Gouache vs. Watercolor: The Beauty of Opacity and Transparency
Before diving into the comparison between watercolor and gouache, let’s first take…
Your First Steps into Pastel Art: Tools, Paper, and Essential Tips
Pastel is a vibrant and versatile medium made from pure pigment and…
Introduction to Charcoal Drawing: Fundamentals with Vine & Willow Charcoal
Charcoal drawing for beginners starts with understanding the expressive nature of this timeless…
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions in 2025
The art world in 2025 is filled with extraordinary creativity. This roundup…
Complementary Colors in Watercolor: From Contrast to Neutral Grays
What Are Complementary Colors? *For a better understanding of color basics, please…
Positive and Negative Shapes: Essential Guide
What Are Positive and Negative Shapes? “A good composition is not just…
What is Format in Art? Discover Why It Matters Most
Why Format Matters in Art Many students begin drawing without first considering…
Watercolor Basics: Essential Techniques & How to Do Them
Watercolor has a unique character—fluid, transparent, and luminous—that comes alive through skilled…
Wayne Thiebaud: Art Comes from Art
Serendipity at the Legion of Honor: My Personal Encounter It was many…
The de Young and the Legion of Honor: San Francisco’s Twin Pillars of Art
On my recent trip to San Francisco, I found myself once again…
Creating Mood in Art with Color Temperature: Warm & Cool Explained
Understanding color temperature is fundamental in both visual art and lighting. It…
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Please also check out the past exhibition posts (links down below), as many…
Monochromatic Tonal Painting: Painting with Hue and Neutral Gray
Introduction Many artists are familiar with terms like monochromatic painting and tonal…
Cross-Hatching with Pencil: Embracing the Medium’s Unique Qualities
Cross-hatching involves layering lines at varying angles to develop value to represent…
Georgia O’Keeffe: Where Earth Meets Sky
Post Image: Georgia O’Keeffe, Hollyhock Pink with Pedernal, Oil on Canvas, 1937.…
Why Start with Black and White?
Before diving into color, painting in black and white is one of…
SHAPE: A FOUNDATIONAL GUIDE
An Essential Element of Visual Language What is Shape in Art? In…
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Please also check out the past exhibition posts (links down below), as many…
Crystal Bridges: A Vision of American Art Rooted in Nature and Access for All
Top Image: “Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art” by kevin dooley is licensed under CC…
The Language of Line: The Power and Expression of Line in Art
"Detail Of Sol Lewitt's 1971 'Wall Drawing #65' At The National Gallery Of Art (Washington, DC)" by takomabibelot is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
How to Start Drawing Any Object
A Foundational Guide to Sketching with Structure and Confidence This approach is…
Understanding Contour Drawing: What It is and How to Practice It
Definition of Contour Drawing A contour drawing is an art technique in…
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Please also review the previous list, as many exhibitions are still ongoing.…
CY TWOMBLY: ON LINES, DOODLING, SCRIBBLING, AND MARK MAKING
Post Image Above: “Bacchus” – Iron curtain of the Vienna State Opera.…
Color: Understanding Tint, Shade, & Tone
I strongly recommend memorizing these three terms: tint, shade, and tone. Even…
Value: Lesson 4 – Light and Shadow: Principles and Perception
1. Understanding Value: What is it? Value refers to the lightness or…
Museum: Vancouver Art Gallery Tour – Highlights & Insights
The last time I visited Vancouver, I was just 11 years old.…
Basic Art Supplies
At this stage, the focus is on affordability and functionality—getting started without…
Value: Lesson 3 – Cross-Hatching Technique for Shading – Practice for Drawing
What is Cross-Hatching? Cross-hatching is a shading technique used in drawing and…
Color: Painting Color Wheel – Beginner’s Guide to Hues
Primary Colors: Primary colors are pure colors that cannot be created by…
Value: Lesson 2 – Value Scale Guide in Painting & Drawing
What is Value Scale? Creating Three-Dimensionality: Accurate values are essential in producing…
Value: Lesson 1 – What is Value in Art?
In art, value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color.…
How to Sharpen Pencil for Drawing
Preparing your pencils properly is essential for drawing. A pencil is a…
