Our thoughts, advice, and tips

Articles

How to stretch watercolor paper

The article provides a concise guide to stretching watercolor paper, a crucial technique to prevent buckling and ensure even paint absorption.
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January 8, 2024

Need to write an artist statement? Try this exercise

An Artist Statement is an important and necessary part of your body of work. You'll need one for submissions to colleges, exhibitions, galleries - even on your website. It's a way for the viewer to get to know you, separate from your visual work. You may find it difficult to write one, so we've created an exercise that will help.
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November 6, 2023

The great value of silly questions

Sometimes a question may sound so ridiculous that you may feel it doesn’t deserve an answer. Read this article to learn why we applaud those brave enough to ask silly questions.
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September 20, 2023

How composition changes everything

Composition is the invisible, integral foundation to a well-designed artwork. Learn about this underrated but crutial aspect of any art piece.
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September 30, 2022

Why we switched to online classes

It’s no secret that the world of education has changed dramatically in recent years. In this article, we talk about why we decided to close our physical studio for the first time in 30 years and focus on our online curriculum.
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September 30, 2022

How to look at art in a museum

Learning how to look at art in a museum will give you a more meaningful experience - for art lovers, art students, and beginner artists.
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June 10, 2022

How to spray your drawings with fixative correctly

Have a few drawings made with charcoal or pastels? If you haven’t sprayed them with fixative yet, you’re probably worried about smudging them. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use fixative spray correctly so you can preserve your pencil, charcoal, or pastel drawings.
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February 21, 2019

Tonality: the secret to mastery.

One of the cardinal differences between a Great Master and a mediocre artist is the tonal awareness. In art, “looking” requires a specific technique! Read this article to understand the importance of tone in art.
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February 21, 2019

How to build an impressive art portfolio for college

How can you stand out among tens of thousands of applicants? In this article, we’ll talk about the five top topics to keep in mind while putting together your portfolio.
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February 21, 2019

How to title your artwork so it sells

Titles can bring a new quality to an artwork that, without it, would be less interesting. A title can be connected to what you see literally, but it can be suggesting another story, other than what is depicted. Titles are a great way to add another layer to an art piece, without having to illustrate it on the piece itself.
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February 21, 2019

Meet Rachel Dinwiddie, our College Portfolio student

Rachel Dinwiddie is one of our College Portfolio Students that has blossomed into an audacious artist. When Rachel first came to our studio, she comfortable with small paintings - her largest piece was the size of a sheet of paper. After a year of classes, she was painting large scale and began winning awards.
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February 21, 2019