Pen and Ink Tips – Getting Started
You really don’t need much to get started with 
pen and ink. You can start with a normal ball point pen and a piece of paper that you have lying around the house. Of course, normal household pens and plain old paper will not be as rewarding as a professional 
pen & ink set, but at least you can get started right away.
Here are some suggestions for popular pens to check out once you are ready to buy:
Rotring Rapidograph Pen
Rotring Sketching Art Pen
Here are some suggestions for your pen and ink paper:
Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Paper
Bienfang Raritan Heavyweight Drawing Paper 18 in. x 24 in. pad of 30
How To Become an Accomplished Artist
To become an accomplished artist is just like anything else in life. It requires the correct mindset and the willingness to succeed.
DESIRE
First and foremost, you need to have the desire to learn and grow. Without the desire to learn and grow, your interest will fade over time. You will definitely make mistakes and progress may not happen as quickly as you originally anticipated. If you lack the desire to continue and learn from those mistakes, you will not see much in the way of progress. I can attest to this. When I first began 
oil painting I recall how terrible my first paintings were. I had no experience mixing or matching colors. I did not understand that mixing colors is a science all in itself. I would either mix too many colors, or mix the wrong colors, and my mixtures came out terrible. I did become quite frustrated, and eventually discouraged, until I finally stopped for a while. It wasn’t until I took a trip to The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, that I realized just how badly I wanted to paint. I became inspired and my desire to paint was ignited once again. So make certain that you always stay inspired to create. Surround yourself with creativity. Talk to other artists. Look at other artwork, etc.
LEARN & PRACTICE
Once you have found the desire to embark on your artistic journey, you will obviously need to learn and practice. You will need the right resources and teachers to guide you in the right direction. Everyone is different and your way of learning anything new can differ from another persons learning methods. Some people learn better by watching others. If this is the case, purchase some quality 
art instruction videos or DVD’s. Watch them once or twice first before you participate. This will make the experience much more enjoyable and easier to follow once you are ready to join in. There are a number of well made and resourceful art instruction videos and DVDs on the market today. Perhaps you prefer to learn in a group or classroom setting with an instructor. Do a search for beginner workshops in your area and join a few. The benefit of the classroom setting is the instant feedback you receive on your work. You also have other students and an instructor there to answer any questions that you may have. There are workshops available on virtually everything from painting to crafts, so you should be able to find something in your area or online. Maybe you prefer to read books and learn on your own, at your own pace. This is the way I started learning. I have a nice little library now of great 
art instruction books that I am constantly re-visiting.
Pastel Painting Tips – Use Different Color Paper..
If you typically work with only white 
pastel paper, you might consider spicing things up a bit by working with different colored pastel paper. You can create some very interesting and unique effects by allowing the color of the paper to show through. You are also saving money by using more of the paper as part of the 
pastel painting and less of your precious pastels.
Here are a few links to purchase colored pastel paper:
Strathmore 400 Series Artagain Pads
Colored Pencil Tips – Don’t Overdo It..
Be careful that you do not put too many layers of the colored pencil medium on your paper. Eventually your paper will not be able to hold the medium as it will become saturated. You will risk tearing your paper as well.
Click here for more colored pencil tips from CreativeSpotlite.com
Drawing Tip – Learn To Draw Before You Paint
Drawing is a wonderful art form all in itself, but it is also a great training tool for painting. Once you understand and learn how to draw well, you are then free to focus your mind on the challenge of working with color.
One of the best ways to practice drawing is to take a sketch book around and simply start to sketch your surroundings. Find subjects that are appealing to you and start drawing.
Find a good book on beginner drawing and learn the fundamentals: The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Oil Painting Tip – Feeling Uninspired?
There may come a time during your oil painting journey where you may lose interest or lack ideas on what to paint. If this happens to you, don’t get discouraged, instead try one or all of the following things to give you a quick boost in creativity and to get your creative juices flowing
Oil Painting Tip 1 – Visit a Museum
Head out to a local art museum with a friend or relative and spend time observing all of the beautiful artwork. This alone should spark some creativity and ideas.
Oil Painting Tip 2 – Rent a Movie
Acrylic Painting Tips
If you have any experience with 
acrylic painting, you have probably already noticed that it is a fast drying medium. Many new artists squeeze far too much 
acrylic paint out on the palette and wind up wasting it. Make certain you do not squeeze out more than you need.
To keep the paint moist on your palette, get yourself a spray bottle and fill it with water. Keep it handy and spray a mist over your paints every once in a while to keep them from drying up.
Click here for more acrylic painting tips from CreativeSpotlite.com
Oil Painting Tip – Organize Your Palette
With oil painting, things can sometimes get very unorganized quickly, so every little thing helps. Get into the habit of organizing your 
oil paint on your palette the same way each time you paint. Over time, you will get used to the setup and begin to automatically pick up the colors without even thinking. It makes painting a little easier.
Click here for more oil painting tips from CreativeSpotlite.com
Oil Painting Tip – Use Acryic Paint For Your Underpainting
Next time you begin an oil painting, instead of using thinned down oil paint with harmful substances like turpentine, try beginning your oil painting using acrylic paints. As you know, acrylic paint dries much faster than oil paints, enabling you to get to work on the painting much faster.
I hope you enjoyed this little 
oil painting tip.
Click here for more oil painting tips from CreativeSpotlite.com
Acrylic Painting Tip
If you ever find yourself with unused acrylic paint after a painting session, here is a great little tip to preserve your paint. Get yourself a bunch of those little film containers and use them to store your left over acrylic paint. The paint stays fresh for quite some time. I hope this 
acrylic painting tip has helped. Happy painting.
Click here for more acrylic painting tips from CreativeSpotlite.com
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