The Creation of a Masterful Figurative Painting – Demo

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While working on Twitter one day, I discovered the remarkable figurative work of Rob Hefferan.  Rob's breath-taking oil paintings of beautiful women range from dark and brooding, to light infused and optimistic. Inspired by the pre-Raphaelites, each elegant scene realistically captures the essence of his favorite subject, the female form. Rob's paintbrush masterfully depicts soft skin tones, graceful movements,  and touchable fabrics. Rob … [Read more...]

Turn an Altoid Box into a Mini Watercolor Travel Set

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I am always on the lookout for money saving ideas for the artist. A couple of websites (links below) shared this little creative project which turns an ordinary Altoid mint box into a pocket-sized watercolor travel set... watercolor travel box by Nita Leland Materials: Use an empty Altoid mint metal container Empty plastic 'half-pan' wells for the watercolor paint Hot glue gun Paint brushes (cut the handles to fit in box) Mini squeeze cosmetic … [Read more...]

The Incredible Camouflage Wallpaper Art of Emma Hack

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 While surfing for inspiration on the Internet, I found the remarkable 'wallpaper art' of Emma Hack. Although this 'live installation art' is not frame-able, it is fine nonetheless. Using some of Australia's most beautiful bodies as her canvas, Emma's paintings take anywhere from 8 - 14 hours, depending on the complexity of the design. It is an exhausting process for the artist and subject alike; however the results are nothing short of spectacular. Enjoy. You … [Read more...]

Sculpting in Clay for Bronze – The Process

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guest artist/author: Ken Newman As I continue my artistic journey, I am often asked how I do you choose a subject. It is something that continues to evolve as I am a self-taught sculptor. Below is an overview of the steps I follow in creating a sculpture, but the most important part is the concept, which is a reflection of my journey, interpreting the simple and subtle rhythms and textures in nature. The following is an example of my artistic … [Read more...]

This Ad is a Work of Art!

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 With nearly 3 million views, this soul-filled YouTube video below is a perfect example of how artistic expression crosses language barriers and immediately connects people. The video is actually a Thai 'Pantene' tv commercial which shows a deaf and mute girl who learns to play the violin against all odds. I found this video while on Twitter. It was shared by one of my favorite design blogs, Bit Rebels. This advertisement truly is … [Read more...]

The Importance of Value & Tone in Painting

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Little did I know that my drawing background would give me a good foundation in tone, otherwise known as value. Value is how light or dark that color is. For example: If you took a black and white photograph of your painting, the shades of grey would be the different values or tones within the painting.   ("Approaching Shadows" by Lori McNee ©2006) Simply put, value is the lightness or darkness a color or hue. In painting, … [Read more...]

5 Websites to Help You Learn to Draw

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  by guest author: Andrew Salmon Love to doodle while on the phone or while trying to stay awake during staff meetings or in class? Well, why not develop that natural talent? Whether you’re looking for a career as an artist or just want to indulge in drawing as a hobby, the internet is a great place to learn the basics or further develop the talent you’re already cultivating. Here are five websites that will help you learn to draw. 1. … [Read more...]

SEO Tips to Rank Your Twitter & Facebook Pages Higher on Google

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Continuing with our series of art marketing articles for "Thinking Outside the Frame", the following guest post will help you do just that... guest author: John Paul Aguiar Now that Twitter and Facebook Fan Pages are included in Google search results, I thought I would share with you a few Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tips to get more SEO push out of your Twitter and Facebook pages. You should be using Twitter and Facebook to connect … [Read more...]

Fine Art Tips Now on Facebook!

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  This is a quick announcement to let all my friends and followers know that Fine Art Tips is now on Facebook. If you like the information you find on this art blog, please follow Fine Art Tips on Facebook for more art tips, and some fun interaction with other artists and me! Just click the 'like' button. This is a great networking opportunity to meet many artists and grow your own Facebook friends. The importance of Social Media to the … [Read more...]

The Real Story of Twitter’s 1st Art Auction – @140hours

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 The following guest post by Gary Brant is the first in the series of inspiring and informative articles by working artists, galleries and individuals who are 'Thinking Outside the Frame' with creative art marketing ideas in this challenging economy.  Gary, a true visionary, has created a revolutionary online art auction using the power of Social Media. The World's 1st Twitter Art Auction & Supporter of International Charities. On … [Read more...]