oil Paint Drying Times: Did you know that different colors dry at different rates of speed? Yep - come take a look!
- Painting a Simple Vase: A simple step-by-step demonstration for absolute beginners!
- A Simple Landscape Project: Another simple, step-by-step demonstration for beginners!
- Simple Summer Foliage: Painting foliage is always a challenge - come see a simple approach for beginners!
- Still Life with Legumes: Join noted artist Diana Lee for an amazing step-by-step still life in oils!
Pastels
- Light and shadows: The article features oil pastels technique applied to outdoor plein-air painting and shows a step-by-step demo of a winter landscape on a sunny day.
- Pastel Hummingbird on Gold Painted Wallis Paper: Hummingbirds are such exquisite little gems in flight that painting them on a dazzling gold background is perfect. Instead of investing in gold leaf, try creating sparkling gold painted Wallis sandpaper as a ground for a pastel painting of one of these small jewels.
- Making Panels with Wallis Museum Paper: This is a demonstration of how to back Wallis Museum Paper with masonite panels.
- Travelling Studio Pastel Box: This large studio pastel box is a wonderful addition to any pastellist's studio. This particular box also gives an option for taking your pastels with you to a workshop. Watch as Cori Nicholls shows you how to go about building your own travelling studio pastel box easilly and inexpensively.
- Creating Your Own Marble Dust Boards: Pastellist, Cori Nicholls, shares how to create your own marble dust boards for use with dry or oil pastels.
- Creative Pastel Storage Solutions: Anyone can run right out and buy a pricey pastel storage box from any of a number of retailers, but there are so many different solutions just waiting to be adopted. With a little time, a drop of patience and considerably less money - you might just find your perfect pastel box in a most unlikely place!
- Florals in Oil Pastel: Join artist, Carly Clements, in the studio as she shares techniques for creating luscious florals in a step-by-step demonstration which will inspire you to try oil pastels!
- Making Your Own Portable Pastel Box: Pastellist, Cori Nicholls, shares a way to save money and create your own portable pastel box at the same time. Using a recycled art box, she illustrates how you can design a box to fit your needs for plein air or workshops.
- Clear Glass in Soft Pastel: Clear glass seems to be thought of as a difficult thing to capture in pastel; hopefully, some of these tips and tricks will help.
- Soft Pastels With Alcohol Underpainting: Underpaintings can be accomplished with several methods. Carly Clements shares her experimental step-by-step process using alcohol to dissolve the pastels into the support surface creating a soft, richly colored underpainting for her springtime dogwood blossoms.
- Pastel Demo from a Plein Air Oil Sketch: Follow Marc R. Hanson as he demonstrates his technique for enlarging a plein air oil sketch in his studio using soft pastels. Pick up tips for underpainting and blending as you watch his step by step progress of capturing the light and atmosphere from plein air to the studio.
- Landscape Painting With Pastels: Follow pastel artist, Tom Christopher, as he takes you from a simple idea to a finished pastel landscape painting full of color and drama. His step-by-step work in progress will give insight into the thoughts and challenges presented thru each stage of the painting.
- How To See Underlying Shapes In A Painting: Deborah Christensen Secor shares suggestions to help you see and understand the basic shapes of your painting and how they interlock like puzzle pieces, defined by value. If you want to strengthen your composition, take a peek at her ideas for using thumbnails, blurring a photograph, making a value map, doing an underdrawing and more!
- Egg Tempera Using PASTELS!: If you haven't tried egg tempera before, this is a great way to get started, and if you're a veteran dust-kicker (pastelist), then you owe it to your sticks to, at least once, treat them like the powdered pigment they are and give this a shot. Join Craig Houghton as he demonstrates this interesting combo of mediums!
- Photorealism Swallows Demonstration: Watch as Wildlife Artist, Bruce Lynch, creates his pastel photorealism Swallows. His painstaking day-by-day progress will not only amaze, but inspire you! and the question/answer format will simplify the process and find you reaching for those pastels!
- Pastel Showcase 2003: A pastel showcase of the best work of many contributing WC Pastel forum artists...see pastels in a whole new light!
- Producing a Pastel Painting - One Approach: Award winning artist, Jackie Simmonds offers a sequence of steps as one possible approach to producing a pastel painting for the beginner as well as the seasoned pastel artist.
- ASPECTS OF COMPOSITION: Artist Jackie Simmonds, author of Pastels Workshop, shares composition pointers useful for the beginner and intermediate artist working in all mediums.
- Making Handmade Pastels: Can't find that exact color pastel you need for that special painting? Never fear, you can make your own handmade pastels and develop your own recipe for that special color. Phyllis Franklin, Carly Clements and Deb Carroll invite you to explore making handmade pastels.
- Photorealism.....How Bruce (Gaka) Gets His Detail: Join pastel artist and WC! member, Gaka, as he shares his insights on achieving photorealistic effects in pastels! Watch step by step as he develops his "Hyacinth Macaws" painting!
- Painting Shadows: Add sparkle and drama to your paintings! Artist Jackie Simmonds demonstrates the importance of understanding shadows, and how to translate that knowledge into your finished work.
- Demonstration: Swan and cygnets in vibrant colours: Artist Sandra Fletcher shows how a WetCanvas! Reference Library Image can be used as the basis for exploring strong colour combinations in pastel.
- Zara - Watercolor Washes Under Pastel: Artist Debra Jones shows how splashes of watercolor washes on watercolor paper make an excellent surface for rich, jewel-toned pastel portraits. Enjoy her techniques offered in "Zara - Watercolor Washes Under Pastel"
- Sunset Demonstration in Soft Pastel: By request, working from a member photograph, WetCanvas! member, L. Diane Johnson demonstrates a sunset landscape using Soft Pastels. Don't miss the video clips!
- Soft Pastel Still Life Demonstration: Join noted artist Diane Johnson for a demo on the process of painting a simple still life in soft pastel. The subject: a single white dogwood blossom on fabric!
- Join Associate Editor Phyllis Franklin as she teams up with longtime WetCanvas! denizens Carlyne Clements and Deborah Carroll to make some homemade soft pastels!
- While it's the last day of 1999 in the USA, it's the first day of 2000 in New Zealand, where Associate Editor Rod Webb serves up the first lesson in our new Pastel section! Join him for an excellent still life demonstration.
Pen & Ink/Caligraphy
- Celtic Knotwork, Part One of Six: Celtic knotwork employs beautiful lines and angles that keep the eye attracted to your work providing a beautiful frame or an exquisite piece of artwork all on its' own. Award winning artist, Caroline Tigeress, shares a tutorial that will last through six articles and lead you on a step-by-step process through this wonderful maze of lines.
- Stone Wall - Watercolour Over Pen and Ink: Join WC! artist Kitaye for the third and final article in her "Stone Wall in Pen & Ink" series. This article will guide you through the steps of applying transparent watercolours over your inked stone wall. Watch over Kitaye's shoulder as she chooses her palette and applies her chosen colours block by block until the wall is completed.
- Stone Wall in Pen and Ink: Ever wanted to create a beautiful Gothic arch or stone masonry? Join WC! artist Kitaye in the second installment of her three-part tutorial. In this installment, Kitaye demonstrates the process for creating and inking a stone wall. The third and final installment will demonstrate how to bring the wall to life with watercolor washes.
- Drawing a Gothic Arch: This is the first in a series of tutorials geared to taking you through the step-by-step process of drawing and shading a stone wall in pen and ink. Artist and WC! member, kitaye, takes you through the steps needed to draw a gothic arch, then usable in any number of drawing styles and mediums.
- Experiment with Fur: How do you do that? was heard so often by WetCanvas! member, Chris Lockwood (Jakeally), that she has created a demonstration to explore some of the techniques used in drawing natural looking fur in pen and ink. Join Chris with your own creations and soon others will be asking you, How do you do that?
- Pen & Ink - Shading/Techniques/Lesson: If you are a beginner with pen and ink, catch the excitement as Artist Murray Cholowsky aka Artdude introduces beginners to techniques used in the art of pen and ink drawing. Don't miss the step-by-step walk through.
- Basics In Ink Drawings: Stipple, Splatter, Thatch ... what do these terms have in common? Join Artist, Bendaini for a discussion on basic pen and ink techniques.
Photography
- The Lightning Hunter: The Hunter becomes the hunted in this real life adventure about an artist and his inspiration!
- Wetcanvas, A Day In The Life 2004:
WC! is a global community with an eclectic mix of artists who have gathered a great collection of images from around the globe, all taken on the same day. We hope that you will enjoy spending the day with each artist as you view moments that have special meaning to them!
- Wetcanvas! A Day In The Life February 23rd 2003: What would happen if you asked WC! members to all take a photograph on the same day to show what was going on in their life on that particular day? Take a look and see what our members were doing on February 23rd, 2003!
- Photoshop 7: Beginners Guide: You finally have it...and now, you have nightmares about it. Which button does what? What are all those boxes for? Where do you start to learn such a massive program? Join me as I help end the confusion and get you started on your own journey to the wonderful world of Photoshop 7!
- Improve your Glass, Bead & Jewelry Photographs: Photographing small works of art presents many challenges. Artist, Dale Lynn shares how to build an effective $75.00 photo studio.
- Photoshop Pen Tool Selections / Effects: Struggling to use your reference photographs creatively? "Use the pen tool in Adobe's Photoshop as one of the most effective means of making and saving selections within your photographs. Once you have built your paths you have a lot of scope for creativity", says photographer Zarathusra. Got your attention?
- Converting Your Color Image to Black and White: Do you have a color photo that you would enjoy as a Black and White Portrait? Michael Richardson, Artist Photographer (aka Drapier), shares one method using Photoshop software to create that special B&W.
- How to Photograph Flat Art: Join professional photographer and artist Rick Lee as he describes how to photograph flat art as well as addressing the problem of shooting art work already behind glass.
Portraiture
- Demonstration on Painting Hands: Leslie Pz both challenges and inspires with this article and demonstration of how to paint \"hands\" using her medium of choice, acrylics.
- Pastel Portrait: Join L. Diane Johnson as she demonstrates how to overcome a weak photographic image to turn out a simple, yet dynamic, portrait of a young child in soft pastels.
- Joseph - A WIP Scratch Portrait: Always wondered how it's done?? Watch Joseph's face emerge from the darkness as Lorna Hannett scratches the surface of clayboard to produce a different kind of portrait!
- Portrait of Joseph in Oil: Look over the shoulder of WetCanvas! favorite, djstar as she reveals a successful three hour oil portrait of Joseph, a Native American.
- Portrait Demonstration: Ruth in Pastels: Want to join the portrait painting project but just don't know where to begin? Join celebrated artist Sandra Fletcher as she gives a step by step portrait demonstration of Ruth Cox in pastels.
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step - especially when doing portraits! Join noted artist and contributing editor, Rob Howard, as he discusses the ins and outs of setting a palette with the portrait colors.
- Join Contributing Editor Dr. Fillmer Hevener as he discusses his Eight Steps for Oil Portraits. In the
demo he paints former President Dwight D. Eisenhower!
- New Portraiture Tutorial: Drawing Faces the Bennecelli Way, by John Bennecelli
Printmaking
- Sharpening and Repair of Lino/Woodcut Tools: Follow along with Andrew Gott as he gives tips on how to properly sharpen, maintain, and repair linoleum and woodcut tools.
- Collagraph Printmaking: Don't toss out pieces of mat board! scraps of leftover fabrics! or that torn-to-bits watercolor disaster! Follow Sarah Wittmer (talkingbanana) as she explains collograph printmaking and turn that art trash into treasure!
Sculpture
- The Making of Independence: Join Steve Miller as he demonstrates his process of clay modeling, making polyurethane molds and resin casting, to create one of his life-like sculptures of hands.
- Make And Cast Your Own Latex Molds: Tamara (Lady Rando) shows you a step by step on on how she sculpts one of her gargoyles, then makes a latex mold and casts her sculpture in hydrostone.
- Introduction to Leather Sculpture: Looking for something new to challenge your creative nature? Teresa Turner has an exciting idea for you; try your hand at leather sculpture a technique that dates back to the Middle Ages!
- Porcelain Flowers: Join Gina Atkinson in creating your own sculptural florals. Step-by-step instructions and images make it easy to follow along with Gina as she reveals her techniques for Porcelain Roses!
- Working With Magic Sculp: Magic Sculp!!! What is it? How do you use it? What is it good for? Where can you get it? Find the answers to all of these questions and more in this article about working with this wonderfully versatile sculpting compound.
- Build Your Own Sculpture Stand Easily!: Want a sculpting stand but don't want to spend a hundred dollars or more? Artist Diane Mcdonnell shares her method of constructing an incredibly easy to make, inexpensive stand using a few basic tools.
- Making Your Own Proportional Caliper: Need to take a few key measurements on a live model and transfer to your smaller scale sculpture? Artist, Frank Moran, shares how to make a low cost alternative to high priced calipers.
- Sculpture Armatures: Join noted sculptor Frank Moran for an overview of techniques used in making a variety of sculpture armatures.
- Noted west coast sculptor Uvi, with assistance from fellow artist Frank Moran, provides some excellent guidance in "Earth: Step-by-Step"
- Join noted artist Rod Webb as he concludes his second do-it-yourself sculpting lesson!
- Join Rod Webb for the latest in his do-it-yourself sculpting lessons - this time, he creates a complete figure!
- Contemplating getting into sculpting? Don't miss Associate Editor Rod Webb's exciting new lesson for beginners! Discover the inexpensive and fun way to get into this exciting medium!
- New Article:
