Hot Fine Art How-Tos

How To: Fit a lamp base into pottery with Simon Leach

In this video by Simon Leach, we learn how to fit a lamp base into pottery with Simon Leach. First, you will take the lamp base that has all the wires inside of it. From here, you will wire the cables through the proper fittings for the light. Then, you need to put a hole in the bottom of the lamp base so you can string the light base through and then place the light bulb on top. When you are finished, the pottery can sit on top of the base and then you can add a light shade to finish up the ...

How To: Draw a basic dragon

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a basic dragon. First, draw the basic outline for the dragon, including the tail, wings, head, and body. From here, draw over the outline with the final outline in darker pen. After this, start to add in the details to the face and body. Once finished with that, move onto adding in shading and additional lines to make it look more realistic. Then, add in your colors. Use darker colors where the shading is to create more depth with the character. From her...

How To: Draw a hyper-stylized Sonic the Hedgehog

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a hyper-stylized Sonic the Hedgehog. To start, you will draw the outline of the entire body of Sonic. Make sure you draw in the huge spikes for the hair as well. Next, you will draw in the eyes, muzzle, and nose on the face. Then, you will draw in the stomach area, the feet, and the hands. After this, clean up any background lines and color the character in completely. Next, shade in darker colors on the sides of the body to give Sonic more depth and mak...

How To: Draw Super Shadow from Sonic the Hedgehog

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw Super Shadow from Sonic the Hedgehog. Start off by drawing the spikes for the hair, then draw the ears and the eyes on the face. After this, draw the arms, upper body, lower body, and legs. When you are finished with this, use a dark pen to outline the cartoon character and draw in any additional details. Next, you will add in colors to the character, using reds on the outside of the hair and legs, then orange and tan on the inside. Finish this off with ...

How To: Draw a wolf step-by-step

In this video, we learn how to draw a wolf step-by-step. First, draw out an outline of the body using circles and lines to show where the legs will go. Next, make the snout for the nose and then draw in the ears and the eyes. Next, draw in lines around the outside of the wolf to show that it has fur. Next, use a darker pen to outline the wolf, then add in details to the legs and the rest of the lower body. Add in a tail that is curved but not high in the air. When you are done, you will have ...

How To: Make a ceramic slab plate

In this video, we learn how to make a ceramic slab plate. First, roll out the ceramic. After this, place the clay on butcher or newspaper and smooth it out with a plastic card. Repeat this on the other side. Next, use a paper template to help cut your design or use a circular object. Cut slits to help remove the surrounding clay. Use the excess clay to build support pieces then curve the edges of the plate up and place the support pieces underneath. Use a piece of leather to smooth the edges....

How To: Draw with basic shapes

In this Fine Art video tutorial you will learn how to draw with basic shapes and apply them. The four basic shapes are spheres, cubes, cylinders and cones. A sphere is a three dimensional circle. On paper it will look flat without shading. Make sure you practice all kinds of circles. A cube is a three dimensional square. You can make a basic cube by drawing two squares and then join the corners. Cylinders are tubes or pipes. Draw two ellipses and join them by lines. If you are just starting o...

How To: Draw a turkey using your hand

This tutorial is perfect for kids who might be in kindergarden or first grade. It's a common activity that has been done for many years and makes art easy to do. This video shows you how to draw a turkey using your own hand. All it takes is a pencil, your hand, and maybe some crayons for coloring. So good luck and enjoy!

How To: Draw a skull

In this video tutorial, viewers will learn how to draw a skull using a computer. Start by drawing a circle for the head and a rectangular shape at the bottom. Draw a line in the center as a guideline. Then draw the eyes, nose and mouth. Now outline the skull and add the details. Shade in the eye sockets, nose and mouth. Now you can erase the guideline. Start coloring the skull to a preferred color. Then add in a darker color around the skull to shade it. Finally, outline the skull and color t...

How To: Easily draw Hello Kitty

DrawingNow teaches you how to draw Hello Kitty. Start with an oval and make lines for where the eyes and nose will be. Make sketches of the ears, the bow on her head and of the body. You now draw on top of that and you can erase the first outline, as you go along. Draw the nose and color it yellow. The eyes should remain black. Draw 3 whiskers on each side of the face and go on to coloring the body and bow. The bow is a bright red and so is the front of the body. The shirt underneath should b...

How To: Draw a basic SpiderMan

This how-to video demonstrates a how to create an image of the comic-book superhero Spiderman in a basic generic pose. The artist, Xia Taptara, sketches out the basic figure, then gives advice on how to practice drawing tricky features like musculature, hands etc. as he adds more definition using a darker line. As the drawing progresses, Xia Taptara offers tips on perspective and more.

How To: Put a handle on a ceramic mug

When you're putting a handle on a mug, you need to think about the state of the clay of both the mug and the handle. The ceramic clay needs to be a bit harder and drier than right after coming off the pottery wheel or being sculpted, but not so dry that the clay won't stick. Check out this video pottery-making tutorial and learn how to attach a handle onto a ceramic mug.

How To: Make a Canon Shutter Release Cable

This article will show you how to make a shutter release cable for a Canon camera. It took me about half an hour once all of my materials were gathered. I came in at a total of about eight dollars. It has three switches and buttons. The black button on mine triggers the auto focus. The red button triggers the shutter. Finally, the switch triggers the bulb mode, or long exposure. This can be used to take astronomical photos that show the movement of the stars in the picture. The release cable ...

How To: Double dip or glaze ceramic

In this tutorial, Simon Leach teaches us how to double dip or glaze ceramic. This trick will save you a lot of time, just make sure you practice a lot. First, mix your glaze up in a large bucket and grab your pot that you want to glaze. Now, place your piece into the glaze and then flick the wrist to lift the piece up quickly. Don't let the glaze go over the base of the piece or it will become too messy. Now, dip the piece back in, getting some glaze on the inside and swishing the liquid arou...

How To: Draw a cartoon puppy

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a cartoon puppy First, draw the oval head, followed by triangles for ears. next, draw the body underneath with four legs coming out of the bottom like the dog is sitting down. Add on a squiggly line for the tail next to the leg. Now, color the ears and back legs light brown, then add eyes, a nose, and a mouth onto the face. Draw a circle around the nose and mouth, then color in with lighter brown/tan color. Now, color the rest of the dog a darker shade o...

How To: Draw a cartoon ladybug

In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a cartoon ladybug. Start out by drawing a circle, then draw a line down the middle. Next, draw and color in some dots all over the circle. After this, make a head by making a half of a circle over the straight line. Now, add antennas to the head and color in the head. You can also add in legs to the ladybug if you prefer, or keep them off. When you are done with this, you will have a cute ladybug in just a few minutes. This is a very easy picture for kid...

How To: Draw an owl

In this video, we learn how to draw an owl on a computer. First, draw a circle, then two small triangles on both sides of the top of the head. Next, draw two very large circles in the middle of the face, separated by an upside down triangle and two large triangles on either side of that. Next, add pupils to the eyes, and add a line in the beak. Outline the eyes, beak, and eyebrows after this. Color in the owl brown and light brown, then add small black lines to the sides to make it appear lik...

How To: Take photos of floating / flying / levitating people

Do you believe you can fly? Or at least, believe that you can take pictures where it looks like you or other people are flying? Or at least jumping really high? This video will show you how to take pictures of flying, floating, levitating, or high-jumping people using a digital camera, tripod, stool, and photo editing software like Photoshop or GIMP. Either way, the effect is surprisingly easy to create and can help you make some really amazing photos.

How To: Throw a 7 pound flowerpot with Simon Leach

Simon Leach has taught us a lot about ceramics and pottery in his many videos. In this concise one he demonstrates for all you at-home potters out there how to make a 3 kilogram (6 pound 10 ounce) flowerpot on the wheel. As you can see at the end of the video, that is a pretty large pot. If you can throw this, you are well on your way to being an advanced ceramics enthusiast.

How To: Cut plate glass

This is a Fine Art video tutorial where you will learn how to cut plate glass. Measure the plate glass and make sure the measurements are correct. Then place the guide along the line of the cut, take your glass cutter and score along the edge of the guide. If the plate is small in size, take the base of the cutter and place it underneath the score mark and apply equal pressure with your hands on both sides of the score. The plate will snap with a nice clean cut. Another way to snap the glass ...

How To: Paint on plexiglass

Watch this instructional painting video to begin painting on plexiglass. Create some cool effects using spray paint, paint thinner, acrylic paint. Make marks and unique textures using your finger, scratching tools and stencils.

How To: Glaze pottery inside and outside

Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to use some more advanced glazing techniques to make the inside different than the outside. The detailed instructions in this helpful how-to video are best for intermediate to advanced potters who want to glaze both the inside and the outside of their pottery.

How To: Make pottery bowls

In this video series, our expert will demonstrate how to make pottery bowl forms. Throwing bowls on a pottery wheel is a wonderful and creative art form that produces useful household items. Let our expert show you how to wedge the clay for large and small pottery bowls, how to form the bowl, and how to trim a foot. This video art lesson is great for beginner potters who want to learn how to make beautiful pottery bowls on a potter's wheel.

Quick Tip: Use a Wired Headset as a Shutter Release Trigger for Your DSLR Camera

Whether you're trying to get an unconventional angle or just want to include yourself in the picture, there are plenty of times when a remote trigger can come in really handy. Of course, if you want to buy one, you have tons of options. But if you already have an Xbox 360 headset, all you have to do is plug it in. YouTube user Gurnarok accidentally found that by plugging his Xbox headset into his camera's remote port, the on/off toggle triggered the shutter release and flash.

How To: This Easy Photo Trick Makes Fireworks Look Like Brilliant Sky Creatures

Anyone who does a lot of photography knows that the right exposure can make all the difference in the world. Taking a picture of something in motion requires a long exposure, so if you've ever wondered why your fireworks photos never quite turn out right, your shutter speed could be the key. Photographer David Johnson decided to put a twist on the classic long-exposure fireworks photo. Normally, when people take photos of fireworks displays, they just set a long exposure for somewhere over 3 ...