Painting Exercises

Hands-on painting techniques covering colour theory, glazing methods and tonal work. Articles include exercises for abstracting forms and building depth in your paintings.

Creating Expression

Great painters throughout history have captured expression in their work long before Expressionism made it central to art.

Creating 'Space'

How color, tone and perspective create the illusion of space in paintings, even on flat surfaces.

Hot and Cold Colours

Red, orange and yellow feel warm while blue and green feel cool, and this universal colour perception actually affects how we see distance in art.

How to Abstract a Form

Abstract painting isn't random, it starts with real forms that artists simplify and exaggerate to create something entirely new.

Working with Colour

Limiting your colour palette to just the primaries helps you see how each colour works and understand its true tonal value.

Working with Glazes

Glazing is easier than most painters think, here's how to use thin paint layers to add translucency and depth to any painting medium.

Working with Tone

How tone in your drawings and paintings shapes mood, drama, and visual impact across art history.