Black on White and White on Black
Once in a while, I enjoy working in black and white. You might also enjoy the simplicity, contemporary look and heighten impact of paintings and drawings made in black and white I am working with black...
View ArticleBetween Drawing and Painting – Part 1
The definition of what constitute a drawing is not as simple as it looks. Sometimes a drawing is defined by the tools you use (pen, pencil, crayon versus paint), sometimes it is defined by the use of...
View ArticleBetween Drawing and Painting – part 2
In part 1 , we saw how you can paint over a drawing and how you could build an image with lines, loops, scribbles patterns or words. In part 2 we will talk more about using drawing medium on canvas and...
View ArticleOrganized chaos : Reworking life drawings in mixed media
I like to take my time when I draw but during the 20 minutes poses we do in class, I sometimes have enough time to work a bit on shading like in the following drawings So, I like to rework some of the...
View ArticleThe 8 most popular posts of all time on paintingdemos.com
I have been writing posts since April 2010 on this blog, I was surprised as it did not seem that long ! Anyways this is the 8 years anniversary for paintingdemos.com !! Time flies… So I thought it...
View ArticlePainting over varnished paper
I am doing a lot of work on paper and like experimenting with techniques that are modifying a bit the texture and water resistance qualities of the paper. You might also like:A yupo paper alternative...
View ArticleWhat did I get myself into? Pushing your limits
I am selling a few online classes on this blog and 2 of them (26 weeks of inspiration and training and 12 weeks of drawing explorations) are built around assignments and feedback I give to artists....
View ArticlePainting over life drawings with mixed media
I don’t know about you but time seems to fly when I am in life drawing class and I have only so much time to draw contours and shade, it is difficult to also add paint. You might also like:...
View ArticleSimple and fun monochrome painting
I don’t know about you but these days I have only so much energy and feel like tackling simple projects that are still fun and creative but not overwhelming. Here is a monochrome painting, done only in...
View ArticleDress up illustrations
These days I am looking for simple and fun creative art activities that can be done without much supplies at home. I used to love playing with paper dolls that you can dress up when I was a kid and...
View ArticlePainting a forest in acrylic with patterns : Discovery Walk
I like to add patterns to most of my paintings: to my flower paintings, figures but also landscapes and forest paintings. Recently I did paint this forest scene with lots of added patterns. Here are...
View ArticleInk Resist Technique, a video tutorial
Ink resist is an exciting technique that you can use in your mixed media paintings. It can seem a bit tricky at first though, so here is a video that will show you all the steps in details. Ink resist...
View Article6 masking fluid tips
Watercolor and acrylic paint are somewhat translucent by nature, so it makes sense to preserve some areas of your paper or canvas so they stay white or light. Masking fluid is the best way to achieve...
View ArticleHow to paint on stone paper with acrylics and alcohol based inks
I like to try new painting surfaces, and wanted to experiment on Terraskin Stone Paper. You can buy that paper in sketchbooks or in individual sheets, at first view, it looks quite similar to yupo...
View ArticleHow to apply an isolation coat to your paintings before varnishing
It is a good idea to apply an isolation coat on your paintings before varnishing. Why? I like that some varnish are meant to be removable. It is a good thing because if you change your mind after a...
View ArticlePainting over Life drawings with Acrylic and Watercolor Pencils
If you are going to a life drawing class, which I recommend you do 🙂 You will probably accumulate a lot of drawings over time. I am going to our weekly life drawing class in North Vancouver. I am a bit...
View ArticleHow to add visual texture to watercolor and acrylic washes.
Adding a bit of visual texture to your paintings will make them stand out. You can also use visual texture as a starting point to layer more colors or to make an abstract background. You might also...
View ArticlePainting flowers from imagination: 3 Paintings for the Anonymous Art Show
Painting flowers from imagination is very satisfying, you can get rid of reference picture and enjoy the freedom of making up flowers that are whimsical and funny looking 🙂 Every year, the North...
View ArticleDry brushing for mixed media portraits
If like me you like drawing as well as painting, you might be interested in trying out the dry brush technique. Basically a way to draw with brushes. This technique works well in mixed media paintings...
View ArticlePainting with acrylic skins
Painting with acrylic skins is a fun and versatile technique. I think about it as something between collage and painting as you prepare skins to be added to your painting. Once they had time to dry,...
View ArticlePainting without a reference picture : Blue abstraction
It is nice to start painting from a reference picture but you might also enjoy the freedom of working on a painting just from memory or imagination. Here is a technique that will allow you to paint...
View ArticleHow to paint Flowers from imagination : Feeling Good
Feeling Good Mixed media on canvas 24 x 24 inches Sometimes as an artist you want to express yourself and find a more personal style, but this is more difficult to do if you try to stay too close from...
View ArticlePainting mixed media Flowers from your imagination: Greenery
Free yourself from reference pictures by using this mixed media painting technique to paint a flowers from your imagination in a few easy steps. To paint flowers from your imagination with mixed media...
View ArticleHow to Paint Poppies and Roses in Watercolor and Mixed Media
It is difficult to paint from imagination starting with a blank canvas, it will be way easier if you start with an abstract background. Learn how to make this abstract background with watercolor and...
View ArticlePainting flowers from imagination with watercolor on canvas : Ikebana
Painting with watercolor on canvas is possible. The main challenge is that the paint can lift off very easily even when dried. One technique you can try is to paint an abstract background with...
View ArticleHow to paint with acrylic inks and mixed media on canvas
Mixing media is fun but it is sometimes difficult to know where to start, especially if you don’t have a reference picture. Here is a technique you can use to mix watercolors, ink, acrylic ink and oil...
View ArticleHow to add zentangle patterns to your paintings: In Kyoto
If you like doodling and patterns, you can try incorporating zentangle and designs into your paintings. See how you can do it on a mixed media painting. To paint a flower painting with zentangle...
View ArticleHow to paint mixed media flowers on yupo paper : Orange Blossoms
Yupo paper is fun to try with watercolor and ink as the paint will make very interesting textures while drying on that type of paper, that makes it ideal to start a painting with an abstract...
View ArticleWhat are the advantages of working in series
I recently worked on a series of 8 12 x 12 inches flower paintings in mixed media, simultaneously, switching from one painting to the next until they were all done, that was the biggest series I ever...
View ArticlePainting mixed media flowers on yupo paper for the Anonymous Art Show
I did paint a series of three watercolor and mixed media flowers on yupo paper for the anonymous Art show. They are painted on Yupo paper mounted on board. Here are some pictures of the steps I took....
View ArticleHow to paint Acrylic Flowers on board : In Glasgow
Painting Acrylic flowers on board with mixed media is a bit different than painting on canvas, if you want to start on a white surface you will have to apply either gesso or acrylic on the board. I...
View ArticleDrawing patterns with a dipping pen and ink
Using a dipping pen and ink to add patterns to your artwork can seem a bit intimidating at first but it is very easy to draw with a pen and it has many advantages. You might also be interested in:...
View ArticleFind inspiration close to home
I like to think that everything we like to do in our everyday lives is going to influence more or less what we create and what we paint. Your day to day life and interests can be an interesting source...
View ArticleAdd impact to your paintings with India Ink
Color is fun and I love color but you can also give impact to your paintings by working in black and white. When working in black and white, I like to use India Ink as it has many advantages: It is...
View ArticleWatercolor and fluid acrylic: similarities and differences
I started painting with watercolor, I think the unpredictability of the medium and its refusal to do what I wanted it to do got me hooked right away. I still enjoy painting with watercolors but am...
View ArticleStep by step tutorial: Intuitive semi abstract landscape with acrylics on canvas
Intuitive painting: When painting, you need a bit of planning, but it is also nice to leave some space for surprises and use your intuition. The more I paint, the more I plan before painting but also...
View ArticleEveryone is an Artist: A collaborative work of Art in North Vancouver becomes...
As adults, if we don’t have a job or an activity that requires us to draw often, we usually don’t spend that much time drawing. Over time it can even become very intimidating to draw. It is something I...
View ArticlePainting flowers from imagination for the Anonymous Art Show, a step by step...
To participate in our North Vancouver Anonymous Art show this year, I decided on painting flowers from imagination in acrylic and mixed media. Appreciation of Art is subjective and for sure, knowing...
View ArticleHow to use oil pastels, what you can do with this under-estimated medium.
I love everything about oil pastels: The textures and colors are gorgeous, they are affordable, portable, not too messy … You might have noticed if you do a google search though that not many...
View ArticleDry pastels, alternative ways of using them in mixed media
Pastels come in 2 types: oil pastels and dry pastels. They are very different medium as dry pastels is more like chalk and oil pastels have a very creamy texture. You might also like: How to use oil...
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