Active Fine Art Posts
How To: Learn the parts of a Diana+ 35mm camera
Watch this photography tutorial for an out of the box look at the Lomography 35mm film back for the Diana+ and Diana F+. It's great to have a vintage film camera, but these days most of the individual camera parts are mysteries to the amateur photographer. Have fun learning to use your Diana camera.
How To: Load 600 film into a Polaroid SX-70 camera
Loading 600 film into a Polaroid SX-70 polaroid camera.
How To: Make a clay butter bell
Clay pottery is a fun and creative art form that can be done with slabs of clay and not only on a spinning wheel. This free video clip series will show you several tips on how to construct a clay butter bell and open a world of design ideas for you.
How To: Recycle a sweater into a strapless dress with Gianny L
Learn how to recycle a frumpy winter sweater into a sporty strapless dress! The sexy GiannyL demonstrates this DIY closet hack that's simple and cheap. All you need is one old frumpy winter sweater, pins, scissors, and a sewing machine. Cut along the pattern that Gianny L has demonstrated and sew. It's that easy. Now you have a sporty strapless dress and a matching jacket, too!
How To: Draw and letter with lead like an architect
Take a lesson in architecture from renowned architect Doug Patt by watching this video tutorial. If you want to learn about drawing and designing, without going to school, Doug's just the teacher. Watch to see how to draw and letter with lead like an architect.
How To: Write and letter like an architect
Take a lesson in architecture from renowned architect Doug Patt by watching this video tutorial. If you want to learn about drawing and designing, without going to school, Doug's just the teacher. Watch to see how to write and letter like an architect.
How To: Design and draw an architectural cliff house
Take a lesson in architecture from renowned architect Doug Patt by watching this video tutorial. If you want to learn about drawing and designing, without going to school, Doug's just the teacher. Watch to see how to design and draw an architectural cliff house.
How To: Design and draw an architectural bridge house
Take a lesson in architecture from renowned architect Doug Patt by watching this video tutorial. If you want to learn about drawing and designing, without going to school, Doug's just the teacher. Watch to see how to design and draw an architectural bridge house.
How To: Design and draw an architectural water tower house
Take a lesson in architecture from renowned architect Doug Patt by watching this video tutorial. If you want to learn about drawing and designing, without going to school, Doug's just the teacher. Watch to see how to design and draw an architectural water tower house.
How To: Convert a t-shirt and a flannel into a hoodie
Rob and Corinne invade the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan and get a sweet tutorial for making a hoodie from the new winners of the Threadbanger/Janome Sewing Machine in this how-to video. About five minutes into this video, get together a t-shirt and a flannel; that's all you need to recycle some old clothes into a hoody. Watch this video fashion tutorial and learn how to reconstruct an old t-shirt and flannel into a new hoodie.
How To: Lampwork a glass floral wine bottle stopper
This is my best guess at lampworking a borosilicate wine bottle stopper. This is just me winging it, I don't claim to be an expert. If you want to see what the pros do with this floral technique, look up Eugene Rain, Sabina Boehm, John Kobuki and many others.
How To: Draw the impossible triangle
This is a short instructional video showing you the easiest way to draw an impossible triangle. Follow along with the demonstrator to capture the lines to sketch this physical enigma. Just because it can't exist, doesn't mean you can't render it. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to draw the impossible triangle.
How To: Gesso a canvas
You can’t expect to paint a masterpiece on untreated cloth. Here’s how to gesso, or prime, a homemade canvas in a hurry. You will need gesso, water, a plastic mixing bowl, a drop cloth, fine grit sandpaper and a house paintbrush. Tip: some painters prefer to use a squeegee to apply gesso, instead of a brush. The edges of your canvas will drip a little, so use a smaller brush to work the excess gesso back into the sides.
How To: Make a bell out of clay
Simon Leach shows us how to make a bell out of clay.
How To: Photograph a white product with a white background
Need to shoot a product with a white background? Well, taking photos with a white backdrop can be tricky if your subject is white also. Watch this behind the scenes photography video to see how to photograph a white product with a white background. This style of shoot is quite standard for eshops which need product photos with a white background. It takes a couple flashes and a goo camera to get it down, just watch and see for yourself.
How To: Paint with encaustic wax for advanced painters
Advanced tips for encaustic wax painting are waiting here for you! Learn a variety of techniques and tips to refine your skills in this free online art less on vide about encaustic wax painting taught by expert John Vandebrooke.
How To: Make a kite aerial photography rig
Learn how to explore the world of photography from a kite's point of view with this aerial photography rig (also known as KAP). Bre Pettis and the accomplished guys at Make Magazine decide to use a VEX robotics kit to do the job.
How To: Square a T-shirt to a platen
Squaring a Tshirt to a platen can slow a screen printer down. With this method, it becomes quick and accurate, allowing you to print at excellent speeds.
How To: Make a leaf imprint tile plaster mold
Add leaves and patterns to your mold! This how-to video shows you a way to create an organic design in your molds. Watch this video sculpture tutorial and learn how to design tile molds with leaf and different pattern imprints.
How To: Make a glass positive/soft negative for Collodion
This shows the process of making a positive image on clear glass; traditionally, this would be called an Ambrotype. Here, it is a little bit overexposed to get a "soft negative" or a negative that can be used with modern silver paper (printing). Learn how to make a glass positive or soft negative picture with the Collodion printing technique by watching this video photography tutorial.
How To: Make public grafitti with a stencil and wheatpaste
Watch this video to learn how to make a stencil for graffiti and attach it to a public place with wheatpaste.
How To: Take a fashion portrait photograph
A fashion portrait should convey emotion and follow a story line. Delightfully, besides these two rules, it doesn’t have to make sense. Art photography can be dramatic or goofy. Make sure you don't just leave it all for Photoshop. Make an effort to get the right lighting before you start flashing away for your beauty shot or headshot.
How To: Make a mini tripod for your camera with a tennis ball
Turn an old tennis ball into a nifty camera tripod in just minutes. Inspired by an Instructables.com project: http://www.instructables.com/id/SDMK5MWFDO29GEZ/
How To: Discharge dye a T shirt
Make any dark shirt look super cool with discharge dye in less than 30 minutes! This is an easy dying project that is similar to tie dying but does not use colors. Bleaching a dark shirt will make it fashionable and customized to your liking. Bleach discharge uses the same techniques as tie dying. You need rubber bands, a t shirt and a bleach filled water bucket.
How To: Carve facial features on a wax head
Carve the face of a wax sculpture with the professional artist in this free sculpting video, covering how to sculpt eyes, lips, ears, and the nose.
How To: Modify the Nikon SB800
Learn how to modify the Nikon SB800. This is something you should not do unless you really know how to do it because it is very easy to break your camera in the process.
How To: Make shorts and a hat from old pants
Got some old pants lying around? Need a new Hat? Well In this tutorial video from Threadbanger, you get an in depth lesson from Liz Tilley who shows you how to make a cool summer cap out of an old pair of pants. This summer hat idea is totally cute, and it can help you get rid of that pair of pants that doesn't fit anymore.
How To: Photograph shiny metal and reflections
Watch this instructional photography video that introduces a very important principle (the law of reflection) when applied to photographing shiny objects in the studio.
How To: Attach a handle to a pitcher
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to put a handle on your pitcher. This part of the process is easy enough for beginners, and the detailed instructions in this helpful how-to video will help potters of any level seamlessly attach handles to their pitchers.
How To: Take pictures of lightning with a Nikon DSLR
Here is a detailed video that explains techniques and equipment you can use to take pictures of a lightning storm. Yes, take photographs in an actual lightning storm. You will definitely need a tripod to take a photograph with a long exposure and a plastic bag to protect your camera from the rain. Telephoto lenses allow you to keep a safe distance and avoid switching lenses during a lightning storm. Equipment used in this video: Nikon d300, Nikon 18-200mm vr and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 vr lenses.
How To: Build a slab for clay pottery
Clay pottery is a fun and creative art form that can be done with slabs of clay and not only on a spinning wheel. This free video clip series will show you several tips on how to construct vases of all different shapes and open a world of design ideas for you.
How To: Make a glass hollow donut pendant
Watch this two part lampworking video series to learn how to make a glass hollow donut pendant. Learn to coilpot some color and then make a donut and turn it into a pendant.
How To: Turn scrap fusing glass into a ribbon cane
This is a quick demonstration of one of the many ways to turn scrap Bullseye glass in to a ribbon cane. Watch this instructional lampworking video to recycle glass pieces and melt them into a cane. You can then use the glass cane to melt it into finely crafted glass jewelry such as beads, buttons and glass miniatures.
How To: Make your drawings move with an animation trick
Bring your cartoons to life. Find how to put motion into your 2d animations, No projectors needed or anything else, just a marker, scissors and some paper. Learn this animation trick.
How To: Choose the right speed film for cameras
When choosing camera film, use slow film for bright day light, medium speed film for a cloudy day and high speed film for low light conditions. Choose the right speed of film for a particular camera with the tips in this free instructional video on photography tips from a professional photographer. The speed of the film is essential in determining what type of environment you will be taking pictures, so listen up!
How To: Load film into a camera correctly
When loading film into a camera, never touch the blades of the shutter and make sure to advance the film a couple of times in a manual camera. Load film in a camera with the tips in this free instructional video on photography tips from a professional photographer. Loading film is an important first step for new photographers.
How To: Develop film for a black-and-white photo
When developing film for a black-and-white photo, first extract the leader of the film from the film canister and then pull out the rest of the film in total darkness. Develop a black and white photograph with the tips in this free instructional video on photography tips from a professional photographer. Good information for black and white photography students.
How To: Set the shutter speed and aperture of a camera
When setting the shutter speed and aperture of a camera, use a light meter to take a reading, then set the aperture or shutter speed, depending on which is more important for the photograph. Set the shutter speed and aperture of a camera with the tips in this free instructional video on photography tips from a professional photographer. For novice photographers, setting the shutter speed and aperture is an important first step in mastering the art of photography.
How To: Choose the right camera lens
When choosing a camera lens, use a telephoto lens for a zoom or a wide-angle lens for a broader view, which allows photographers to fit more of a subject into a photo. Choose the right lens for a specific photo with the tips in this free instructional video on photography tips from a professional photographer. Lens are very expensive, so make sure you are educated before you buy a new camera lens.
How To: Clean an SLR camera
When cleaning an SLR camera, use a stiff brush to remove dirt and a lint-free cloth to remove grease marks. Clean an SLR camera with the tips in this free instructional video on photography tips from a professional photographer. Clean your SLR camera like a pro.