Lessons By Medium - Art Instruction For Beginners

What is Gum Arabic Used For in Watercolor Painting?

In today’s post we answer the question: What is Gum Arabic Used For in Watercolor Painting? Gum arabic is used as a binder in watercolor paint but you can also buy it separately as a medium. As a watercolor medium it is used to increase color brilliancy, gloss and transparency. Artists also find that the […]

What do you Need to get Started with Oil Painting?

Hello future oil painter! Glad you found me! So you want to become the next Vincent Van Gogh and need to know: What do you need to get started with oil painting? The good news is you don’t need dozens of tubes of paint, dozens of brushes, and and a large assortment of mediums. Now […]

How to Paint a Sunset with Acrylics Step by Step

Is there anything more beautiful than a sunset? Isn’t it only natural as artists that we would want to capture something as beautiful and precious as the setting sun in our artwork? I think so, that is why one of the first things many beginners want to learn is how to paint a sunset with […]

Oil Painting Landscape Demo Step by Step

The following is a free 2 part step by step oil painting landscape demo, part of a DVD course taught by artist John Houglum available for purchase on his website here.. There is about 30 minutes of content here, enough to really wet your appetite and get you started with Jon’s landscape painting techniques. He […]

Can Sharpies be used on plastic?

So today’s question is : Can Sharpies be used on plastic? And the answer is yes and no. Sharpie Oil Based Markers can be used on plastic. The traditional alcohol based Sharpie Markers are not ideal for plastic. They will smear and ultimately fade over time. If you want something more permanent, then use the […]

Can you Use the Same Brushes for oil and Acrylic?

So you would like to know…..can you use the same brushes for oil and acrylic painting? If you are asking if you can use the same single set of brushes you already have on hand to paint with both acrylics and oils, then I would say sure, you “can” do whatever you want. But should […]

What is the Best Paper for Watercolor Pencils?

Watercolor pencils are a fantastic and unique medium giving the artist both a drawing and painting medium all in one. They draw much like colored pencils yet behave like watercolor paint when water is added. This is because the binder used in watercolor pencils is water soluble unlike the waxy or oil based binder used […]

Watercolor Brush Stroke Techniques

Watercolor Basics: 3 Key Brush Stroke Techniques If you are new to watercolor then make sure you know these 3 key watercolor brush stroke techniques as they will improve your paintings dramatically. In this video, artist Paul Jackson discusses 3 basic watercolor brush stroke techniques that every artist should perfect. This video is from the […]

Do I Need a Medium for Oil Painting?

The quick answer is no, you do not “need” a medium for oil painting. You can paint with oils right out of the tube if you desire. The main reason people use a medium is because oil paint straight from the tube tends to be quite thick and may be difficult to move around with […]

Easy Acrylic Painting Tutorials for Beginners

When you are first staring out with acrylic painting, it is important to jump right in and get to work, especially on easy projects. Completing your first painting is rewarding and gives you a sense of accomplishment, especially if you are happy with your work! Below are a handful of easy acrylic painting tutorials for […]