Hot Fine Art How-Tos
How To: Draw a cool graffiti character and spraycans
In one of his simpler videos, Wizard teaches us how to draw a vaguely Italian-looking graffiti character holding a spraycan in each hand. A good place to start for the novice graffiti artists among you to word on your tagging skills.
How To: Knead clay for flower pots and then make them
Simon Leach, the worldwide leader in free bilingual ceramics instruction, spends this installment of his video series first kneading clay in preperation for potting, then throws said clay into some flower pots on his wheel. Pottery lessons at their finest.
How To: Make flying shoes! Or at least, shoes with wings
Have you seen the Addidas JS Wings kicks? They are sick, done in gold sheen with removable wings attached to make you look a little more like Mercury. If you don't have $175 dollars to drop on these kicks, this video from Threadbangers will teach you how to make your own pair of shoe-wings at home out of simple materials, giving you all the style of the real deal without giving up a two days pay.
How To: Draw a pair of cholitas in pencil with Wizard
If you've watched enough of his other videos on our site, you should have realized by now that graffiti-artist Wizard can draw just about anything with a pencil and pen. In this video he turns his talents to drawing a pair of cholitas in pencil. They are elegant, sexy, and supremely well-done. Keep practicing graffiti fans! Broaden your horizons by copying this definitely non-graffiti piece.
How To: Sieve white slip to be used to adorn pots and vases
This Simon Leach video features him demonstrating to potters everywhere how to sieve a white slip that he will use later to adorn some clay vases that he has thrown previously. Slips can really make your pots distinctive, but be subtle! You don't want them to take attention away from the flower that the pots are for.
How To: Draw a sketch of fire in pencil
Fire is one of the most common, but most irregular and thus difficult-to-draw parts of the world. This video demonstrates techniques for drawing a couple of different kinds of fire in pencil. These sketches cover lighter flame and a more fantasy style.
How To: Draw shoes with a pencil
Even the greatest comic artist of the last two decades, Bill Watterson, had considerable trouble drawing shoes. Calvin's feet always looked like dinner rolls. Here, you will learn how to sketch some realistic shoes in pencil. Practice this, and you will be well on your way to drawing feet that are made for walking rather than appetizing.
How To: Draw angel wings with pencil
Our site contains many videos on how to draw different kind of demons, but comparatively few for angels. Go figure. This video demonstrates how to draw angels wings, their distinguishing feature, in pencil. It is only a sketch at this stage, but with a little inking this could be a really beautiful wing.
How To: Ink a comic book page with gel pen and sharpie
This four-part video series demonstrates how to ink a comic book. Inking is often thought of as a lesser comic art than drawing or writing, but proper inking is essential to creating a really beautiful final product. In the end, it is what the reader sees, not the pencil work that the illustrator did. All you need is a gel pen and a sharpie.
How To: Draw human hands in pencil
The human hand, along with the brain, is what sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. This video demonstrates a couple of ways to effectively draw them in pencil. They look very real, and could be attached to the other body-part specific videos from Wayne Tully to create a really impressive drawing of the human figure.
How To: Draw a biomechanical-themed tattoo sleeve design
Designing a tattoo sleeve is a challenging and important task for any tattoo artist or recipient, as they are huge, expensive, nearly impossible to hide and, like all tattoos, with you forever. This four-part video demonstrates the sketching and inking of a sleeve design with a a biomechanical theme. It is unmeasured and would need to be refined and drawn again before it could go on a body, but is a good place to start.
How To: Draw Kai Shu Chinese calligraphy sample characters
Kai Shu is the most modern type of Chinese calligraphy. This video demonstrates how to draw some simple, unrelated characters with style, grace, and a brush. It goes on to show some more printed examples of this type of calligraphy. Work slowly, practice, and you can master this ancient painting art for yourself.
How To: Draw a ninja
Ninjas has captured the imagination of both East and West with a combination of flair, combat effectiveness, and secrecy unlike any other type of warrior in the world. In this three-part video you will learn how to draw a rather muscular example of the group, holding a massive sword and adorned with shruiken, in pencil.
How To: Make white slips for wall vases and other pots
Adding slips to your vases gives them a subtle artistic flair without detracting from the beauty of the flowers within. Simon Leach is here to teach you how to add a white slip to your ceramics, using the wall vases that he has been working on as examples. You may not be able to do it so effortlessly, but as Simon always says, keep practicing!
How To: Make ceramic handles for hanging wall vases
Simon Leach is in the house, or rather on his deck, teaching us how to fashion and then attach handles to ceramic hanging wall vases he threw previously. If you make pottery, and want to attach your ceramic works to your wall, this video will show you how to do it.
How To: Draw a panda bear with a Chinese painting brush
This video demonstration feature a young girl painting one of China's national icons: the Panda Bear. The paper she uses is covered in silver flakes, which give the piece a shiny, cartoonish quality. That is one happy looking little bear.
How To: Draw a realistic human nose
The nose is one of the many challenging facets of drawing the human face realistically, and its central location makes it impossible to hide your mistakes. This video will demonstrate for and explain to you, the budding artist, how to draw a good-looking nose in pencil.
How To: Draw a realistic female eye
Drawing realistically proportioned eyes is one of the many aspects that make drawing the human face such a challenge for artists. This video demonstrates and includes detailed instructions for how to draw a realistic female eye in pencil. No kooky giant anime eyes here, this one looks real!
How To: Decorate ceramic wall vases and dry clay
Simon Leach's series of high-quality pottery videos marches on. In this installment he teaches us how to dry some high-quality clay that he has just acquired from a cement works, and also how to decorate some hanging clay wall pots he made in a previous installment.
How To: Make old t-shirts into tote bags
If you have kids, chances are you also have a pile of t-shirts that said rapidly-growing little ones have outgrown. Rather than throw them out or donate them, make them into something new! This video from Threadbanger will teach you how to sew two old t-shirts into a fun new tote bag. It will be soft, durable, stylish, and free!
How To: Paint a Blue Butterfly and Iris using a Hake brush
The Hake brush is a type of flat brush used in Chinese painting along with the more typical trimmed brush. In this video the artist demonstrates the use of such a brush to create painting of an Iris with a blue butterfly and some calligraphy to finish it off. If you don't already have a Hake brush as part of your Chinese art toolkit, this video should convince you to invest in one.
How To: Throw a clay corner wall vase with Simon Leach
Making a round clay vase on a wheel that will hang properly in a corner may sound like a challenge, but with Simon Leach to teach you, even an amateur at-home potter should be able to complete this ceramics project. If you want to avoid griping like he does throughout this video, make sure not to use a plastic bat!
How To: Make a birdhouse
Making a birdhouse is an art-and-crafts project as old as shop class. This video from Threadbangers demonstrates how to make one quickly and easily at home out of wood at your home with simple tools. It is a rather simple end-product, but that should make it easier for beginners.
How To: Draw a skull knife with Wizard
Who knew that Wizard, graffiti-master-for-hire-extrordinaire, could also draw fantastic fantasy images? In this installment of his series of video art demonstrations, he draws a skull knife that look positively menacing. Copy this and improve your art skills boys and girls.
How To: Draw a graffiti-style demon with Wizard
In this video, graffiti master-for-hire Wizard broaden his horizons by drawing a demon. While this is an atypical subject for him, he demonstrates mad skills in this demonstration and you could certainly improve your tagging and general art skills by copying this work.
How To: Write calligraphy phrases for you Chinese paintings
This video features an old Chinese woman demonstrating how to write some Chinese calligraphy phrases. These phrases can be used to adorn paintings of some traditional Chinese painting subjects, which often feature such calligraphy. We are left to wonder how the host feels about deferring the teaching to his mother-in-law.
How To: Trim an old Chinese painting brush into a sharp liner
This video will be very handy to all the Chinese painting enthusiasts out there. It demonstrates how to trim an old split brush in to a sharp liner by trimming it with scissors. This allows you to do multiple kinds of brushstrokes without changing brushes, saving time and allowing you to purchase fewer brushes.
How To: Draw Death the kid from the Manga and Anime Soul Eater
This video tutorial will teach you how to draw the character Death the kid from the anime and manga series Soul Eater. It features detailed narrated instructions to ease the process of drawing this complicated and particularly well-colored picture.
How To: Draw Gwen Tennyson from Ben 10
Ben 10 is one of the most popular shows in Cartoon Network's history. This video from Drawing Now will teach you how to draw his iconic older sister Gwen Tennyson. Here are some instructions from the artist:
How To: Draw a cartoon-style North African Fennec Fox
The Fennec Fox is a beautiful animal native to Northern Africa. This video art tutorial from Drawing Now demonstrates how draw a cartoony, adorable little example of on yourself. Here are the artist's instructions:
How To: Draw your own Warrior Cats
Warrior Cats is a series of children's novels featuring, you guessed it, warrior cats. This art tutorial from Drawing Now teaches you how to draw one of the cats from the stories. Here are some instructions from the artist:
How To: Draw Raven from the Teen Titans cartoon series
Teen Titans is one of the most tragically underrated American children's cartoons of all time. Fortunately, Drawing Now one of our favorite art instruction groups, has created this video tutorial on how to draw one of the shows iconic characters, Raven. Here are the artist's step-by-step instructions:
How To: Draw Konata from the manga Lucky Star
Drawing Japanese schoolgirls is one of the staples of manga-style art. Here, the drawing instructors at Drawing Now demonstrate how to draw Konata, one such character from teh manga series Lucky Star. Here are step-by-step instructions from the artist:
How To: Draw a bridge
This tutorial from Drawing Now demonstrates how to draw a bridge, one of the most common items in landscape drawing and one for which proper use of perspective is crucial. Watching this is sure to improve you art skills.
How To: Draw a gymnast on the balance beam
This video tutorial from Drawing Now demonstrates the drawing of a gymnast doing a routine on the balance beam. Her look of concentration evokes the drama and strength of both will and body required by this ancient sport. Learn to evoke that same feeling in your drawing by watching this video. Here are some instructions from the artist:
How To: Draw a simple dragon
Dragons are one of the most fun, traditional, and challenging things an artist can draw. Fortunately, Drawing Now is here to help you get started with this tutorial on how to draw a cute, simple, Western-style dragon. Here are their step-by step instructions:
How To: Draw a tornado surrounded by flying debris
Tornados are a force of nature, and very fun to draw. This tutorial from the fine folks at Drawing Now demonstrates how to draw a tornado surrounded by flying cars and trees. Here are their step-by-step instructions:
How To: Draw popular manga character Shugo Chara
If you love the prolific schoolgirl manga series Shugo Chara, you have probably wanted to draw a replica of the iconic title character for yourself. This video tutorial will teach you how to draw her on the computer quickly and with great detail and color.
How To: Draw Anko from the manga series Naruto
Naruto is one of the most popular mangas and animes in the world, especially among children. This video tutorial demonstrates how to draw the character Anko from the series using a tablet and Adobe Photoshop. It is very detailed and sure to improve your digital art skills.
How To: Draw a realistic face on your computer
This tutorial demonstrates for the budding digital artist how to draw a realistic face in Paint on their computer. The figure still has a bit of an amine / manga look about its eyes, but the other facial proportions are spot-on and sure to impress, especially when attached to a body.