Measuring with a Pencil

Do you have hard edges in your acrylic painting that are just awfully jarring? You know they need to be softened to create the effect you want, but once the paint is dry the task seems impossible! Never fear… I can help!

Let me show you a technique to soften even a lighter color into a dark hard edge, with just a few gentle strokes of a brush. It’s a skill you’ll use over and over!

There are so many mediums! Pouring, painting, satin, gloss, matt. It can be frustrating to know which one to use for which painting job! But it IS really important to select the right medium to achieve the result you’re after. Let me help.

In this video I discuss several of the different acrylic mediums, and when you might choose to incorporate them into your paintwork… and also when not to.

When beginning your artwork, do you come to a sudden halt when trying to pick a color for your underpainting? Warm? Cool? What difference does it make to the end result? Let me help.

In this video I share why I choose the colors that I do for my background underpaintings, and what effects they have. It could be the difference between an okay painting… and a masterpiece!

Does your peaceful pond scene look awkward? Do your semi submerged objects appear “cut out”, just floating on the glassy water’s surface? That’s never going to make a convincing painting… but I have a tip for you!

Watch this video to learn how to add an impression of what lies below that quiet, still water, adding more realism to your beautiful artwork!

Do your bubbles look flat and boring on your painting? Is your beautiful underwater scene, just not realistic enough? Let me help!

Following on from my previous Ninja Art Tip #250, this video explains how to add both distance and form to your bubbles, creating believable spheres of air to complete your aquatic masterpiece!

Do you have trouble creating the perfect orb for your cartoon characters? Are your circles not circling? Your rounds a bit wonky? That can affect your characters whole mood! Let me help.

In this video I’ll share a tip on creating the ideal base for your cartoon’s eyes, with the ability to make larger as required. Let’s go!

Does your beautiful watercolor painting have a hard edge in it that just isn’t what you were wanting? Is it spoiling the overall look you were after? Watercolor is a tricky medium to try and fix, but there may be a way!

In this video I demonstrate a softening technique that requires great care, but could be just the solution you need to complete your masterpiece, perfectly.

Using pastel over acrylic is beautiful for sketching and mixed media… until it goes terribly wrong! Have you smudged and smeared pastel marks over your painting, trying to remove it? It can get very messy.

Watch this video to learn a way to safely remove any unwanted pastel lines from your acrylic painting, enabling you to continue your artwork, smudge-free.

Have you experienced the frustration of buckled watercolor paper causing puddles in your painting? It can cause all sorts of problems as those puddles dry slower than the rest of the artwork! Yikes. But this may help!

There’s a trick I demonstrate in this video, that can alleviate your frustration and save the day! You can then continue with your masterpiece!

Bubbles are tricky things to paint right. Have you tried to paint a beautiful underwater scene, only to find your luminous bubbles just don’t look real and spoil your artwork? Well, I have a clever tip to help!

Watch this video for my technique on preparing your painting for a gorgeous spread of bubbles, with the help of medium! It’s very effective! Then keep your eyes out for an upcoming Ninja Art Tip: Completing Your Bubbles!