How To’s

The Power of Art Tutorials: Unlocking Creativity and Learning for Professionals

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As a digital artist, I have always been fascinated by the endless possibilities that art offers. Whether it’s exploring new techniques, understanding color theory, or refining composition skills, there is always room for growth and improvement. One invaluable resource that has greatly contributed to my artistic journey is art tutorials. Surprisingly, these tutorials aren’t just for beginners; even professionals can benefit from them. In this blog post, I want to share my personal experience of using art tutorials for education and inspiration, highlighting how I recently transformed a traditional art tutorial into a digital painting.

My version of the Art Sherpa’s Snowy Mountain Art Tutorial

Learning Beyond Boundaries:

Art tutorials have become a cornerstone of modern education, allowing artists to learn and grow at their own pace. While some may argue that professionals should rely solely on their experience, I firmly believe that continuous learning is essential for artistic development. Tutorials provide a structured approach to learning, breaking down complex techniques into manageable steps. They offer a wealth of knowledge, tips, and tricks that can be applied to any artistic medium, including digital art.

Exploring New Techniques:

One of the most exciting aspects of art tutorials is the opportunity to explore new techniques. As a digital artist, I am constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance my work. Tutorials provide a platform to experiment with different styles, tools, and effects. By adapting traditional art tutorials to digital mediums, I have discovered unique ways to blend the best of both worlds. This cross-pollination of techniques has expanded my artistic repertoire and allowed me to create truly unique pieces.

Color Theory and Composition:

Color theory and composition are fundamental elements of any artwork. Even professionals can benefit from revisiting these concepts to refine their skills. Art tutorials often delve into these topics, offering insights and practical exercises to improve color harmony, balance, and visual impact. By incorporating these tutorials into my practice, I have gained a deeper understanding of color psychology and how to effectively communicate emotions through my digital art.

Unwinding and Inspiring:

Artistic blocks and anxiety are common challenges that artists face. During such times, art tutorials can serve as a therapeutic tool to unwind and reignite creativity. Following step-by-step instructions and focusing on the process rather than the outcome can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Additionally, tutorials can be a source of inspiration, providing fresh ideas and perspectives that can break through creative barriers.

Transforming Traditional to Digital:

Recently, I came across a tutorial by The Art Sherpa, a traditional artist renowned for her teaching skills. Intrigued by her techniques, I decided to adapt her tutorial into a digital painting. This exercise allowed me to explore the nuances of traditional art while incorporating the advantages of digital tools. The result was a unique piece that blended the beauty of traditional art with the versatility of digital mediums.

Art tutorials are not just for beginners; they are a valuable resource for professionals seeking growth, inspiration, and a fresh perspective. By embracing tutorials, we can expand our artistic horizons, refine our skills, and overcome creative blocks. Whether it’s learning new techniques, exploring color theory, or simply unwinding, tutorials offer a wealth of benefits. So, let’s embrace the power of art tutorials and unlock our full creative potential.

Pokémon Fan Art – Vulpix

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Day 6: Be patient and give yourself time: Finding your art style is a journey that takes time and experimentation. It’s important to be patient with yourself and not rush the process. Allow yourself the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and evolve. Your style will naturally develop and evolve as you continue to create and explore different artistic avenues.

Draw this little fella quick and easy!

Here’s the video for Dratini:

How to draw Vulpix

Pokémon Fan Art – Drantini

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Day 5: Practice regularly – Dedicate time to practice and create art consistently. The more you practice, the more you will refine your skills and develop your own unique style. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or experiment with new ideas. Embrace the learning process and keep pushing yourself to grow as an artist.

Draw this little fella quick and easy!

Here’s the video for Dratini:

Draw along with me!

Pokémon Fan Art – Foongus

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Day 4: Embrace your natural instincts: Allow yourself to create intuitively without overthinking. Follow your instincts and let your hand guide you. This process can help you tap into your natural artistic inclinations and develop a style that feels authentic to you.

Draw this little fella quick and easy!

Here’s the video for Foongus:

Draw Foongus with me

Pokémon Fan Art – Ralts

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Day 3: Reflect on your interests and experiences: Consider your personal interests, hobbies, and experiences. Think about what subjects or themes you are passionate about. Your art style can be influenced by your unique perspective and the things that resonate with you on a deeper level.

Draw this little fella quick and easy!

How to draw fan art

Here’s the video for Ralts:

Draw Ralts with me.

Pokémon Fan Art – Emolga

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Day 2: Observe and study different artists: Look at the works of different artists, both contemporary and historical, across various art movements. Analyse their styles, brushwork, colour palettes, and subject matters. Take note of what attracts you and inspires you the most. This observation will help you identify elements that you may want to incorporate into your own style.

Draw this little fella quick and easy!

Here’s the video for Emolga:

Draw Emolga fan art with me.

Pokémon Fan Art – Phione

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Each day I’ll be delivering one helpful hint to improving and finding your art style. each day draw the characters using the tip for the day.

Day 1: Experiment with different mediums and techniques: Try working with various art materials such as acrylics, watercolours, charcoal, or digital tools. Explore different techniques like abstract, realism, impressionism, or mixed media. This experimentation will help you discover what resonates with you and what you enjoy working with the most.

Draw this little fella quick and easy!

Draw this cute little Pokémon fan art in your style!!!!

Here’s the video for Phione:

Phione fan art.

How to pot up a succulent

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Super simple instructions on how to pot up a succulent, perfect activity for the kids.

1. Gather your materials: a small succulent plant, a plastic grow pot, potting soil, and a small trowel or spoon.

2. Start by preparing the plastic grow pot. Ensure that it has drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging. If it doesn’t have any holes, you can create them by poking a few with a sharp object.

3. Fill the plastic grow pot with potting soil, leaving about an inch of space from the top. You can use a pre-mixed succulent or cactus soil, or make your own by combining regular potting soil with sand or perlite for better drainage.

4. Gently remove the small succulent from its current pot. You can do this by carefully squeezing the sides of the pot or tapping it upside down while supporting the plant with your other hand.

Succulent Terrariums

5. Once the succulent is out of its pot, gently loosen the roots by lightly massaging the root ball with your fingers. This will help the roots establish in the new pot.

6. Place the succulent in the center of the plastic grow pot, ensuring that it sits at the same depth as it was in its previous pot. Adjust the soil level if needed, so the top of the root ball is slightly below the rim of the pot.

7. Fill the remaining space around the succulent with potting soil, gently pressing it down to secure the plant. Be careful not to bury the succulent too deep, as this can lead to root rot.

8. Once the succulent is potted, give it a light watering to settle the soil and help the roots establish. Avoid overwatering, as succulents prefer drier conditions.

9. Place the potted succulent in a location with bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves. Succulents thrive in warm and dry environments, so ensure proper ventilation.

TIP: Early morning sun is okay for succulents in the Brisbane area – even in the. Summer. (An hour or two won’t kill them).

10. Monitor the succulent’s watering needs. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings, and then water thoroughly, ensuring excess water drains out through the holes in the pot.

Enjoy your potted succulent and watch it grow! Remember to provide occasional fertilization and repot as needed when the plant outgrows its current pot.

How to create a realistic sketch

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Phalaenopsis Orchid sketch – black and white with watercolour

Creating a beautiful and realistic sketch can be a rewarding and fulfilling artistic endeavor. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, here are some tips to help you achieve a stunning and lifelike sketch.

  1. Start with a good reference: Choose a high-quality reference image that captures the subject’s details and features. It could be a photograph or a still life setup. A clear and well-lit reference will make it easier to capture the nuances and intricacies of your subject.
  2. Observe and analyze: Take your time to carefully observe the reference image. Pay attention to the proportions, shapes, and values. Analyze the light and shadow areas, as they play a crucial role in creating depth and realism in your sketch.
  3. Sketch lightly: Begin by sketching the basic shapes and outlines of your subject using a light pencil. This initial sketch will serve as a foundation for the rest of your drawing. Focus on capturing the overall form and proportions accurately.
  4. Build up layers: To create depth and dimension, gradually build up layers of shading and details. Start with light pressure and gradually increase it as you add darker values. This technique allows you to control the tonal range and achieve a more realistic effect.
  5. Pay attention to details: As you progress, pay close attention to the smaller details that make your subject unique. Whether it’s capturing the texture of hair, the wrinkles on a face, or the intricate patterns on a flower, these details add realism and character to your sketch.
  6. Use a variety of shading techniques: Experiment with different shading techniques to add depth and texture to your sketch. Techniques like hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, and blending can help you achieve different effects and enhance the realism of your drawing.
  7. Take breaks and step back: It’s important to take breaks during the drawing process. Stepping back and looking at your sketch from a distance can provide a fresh perspective and help you identify areas that need improvement. This also allows you to assess the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
  8. Practice regularly: Like any skill, creating realistic sketches requires practice. Set aside regular time for sketching and experiment with different subjects and techniques. The more you practice, the more you will develop your observation skills and improve your ability to capture realism in your sketches.

Remember, creating a beautiful and realistic sketch takes time and patience. Don’t be discouraged by mistakes or imperfections along the way. Embrace them as part of the learning process and keep pushing yourself to improve. With practice and dedication, you will be able to create stunning and lifelike sketches that showcase your artistic talent.

The very first sketch I created when getting back into art 2017
A couple of years ago 2020 I believe
Before and after – see the difference from when I restarted my art journey to only 3 years later.

Up until 2021 I was solely using traditional art methods. Now I create mostly digital in Procreate. The skills I learned in the 4+ years using traditional art tools and media set me up so well for the transition to digital art.

TOP TIP: Have your reference photos in colour and black and white. Use both images for shape, proportion and details.

For FREE reference photos for you to practice on go to my page Floral Garden Colouring where you will find 20 mages you can use.

How to – Paper or Canvas

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As an artist I get many questions. One is what paper or canvas is best to use. The answer isn’t always straightforward. In this article I will walk you through a few different but easily accessible choices based on the look your are going for.

Sketching/Drawing

For practice drawing and sketching you want to have a smooth paper. A hot pressed paper that isn’t too thick. Anything up to 120gsm is pretty good. The thickness of the paper will still give you a quality feel to your sketch and the hot press will give you a smooth finish. The smoother the paper, the cleaner your lines will be which will give you a more realistic look.

My current art journal is less than 100gsm and is not suitable for anything other than sketching. Below is a picture of an Orca I sketched sometime ago. If you try to use other medias (paint or watercolour) on this type of paper it will wrinkle and curl. It damages the paper and if you do that, there’s no saving it.

Orca – light weight sketch paper

Mixed Media Paper 250 gsm +

The below sketch is a graphite on 250gsm mixed media paper. This paper is meant to handle Acrylic paint well, water colour however, is a bit of a stretch. I love it to print my art work on to this paper because it has a bit of texture just like a canvas and it gives the print a really good quality look and feel.

Norbit the dragon – Graphite sketch

Cold Pressed Cotton Paper

A cold press paper is rough, it has what is called ‘tooth’. It is ideal if you like that bumpy, textured feel and look to your painting. I personally don’t like to draw on this type of paper. I love to paint on it! I use a 300gsm cold press cotton paper with my acrylics. You get a matte finish with the textured finish of a canvas. The cotton paper is actually made for water colour paint because it can handle the wet application without creasing and folding. I use watercolours and acrylic and it performs beautifully.

Poppies – Water colour in watercolour paper

Stretched Canvas

There are several types of canvas you can purchase. The main types are stretched canvas, canvas board and canvas sheets. I prefer to use a stretched canvas. I like the bounce back it gives. All types of canvas have a tooth (bumpy texture) that I love! With the stretched canvas’s you don’t have to frame and can hang as is.

TOP TIP – be sure to paint the sides of your stretched canvas. It will look more professional once on the wall.

Saundersfoot beach – on Stretched Canvas

Above is an acrylic Painting is on a stretched canvas of Saundersfoot Beach. This is my favourite material to paint on.

Canvas Board

As you can see from the below picture canvas board performs much like a stretched canvas. It has a tooth, although not as deep or prominent. It is an easy and cheaper way to start painting. They come in all sorts of sizes and packs. You can frame them easily too.

Raspberries – Acrylic paint on Canvas Board

I hope you liked my tips for how to choose the right paper or canvas, be sure to check out my article on How to improve your Sketches.