Tips and techniques in painting....

Here’s an example of the Winsor and Newton paints I tend to favour.  Okay, this painting isn’t finished in the image here, but you can no doubt see how good they are.  The paint moves well ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2023/08/winsor-and-newton.html

I tend to leave blogs for some time, clearly, as it has been a while since I added a post here -  And that’s a lesson in itself…..Motto…”Keep posting, even if the posts are small, but ke...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2023/06/its-been-while.html

 It may not look much, but this is an Art Board re-primed. The piece I was working on really didn't come together, so I decided to make a change. Incidentally, the previous Oil painting was ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2021/03/gesso.html

  We don't always have the time for a detailed drawing when out and about. I take sketchbooks and pencils with me, so I can capture enough of the scene to draw from them later. Even a small ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2021/02/handy-tip.html

Firstly, let me say that there are VARIOUS ways of cleaning paint palettes.  I'll be adding other options here on this blog at some point, however, for now here's one option.  Example: - Oi...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2021/01/oil-palette-clean-up.html

It's 2021  and Wishing you all the very best ~

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2021/01/happy-new-year.html

Here's to a better 2021 than has been 2020 - although going on recent news, it looks to be a bit "shaky" to say the least! I'm sure all will sort itself out in the fullness of time. For now.....

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2020/12/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year.html

I know....I haven't been active here for a while.  Life seems to keeping me busy, but I do intend to get back to my painting tips more regularly during 2021.   (After all, we have to admit that...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2020/12/busy-busy-busy.html

Someone asked me recently how I manage to put Movement and Speed in a painting. Thought it best to use this painting of a running dog to explain 1.  Firstly, The Angle is important  ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2019/05/painting-action-moving-objects-speed.html

It can seem like a daunting thought, how to successfully paint eyes. Well, I'm here to tell you it is only in the detail and that DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DIFFICULT. KEEP IT SIMPLE Here's an ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2019/05/painting-eyes.html

Sketching can be as complicated as you want to make it. Firstly, find the idea OR you may have the subject in front of you. Next, put pencil to paper, and when you are happy with it, ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2019/02/sketch-to-final-drawing.html

Don't throw out those scraps of paper! It is always worth keeping them 1.  For testing paint colours and 2. Ideas  Gives you the opportunity to see, small time, how a larger pie...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2019/01/ideas.html

Here's some guidance notes as to how I went about  this recent painting I painted this watercolour which measures 12" x 9".  Firstly, let me say that this is on Rough Fabriano Artisti...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2018/12/what.html

So, just in case anyone still stops by here's something about one of my favourite sketchbooks the CONCERTINA I have bought the last couple of sketchbooks via Amazon,  although S...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2018/10/oh-mydidnt-realise-its-been-so-long.html

The thing with sketchbooks, is you need good paper.  It really does make all the difference to a decent sketch.  So you can image how challenging a KHADI-PAPER   sketchbook can be.  Not onl...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2018/06/using-khadi-paper-sketchbook.html

Sketching a subject that may seem complicated, can actually be split down into simple lines. As with this painting of William in the sea. Here's my initial outline, I kept it Simple ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2018/06/starting-sketch.html

I had a little time to spare in town the other day, so decided to stop for  coffee.  That gave me a chance to OBSERVE people...and get some quick sketches done.  Certainly focuses the hand ey...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2018/05/stop-and-sketch.html

Wow!!!   I took a break from adding Tips and Techniques  - Hadn't realised it was so long... ~~~ It can get rather confusing when you are faced with drawing something busy ~ like this ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2018/04/blocking-in-shapes.html

..... the MORE you try to get something RIGHT in a painting the MORE IT LOOKS  WRONG WHEREAS if you paint something WRONG the more it looks RIGHT ~ go figure ~

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2017/12/its-strange-but-true-fact.html

Here's a question somebody asked recently about skin tone Question: "WHAT COLOURS DO YOU USE IN WATERCOLOUR FOR SKIN TONES?" For me, it is always BURNT SIENNA (Winsor & Newton in my opi...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2017/10/it-has-been-while-since-i-posted-tip.html

Everyone has their own method for painting trees, but getting started for some can be difficult. Here's one of my techniques, which in fact is used a great deal by watercolour artists, in...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2017/08/another-technique-for-painting-trees.html

I've already mentioned Inktense blocks , and in this blog post I thought I would add a video using some. In fact I have now got a set of 72, so lots of colours to play with.  Before I get to t...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-packaging-demo-using-derwent.html

The balance of a painting.... This is part of a blog post I added a couple of years ago to my main blog (www.studiohyde.blogspot.co.uk), but I thought it would be helpful here too. WARM AND CO...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2017/05/warm-and-cool-tones-in-paintings.html

First some watercolour... Let this dry.  Then add a slightly Darker tone of the same colour, basically less water more pigment... If you want more obvious Waves, then just emphasise the s...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2017/04/making-waves-simple-way.html

Quick intro to Derwent Inktense Blocks ...I've had these for some time but only just got around to doing a colour swatch!  These are INK in a block but can be used like watercolours - the ...

https://usefulpaintingtips.blogspot.com/2017/04/derwent-inktense-blocks.html