Active Fine Art Posts
How To: Draw faces step by step
Learning how to draw faces can be difficult but rewarding for any artist interested in drawing people. Get expert art and drawing tips in this free video art lesson on how to draw faces.
How To: Draw people in perspective
Perspective drawing takes skill and practice. Get expert advice on how to draw people in perspective in this free art lesson video series on figure drawing for experienced and novice artists.
How To: Create a prosthetic mold of a witch
As you remove your prosthetic mold from the scridge, be careful to maintain the nice edge. Learn the basics of prosthetic makeup as our expert shows you how to create a witch face. Create a prosthetic mold of a witch - Part 1 of 21.
How To: Draw people
Learning how to draw people is one of the most difficult projects an artist can take on, but with the help of our expert, you will be able to draw the human body to scale with ease and skill. Get these figure drawing art lessons for free in this series of videos.
How To: Draw the human body
Learn how to draw the human body and what supplies you will need to get started in this free video series of art lessons.
How To: Set up an art studio
Learn how to setup an art studio and make it your space for your creative needs with expert advice on how to set up an art studio from a professional artist in this free online instructional video series.
How To: Draw cartoon characters
Learn tips and techniques for drawing cartoon characters with expert artist advice in this free online drawing and cartooning lesson video series.
How To: Use soft boxes in photography
Soft boxes diffuse and enlarge your light source. Learn about soft boxes in this free video on studio equipment for photography. Use soft boxes in photography - Part 1 of 30.
How To: Use a photographic enlarger
A photographic enlarger is a piece of equipment used to produce photographic prints from film or glass negatives. Learn more about photographic enlargers and how to use them from a professional photographer in this free video. Use a photographic enlarger - Part 1 of 26.
How To: Throw a tall cylinder using clay
This instructional ceramics video teaches you how to throw a tall cylinder with clay. This video is designed to help the beginning through advanced ceramic student improve their throwing skills.
How To: Draw an anime face in side and 3/4 perspective
Check out this video to learn to draw an anime face in side and 3/4 perspective for manga and comics.
How To: Lampwork a glass curly-Q
This instructional lampworking video shows how to make flame worked coils of glass.Use a rod of cold, thick glass to wrap the curly-q around. Using a thin, molten string of glass, feed the melted glass into the torch flame as you slowly turn the cold glass rod. This will create a quick and delicate glass coil.
How To: Throw a pot using two rubber ribs
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to throw and shape with two ribs at the same time. Learn some basic tips of coning on a pottery wheel by squeezing slowly all the way up. It's another process in the wedging department that compresses the clay. Once you get the rhythm of the pottery wheel, give it a try and soon you'll be producing your own ceramics.
How To: Throw a big ceramics bowl with clay
Check out this instructional ceramics video to learn how to throw a big ceramics bowl with clay. Learn how to center a larger piece of clay: get into a ball, slap it on the wheel, center it as best as you can before you get it wet. Practice your ceramics making skills with this tutorial.
How To: Set up a big white infinity sweep for photo studio
This instructional photography video shows how to setup large white infinity backgrounds in the photo studio. The key components to this setup is include this six foot octobox softbox light, which requires quite a bit of power; a framed aluminum reflector; the background itself is vinyl floor painted white; and a black baffle to shield the camera from lens flare. Set up professional looking shoots and take great portraits with this tutorial.
How To: Take photographs at night with a professional camera
This instructional photography video helps you to better understand how to take great photographs at night. Night photography is a tricky art that you can master with this video. This tutorial is great for photography enthusiasts looking to improve their skills.
How To: Understand the basics of a Nikon SB-800 photo strobe
This instructional photography video guides you in a step-by-step process with the most basic information on Nikon's flagship speedlight of the SB-800 photo camera. Watch this photography demonstration to better utilize your camera's settings and control your results. This video is great for photography enthusiasts.
How To: Stencil a t-shirt with a custom freezer paper stencil
Watch this instructional stenciling video to create your own stencil using a few simple tools. This stencil was created in Adobe Photoshop 7.0. You will need freezer paper, X-acto knife, a t-shirt, stiff cardboard,fabric paint, a foam brush, poly glitter (optional), and an iron. You can stencil a number of t-shirts once you have cut out the freezer paper stencil.
How To: Use active D-Lighting for your photo shoots
This instructional photography video explains step-by-step the features of active D-Lighting: what it can do and how it affects your images. Active D-Lighting allows you to photograph in various lighting situations for more neutral contrast results. Here is a basic explanation of the settings on a professional Nikon photo camera:
How To: Understand focal length on your photo camera
This instructional photography video explains and shows the difference in zoom lenses' focal lengths. This basic demonstration uses a Nikon professional photo camera to exhibit the various zoom lenses, and provides examples of its photographic capabilities. Watch this video and improve your photography skills.
How To: Build a useful inexpensive Tripod for your camera
Watch this instructional photography video that shows how to build a useful, inexpensive tripod for the amateur photographer on a budget. This tripod will be more useful than most commercial tripods with only a plastic bag full of beans. The result is a stable, useful extension with minimal photographic inhibitions that works on any surface. A great how to video for the amatuer photographer.
How To: Prepare a photography portfolio presentation
Putting together a print portfolio for your photography? This instructional photography video provides some suggestions on photographic portfolios and how to assemble a portfolio. It is very important to have a good online presence, a nice gallery of your work to show. But there are advantages to having a print portfolio as well.
How To: Shape a tall ceramics using a potter's wheel
Check out this ceramics video sequence to learn how to shape tall pottery using a potter's wheel. Follow these easy steps by Andy Ruble to create shapelier, taller pottery. This video is great for ceramics enthusiasts.
How To: Center on the potter's wheel with clay
Perfect your ability to center on a Potter's wheel with these tips from Andy Ruble. There are several different ways to go about centering, but the general principle is to put equal pressure on the top and side of the ball of clay and clay has no choice but to go in the middle. This instructional ceramics video is designed to help the beginning through advanced ceramic student improve their throwing skills.
How To: Collar ceramics
This instructional ceramics video is designed to help the beginning through advanced ceramic student improve their throwing skills. Learn hand/finger placement when pulling cylinders. Perfect your ability to collar ceramics well with these tips from Andy Ruble. Collar all sorts of tall, fun little items.
How To: Make steampunk gloves
Watch this instructional fashion video to learn how to make steampunk gloves. All you need are the following items: a pair of scissors, some ribbon, grommet setter, anvil, grommets, marker, ruler, and leather. Soon you'll be able to don your steampunk outfit and show off your creative fashion sense.
How To: Develop black and white film for photography
In this photography tutorial, learn the developing process of black and white film. Jim Talkington guides you through the steps in this instructional video. A good way to start developing your own black and white film photographs.
How To: Problem solve small product photography techniques
This instructional photography video explains how to problem solve small product issues. Two ways to tackle a particular challenge is through pre-production and the other in post-production. There are many different ways a photographer can approach and deal with a challenge. The more knowledge you have about different methodologies about photography, the better and easier you will be able to solve those problems when they occur.
How To: Light a '57 Chevy in the photo studio
Watch this instructional photography video with Jim Talkington and learn how to light a '57 Chevy in a photo studio. This is a beautiful car, but it prevents some challenges in photographing the shiny paint and chrome surface. In this tutorial, experiment how to set up the lighting. This video is great for car aficionados. Practice these tips and improve your photography skills.
How To: Master the classic three light studio portrait
Watch this instructional photography video with Jim Talkington and learn how to light a studio portrait using three lights. This is the classic three light portrait technique using a main light, fill card, hair light and background light in the photo studio. Adding additional lights should bring out texture, extra detail, and three dimensionality. Practice these tips and improve your photography skills.
How To: Take photographs like Gregory Crewdson
In this Ovation TV original special, acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson shares with us his insight into his photographic techniques. Like a film, he uses a lot of production, a lot of lighting, a lot of set design. He is an American photographer best known for elaborately staged, surreal scenes of American homes and neighborhoods. Learn how to take pictures like this master artist.
How To: Stencil your own shirt
Check out this interesting video to make photorealistic stencils for t-shirts, bags, and other accessories. This video documents how to make a Nikola Tesla shirt. With Adobe Photoshop, it is possible to simplify a found image into a graphic format perfect for stenciling. You can then print out the altered image into mylar or another water resistant paper. After carefully cutting out the stencil, place the mylar over an ironed t-shirt. Complete the stenciling process by dabbing paint into all ...
How To: Decorate ceramics with a torch
Try using a blowtorch to dry the outer portion of a ceramic pot. While the clay is still on the pottery wheel, cut light marks into the outer wall of the pot. Dry the outermost layer of wet clay with a blowtorch. When you continue to stretch and form the wet clay on the wheel, witness an interesting cracking effect.
How To: Throw a double walled vase
Follow this example to throw a double walled ceramic vase. This is a decorative motif in ceramics, and a tricky process to complete. After the pice dries a little, make sure to cut some holes in the top layer of clay, to prevent an explosion in the kiln. As shown, you can also carve decorative designs in the outer pot.
How To: Dump and add color to blown glass
This recording of a beginner's glass blowing class depicts visual guidelines to adding color to molten glass. The instructor repeats a process of rolling molten glass on the marver, blowing it, and finally, adding color.
How To: Marver and pull a short glass cane
Watch this video demonstration of marvering and cane pulling techniques with molten glass. In a recording of a beginner's glass blowing class, students learn to roll hot glass on a steel marver and then, using tweezers, pull a short cane before the glass cools.
How To: Make a fused glass pendant
Learn how to make a fused pendant from sheet glass. This video shows the visual procedure of creating fused glass pendants with a torch and a kiln. You can fuse pieces of glass together with a torch and then bake the designs to perfection. While there are certainly more laborious details involved in the process, this video provides a helpful visual overview.
How To: Lampwork glass rain drops
This is a quick lampworking instructional video showing how to make borosilicate glass rain drops using a torch. The glass needs some careful sculpting to form a clear glass loop at the top. This process can be repeated to make several rain drop ornaments. Brush up on your lampworking skills with this fun glass tutorial.
How To: Make mini glass mobiles
Watch this instructional video to make a mini glass mobile. You will need pliers, pieces of wire, some wire rings, and a fishing loop to attach the different pieces. The earlier processes involved melting wire to pieces of glass, but here we witness the fun part of making a mobile. With a small hand made S hook, the mobile can hang in any doorway or window frame.
How To: Polish the surface of clay sculptures
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to polish a piece of hand built clay sculpture before you fire it. Every piece of hand built clay sculpture should dry very slowly to avoid cracking. Use the back of a spoon to slowly polish out any imperfections on a smooth surface.