Active Fine Art Posts
How To: Draw a red and yellow bird with a pencil sketch and colored markers
Using your favorite pencil, you can sketch the picture of a bird (like a red-breasted robin) and then use markers to color it in. The tutorial shows you the steps, starting from a blank piece of paper, to draw a multicolored bird.
How To: Avoid camera shake when taking pictures (unless you want the effect)
Camera shake is often an unwanted effect in photography, when a telephoto lens or long shutter speed has been used for a camera that hasn't been stabilized. The images subject to camera shake appear blurry and smeared, which is often considered an error - though some photographers find artistic value in camera shake and purposefully try to cause the effect in their art.
How To: Draw a sketch of a creepy alien or monster
Watch a sketch artist draw a creepy monster with a bulbous head and long, clawed arms. A shading technique to make everything look creepy is also demonstrated. This piece of fantasy art can be replicated whenever you need to know how to draw something scary to terrify your friends with!
News: Speeding Bullet Vs. a Single Drop of Water
Alexander Augusteijn captures one of the world's most deadly projectiles slicing through the Earth's delicate water droplet.
How To: Draw a side shot of The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk, the result of Bruce Banner being exposed to an intense amount of Gamma Rays. Gets stronger the more you hurt him, and can break tanks in half no sweat. Wouldn't you like to be able to draw the green giant? In this video you will learn how to draw The Incredible Hulk from a side view, watch him start from the outline all the way down to the coloring of the finished picture.
News: Marie Antoinette Wigs Made With Miles of Plastic Wrap
Kate Cusak is resourceful. The artist makes Marie Antoinette wigs crafted entirely with saran wrap: “'There is an exciting ‘a-ha’ moment when someone realizes that there is more to my design then they initially expected,' Cusack says. 'I create polished, elegant work that the viewer can appreciate in a serious way, but then when the viewer notices whatever the object is made out of, it surprises them and brings a smile to their face.'”
How To: Draw faces just like Steven Sanchez in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Comic book art is not only awesome, but it takes a really keen eye, and talent, to draw great comic book art. Steven Sanchez has a unique style and tone to his artwork, and in this great two-part video, you will learn how to draw the faces and heads that make Steven stand out from other artists.
How To: Draw an eye with amazing detail
One of the most emotional and striking things that you can draw is the human eye. It can say everything that you want to say without a single piece of text. But to draw like that requires skill and talent. In this amazing video you will watch as he shows you all the various steps and techniques that he uses to make a truly amazing eye, starting with pencil and eventually finishing with ink.
How To: Take beautiful photographs, day or night with a digital camera
Ambient lighting is one of the most important factors in taking a good picture. A picture of one location during a sunny day will look entirely different if you take it at night. You'll want to use the right shutter speed and camera flash to get the best picture possible, regardless of what time of the day it is.
How To: Set up your camera to take beautiful pictures at night
Taking pictures at night is very different than taking them during the day. This video tells you the right way to set up your camera to take beautiful night time shots. Set up your correct exposure and ajust the camera lens to make use of light and setting for your photographs.
How To: Make a surreal paper mache hand
If you're looking for ideas for creepy decorations to make for your next Halloween party, or just want to have a little fun, you can use papier mache, cardbord paper, a little foil and some paint to create a surreal cartoon hand.
How To: Dress up a boring pair of shoes with cute bows
You can use this tutorial to decorate any plain or boring pair of shoes in your closet. The easiest way is to make a pair of cute bows from ribbon matching the color of your shoes, and attach them to the toes.
How To: Make a cool lampshade using a panorama photo
If you've taken some great looking panorama shots, but have no idea what to do with them, this tutorial may have something in mind. In this tutorial, you'll be finding out how to take a cool looking panorama and trasnfer it onto a lamp shade. It will not only give use to your photo, but add an interesting piece of furniture to your home as well.
How To: Draw manga shoes from a side angle
In these great videos you'll learn how to draw each shoe from a 3/4 view. This is a pretty tough style, and Koizu takes his time, showing you the exact steps you need to take to getting the right look, also his voice reminds me of that one "happy clouds" guy. You know the one!
Illusion Revealed: The Moiré Mind Trip
Beautiful textile illusion by artist Timur Si-Qin! How Does it Work?
How To: Craft a woven wallet from duct tape
Hold your moolah in style using this duct tape wallet. Leave your friends with their Dior clutches and fancy business wallets - this duct tape wallet is SO much cooler! Featuring a woven pattern, you can weave two duct tapes in whatever colors suit your fancy.
How To: Draw a large room with sectioned off spaces
When vanishing point perspective was first discovered in the early Renaissance, artists were astounded by how the draftsman tool was able to transform a flat, 2D space (that until then always looked like a flat, 2D space without perspective) into a believable 3D image. We've been using vanishing point perspective ever since, and architects would die without it.
How To: Draw an entryway space using complex space
If you need to refine your building draftsmanship for architecture school or simply because you enjoy the streamlined aesthetics of modern architecture, then this tutorial is a perfect way to practice and hone the art of architectural drawing.
How To: Make a statement piece necklace from old zippers
Back to school is the best time of the year to flaunt new clothing and accessories you scored during the summer. But since so many of us shop at the same places these days (come on, when was the last time you visited Target?), it's very likely you'll end up with a dress or necklace that someone else already has.
How To: Draw an orchid in Sumi-e Chinese brush painting
Watch this instructional painting video to paint an orchid with India ink and watercolor on Chinese rice paper. This fluid style of painting takes lot of practice and does not allow for mistakes. Every brush stroke counts. Get out some newsprint to practice painting these beautiful orchid flowers.
How To: Do basic airbrushing techniques
Basic airbrushing techniques are demonstrated in this video. These little tricks will help you master airbrushing.
HowTo: Capture Monster Waves on Camera
Waves are like clouds. Perpetually calming, they possess a serene beauty that never grows old. It's no wonder humans capture the planet's daily natural wonders over and over again. Armed with a camera, they just can't resist the classic postcard shot: Sunrise. Sunset. Clouds. Mountains. Beaches. Waves.
How To: Craft your own bokeh lens
A bokeh lens gives a soft and unique lighting style, and can be created at home. This photography lesson teaches you how to use paper and tape on an aperture camera lens to craft your own. Improve your art with this DIY construction tip!
How To: Rasterbate rasterized images from any picture
Empty walls? This is the perfect solution. The Rasterbator creates huge, rasterized images from any picture. Upload an image, print the resulting multi-page pdf file and assemble the pages into extremely cool looking poster up to 20 meters in size. Rasterbating is when you make a photo out of several photos.
How To: Upcycle old wine corks into a cork board
Do you find that there's no better way to unwind from a long, hectic day than to put on Joni Mitchell, kick off your heels, and pour yourself a glass of Chardonnay? If so, then you more likely than not have an assortment of wine corks from wine bottles you've inhaled.
News: The Barrel of a Gun Has Never Tasted So Sweet
In keeping with today's theme of dark and twisted sweets (edible blood slides), check out this German gun-sucking art project. For a piece entitled Freeze: Revisited, Florian Jenett and Valentin Beinroth made handgun replicas crafted from ice, in an array of flavors, including coke, black currant, licorice, and cherry.
How To: Make cute and girly duct tape bows
We've seen lots of funky duct tape projects, from duct tape prom dresses to duct tape wallets. But this duct tape project is without a doubt the girliest and cutest we've laid our eyes on.
How To: Create realistic looking drawings and paintings
Merrill offers up some of this best tips for making your works of art more realistic. There's three very important strategies for improving your the lifelike quality of your drawings and paintings, and in this video, he demonstrates them for you.
How To: Fix mistakes while oil painting a colored portrait
Have you ever screwed up a painting before? Beyond repair? Well, it might be able to be saved after all, at least, thanks to these tips from Merrill Kazanjian.
News: Zipper Motorboat "Unzips" the Ocean
Evocative of master Pop artist Claes Oldenburg, Japanese artist Yasuhiro Suzuki built a motorboat facsimile of a massively scaled zipper pull. From an aerial view, it's parting stream resembles a parting zipper. Absurdly fun. Previously, Soft and Squishy Sculptures.
How To: Draw & color an anime face easily
Many of us would like to draw a cute anime face smiling back at us, on a white sheet of paper. To see how it's done watch this fine art video that will show, how an anime face is drawn and colored.
How To: Use aluminum cans as armatures for shaping and baking polymer clay
You're probably wondering why in the world you would throw an aluminum can into an oven to bake, but differently shaped aluminum cans are actually a polymer clay hobbyist's best friend when it comes to shaping clay and making the shape stay.
How To: Trace a picture accurately of an apartment complex
Imitation is the best form of flattery, right? In the case of this picture of a roadside apartment complex, imitation will help you learn about perspective and vanishing points, and how architectural features align with these two drawing caveats to create a realistic picture.
How To: Draw a large truck under a bridge with shading
Sometimes the most common, everyday subjects are also the best for practicing basic drawing methods like drafting and shading and contouring. Just take the truck, people, bridge, and garden in this drawing tutorial, for instance.
How To: Make a pretty layered necklace using an old, unwanted t-shirt
Statement pieces are all the rage this fall, with big, chunky necklaces and vibrant floral neck wraps taking center stage as clothes take a backseat. If you want to get in on this trend without looking a bit too haute couture (AKA too like a clown) for school or work, check out this DIY tutorial for making a pretty layered necklace using an old t-shirt.
How To: Make a duct tape checkerboard/chessboard easily
Think you still need to purchase all your games at the store? If you have two differently colored duct tapes, then you can actually craft your own chessboard or checkerboard easily.
How To: Draw a buxom Frank Frazetta style vampirella
Illustrator Frank Frazetta knew women. At least, he knew what men desired in the "perfect" woman physically: Sumptuous curves that made men weak in the knees with a single shake, deep-set eyes, and bombshell assets.
How To: Draw illusionistic stairway steps with balls
Perhaps one of the most difficult technical challenges of drawing is creating illusionistic images, mazes, or steps. Like in the movie "Inception," illusionistic spaces involve a dream-like atmosphere and paradoxes in structure, like a neverending staircase. If you're interested in stretching the limits of your mind, go see "Inception." Just kidding. Do go see it, but also check out this drawing tutorial.
How To: Draw Captain America with correct anatomy and contouring
Now that the "Avengers" movie and the "Captain America" movie starring Chris Evans have been confirmed, fanboy hype about Marvel heroes has officially reached fever pitch. Though shooting for "Captain America" has just begun, pictures of Evans wearing his Captain American costume have surfaced, showing a very body contouring costume and a very fit Evans.
How To: Draw a realistic male manga face in profile
If you excel at drawing faces directly facing the front but can't seem to wrap your mind - and finger - around turning that face to the side and performing a profile sketch, then you're not alone. Adjusting a face to the side adds another dimension of facial contouring and structure.