Active Fine Art Posts

How To: Color correct your photos

A tutorial from the folks at Loaded Boards, demonstrating color correction tips for your photos. The wrong colors can ruin even the best photos. In this clip, we're introduced to a technique to keep your pictures looking both natural and dynamic

How To: Paint your pet's portrait without an art background

Dog trainer Emily Larlham from Dogmantics teaches how to paint your pet's portrait without having a background in art. Colors used in this tutorial include Titanium White, French Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna (a brown), Burnt Umber (a dark brown), Alizeran Crimson (a red), Cadmium Yellow, and Cadmium Orange. Other colors that are a good beginners palate include Cadmium Red and Yellow Ochre.

How To: Draw portrait in pastels

Watch this instructional drawing video to draw a portrait of Lena Horne in chalk pastels. First draw the outline and fill in a basic skin tone. Build up color and tone by adding layers of pastel, working from light to dark. don't worry too much about blending until you have put down most of the color. Always pay close attention while drawing the eyes to make sure your portrait of Lena Horne is accurate and convincing.

How To: Draw feathers

To draw birds accurately, you'll need to master drawing feathers. Feathers can be tricky, but if you can learn how to draw them you'll be able to depict birds with grace and accuracy. In this video, the artist walks you through the process, from selecting the materials to drawing the finished feathers.

How To: Draw graffiti, step by step

If you want to learn how to be a real graffiti artist, it can be a challenge to know where to get started. This tutorial video walks you through some of the beginning steps. Presented as a text slideshow, it's very basic but contains some sound information for aspiring graffiti artists.

How To: Use spray paint safely

Whether you're a graffiti artist or a home crafter who uses a lot of spray paint for various backyard projects, it's important to use your spray paint safely. This short, basic but useful video introduces you to a few of the air filter masks on the market. It also teaches you a bit about how to use them and how to keep them operating correctly. Use spray paint safely.

How To: Draw a monster

"Miki Falls" manga cartoonist Mark Crilley shows how to draw monsters. Monsters are one of the most enjoyable things to draw; we all draw monsters when we're kids, and they're fun to create at any age. In this tutorial, Crilley shows you how to make your monsters look their best (or worst!)

How To: Draw a realistic manga face

In this video, "Miki Falls" manga creator Mark Crilley shows us how to draw a realistic manga face. Manga has a unique style, and if you get minor details wrong it can really add up to make your characters look strange and unappealing. This video takes you through the process of drawing manga faces, step by step.

How To: Draw manga mouths in four different ways

Characters in Japanese manga tend to have very expressive mouths, ranging from a smirky little line on one page to a giant "O" mouth on the next page. In this video, "Miki Falls" manga creator Mark Crilley shows how to draw mouths the manga way. And we won't just learn to draw one sort of mouth, we'll learn four different styles.

How To: Draw a manga eye

The eyes of characters in Japanese manga tend to have a very distinctive look. They are large, childlike and shiny, with lots of little reflections. If you draw them right, they can look beautiful. But if you get them wrong, they'll just look bizarre. In this video, "Miki Falls" manga creator Mark Crilley shows how to draw manga eyes, line by line.

How To: Draw stony surfaces

Whether you want to draw fine art or the covers of trashy romance novels, drawing stone surfaces is an essential skill. In this video, "Miki Falls" manga creator Mark Crilley shows you how to make stone look like stone. It turns out, rock's not as hard as it looks!

How To: Draw a hand holding a sword

If you want to draw fantasy illustrations of brave knights slaying dragons or heroic warriors charging into battle against armies of barbarians, it's essential to know how to draw a hand holding a sword. If you try to draw a hand with a sword from memory, it probably won't turn out looking quite right. In this video, "Miki Falls" manga creator Mark Crilley shows you how to draw a hand holding a sword, getting the details right.

How To: Do waterless lithography

This video walks you through the steps of how to do waterless lithography. Waterless lithography is a lithographic process that does not require heavy or expensive presses or too many toxic chemicals. It is based in the idea that water and silicone don't mix.

How To: Techniques for painting with fantasy artist Ed Beard

Curious about acrylic paints and how to apply them to your fantasy-inspired works of art? Get some tips from a professional! This tutorial hosted by Ed Beard, an internationally reknown fantasy artist known for his published works in Magic the Gathering and Tolkien takes us through a quick step by step approach to "block-in" techniques with acrylic paints. "The Evolution of a Dragon Painting" is a great how-to video for those of you aspiring to be painters!

How To: Shading techniques with fantasy artist Ed Beard, 1

Need a little help on your shading technique? This tutorial on shading and shadowing techniques is hosted by Ed Beard, an internationally reknown fantasy artist known for his published works in Magic the Gathering and Tolkien. This video demonstrates how to choose a light source when shading, the values of dark to light, and how to ultilize shadows to embelish the three-dimensional depth to your drawing.

How To: Draw a female body form

Learn how to draw the female body with this tutorial from AEROblivion taking you through an extensive step by step process, hopefully making it easier on you, the artist! By starting at the head and working your way down, and with this tutorial at your side, results are sure to improve overtime!

How To: Sculpt & carve fake teeth from soap

Need a use for a model tooth? Learn with this "Tooth Carving 101" tutorial how to carve a fake tooth from a bar of soap. One will need a small carving knife, a bar of soap and about thirty minutes. Your fake tooth with make for one heck of peculiar mantel piece.

How To: Screen print your own t-shirts

Ever wonder how screen printed t-shirts are made professionally? This awesome tutorial takes you through the process, starting with the design on the transparency screen, to printing, to the press bed, then to dry. Make sure to listen for advice on how to keep your ink on your t-shirt by heat setting the t-shirt after you're done screen printing.

How To: Make a dress from multiple Bath Poufs

One of ThreadBanger's forum members, EmilyPeace reveals a great way to recycle your Bath Poufs into a cute dress! What's a bath pouf, you ask? You know those poofy thingys that act as your wash cloth or sponge in the bathtub or shower? Those things. You'll need some spare fabric (such as an old curtain), about 6 or 7 bath poufs, scissors, a measuring tape, some pins, a zipper, and a fabric marker for this recycle fashion idea. Good luck!

How To: Draw an anime or chibi Santa Claus

Attention aspiring anime cartoonists! This holiday season make your own holiday cards by drawing your very own anime Santa Claus on the front, with this step by step lesson tutorial on how to make the perfect chibi 'ol Saint Nick and later in the video, how to color it in with the help of your computer's general coloring or paint program. Anime and what is called "manga" (comics and print cartoons in the Japanese language) will make your Christmas card stand out from the rest! Good luck!

How To: Body paint a dragon on a leg

This tutorial is set-up for the novice or beginning body painter or face painter, giving step by step instructions on how to body paint a dragon on someone's leg. Paint colors needed include blue, white, black, red, yellow, gold sparkles and green. Materials are a must and include: A plastic plate or pallet, brushes, make-up or body paint, rubbing alcohol, paper towels, and a model over 18 (with at least one leg).