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Why Should I Tone a Canvas, and What Colors Should I Use to Paint?
Why is it better to paint on toned canvas, and what color should you choose for the toning? Starting a painting on a colored ground speeds up the painting process and helps to create harmony. What are other advantages of toning?
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Learn How to Paint an Acrylic Landscape: Step-by-Step With Examples
Do you want to create a beautiful acrylic landscape painting on a toned canvas? I've laid out step-by-step instructions for the painting process and included a time-lapse video of the sketching that you can reference.
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How to Create a Color Study on an iPad With Procreate
Create a pencil drawing sketch and a digital color study for an acrylic landscape painting! I've included step-by-step instructions and a time-lapse video to help you visualize what you need to do.
- 14
Alla Prima Still-Life Oil Painting With a Limited Palette
Learn the process of completing a still-life oil painting in one session. I share a short video that shows the painting process and delves into how I chose the colors of my limited tetrad palette. Alla prima is a direct painting technique, also known as wet-on-wet.
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How a Painting's Value and Color Are Influenced by Light
The appearance of a painting is influenced by the effect of light and atmosphere, the arrangement of darks and lights, and the harmony and balance of color. Light influences all of these factors.
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The Three Dimensions of a Color According to the Munsell System
Albert Munsell developed a color identification and notation system that prevents confusion and makes communication easier. Learn how his system describes color using three dimensions.
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11 Tips to Painting Outdoors for Beginners
If you are used to painting indoors, the first few paintings you do outdoors are going to be very challenging. However, painting en plein air can be a great experience and teach you a lot. Here are 11 tips that can help you make outdoors painting a little easier and more successful.
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Plein Air Painting Is so Popular, but Is It for You?
Plein air painting is becoming popular. A lot of artists think that painting landscapes on location is the best way to go. Learn about the advantages and challenges of painting outdoors. Would you enjoy it? Plus, tips to help you have an easier and more successful outdoor painting experience.
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How Making Value Sketches Improves Your Painting Compositions
Learn how making thumbnail sketches and using them as value studies helps you create winning painting compositions. It's essential to see value and tone relationships for better painting.
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Enhance Your Painting Composition by Planning the Value Structure
The way elements are arranged in the picture acts as the armature and supporting structure of a painting. To make a piece successful and interesting for the viewer, plan a composition with a strong value structure. Squinting helps. Seeing simplified shapes, it’s easier to “see” the...
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Art Tips: Painting From Photos
Painting from photos vs. from life. Why professional artists and art teachers recommend painting from life and not from photo. What are the differences and the challenges?
- 6
Color Temperature for Artists
Understanding and controlling color temperature are crucial in painting, especially when rendering depth. Learn how to set the mood of a painting by controlling the temperature of color mixtures.
- 8
Great Hiking Trails in Stolvizza, on the Italian Alps
If you are going to Northern Italy and you like hiking, go to Stolvizza and experience its beautiful natural paths. Hidden gem in the Italian Alps.
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10 Tips to Paint Clouds and Skies
Use these 10 great tips to paint gorgeous skies and clouds. I'm sharing the techniques I learned the hard way to hopefully help beginners avoid my mistakes and improve their paintings.
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13 Common Painting Mistakes Made by Beginners to Avoid
What are the 13 most common beginner painters' habits to avoid? Keep from creating paintings that look amateurish or mediocre. Know what not to do in order to take your work to the next level.
- 3
Tips on How To Paint Sky Behind Trees, or "Sky Holes"
How to paint areas where sky and tree meet, making them look natural and believable. Learn how foliage and thin branches change the color of the sky.
- 4
What Makes a Good Painting? - Art Tips
Fine Art Tips. What makes a painting good? Learn the essential elements to include in your paintings. Focus on composition, color palette, focal point, and the way to arrange shapes.
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How to Achieve Color Harmony With the Mother Color Technique
Detailed explanation of the mother color painting technique, a great way to create color harmony. Learn about how to pick the mother color and how to mix paint harmoniously, unifying the color scheme.
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How to Set Up a Good Still Life Composition
Still life painting step-by-step: setting up a successful composition, lighting it, sketching it, and getting ready to paint or draw it.
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Basic Brushstroke Types With Examples
Brush stroke techniques for fine art painting. Learn the different brushstrokes and become a more successful painter. Crosshatching, hatching, dry brush, flat wash, scumbling, stippling, etc.
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Learn How to Paint Better Landscapes With These 7 Tips
How to improve your landscape paintings. A list of practical, helpful tips to help you improve your artwork.
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10 Ways to Improve Productivity in the Art Studio
Some wise tips on how to boost creativity and become more productive as an artist, writer, crafter, and in any creative activity. Time management and motivational advice.
- 30
Oil Painting Tools and Materials for Beginners
Basic oil painting supply list. The 8 things artists need to start painting with oils. The answers to the common questions of all beginner painters. Gift ideas for oil painters.
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Gift Ideas for Acrylic Painting Artists
What kind of presents can you get for an artist that paints with acrylics? A list of tools and supplies that make a great present for any painter.
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How to Create Greeting Cards With Original Paintings
Here you'll find a step-by-step tutorial on how to make greeting cards using your own original small paintings. Create cards that are framable artworks and make great gift.
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How to Find Pictures to Paint for Beginners
How do you find photos that can be used as a reference for a painting without risking copyright infringement?
- 10
Elements of Painting: Line and Shape
Lines and shapes are essential elements of painting. How you use them in art strongly affects the composition and overall feeling of the painting.
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How to Mix Brown from a Limited Palette of Primary Colors
How to mix different colors of paint and get brown using a limited palette of primary colors. Mixing brown from Red, Yellow, and Blue.
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Tips for Cleaning Acrylic Paint Brushes
Paintbrushes are a precious tool for acrylic painters: it's very important to keep them clean. How to clean art brushes in 9 steps and tips to keep them in good working conditions, just like new for a long time.
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Easy Acrylic Painting Ideas: Abstract Landscape
How to Paint a minimalist abstract landscape with acrylics, step-by-step. Easy acrylic landscape painting, great for beginners.
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Abstract Painting Idea With Acrylics, Masking Tape, and Bubble Wrap
An example of how to paint an abstract painting using acrylic paint, masking tape, and bubble wrap on canvas.
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Things To Decide Before Starting to Paint
Want to start a painting but you're not sure where to begin? Here is a list of things to decide before you start to paint with acrylics, oils, watercolors, or any other media.
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How to Draw and Color Simple Images in Microsoft Paint
How to draw simple subjects in Microsoft Paint. Drawing a daisy step by step.
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How to Draw Still Life
How to draw a still life step by step, from setting up a composition of objects to drawing shapes, lines, and shades.
- 9
A Day in Rome, What to Do?
A day in Rome, Italy: so much to see, and so little time. Highlights from my 24-hour stay in Rome, the capital of Italy. Sightseeing Rome in One Day: Walking Tour of Italy's Capital
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Garlic Grilled Tomatoes - Juicy and Easy Recipe
Easy and tasty tomatoes on the electric grill, great for appetizers or side dish. Juicy.
- 3
Katniss and Rue: Healing Properties of the Plants of the Hunger Games
In the "Hunger Games" books and movies, Katniss Everdeen and her family share deep knowledge of plants' medicinal and nutritional properties. What are the properties of the katniss and rue plants?
- 4
Light Therapy for Psoriasis
Could light therapy help with your psoriasis? Photo-therapy can be an effective remedy for psoriasis, in many cases.
- 2
Biography of Financial Advisor Suze Orman
Suze Orman is one of the most influential, well respected, and successful financial advisers in the World. Orman's bio is most inspiring. Suze had tough beginnings and struggled with debt.
- 12
Drawing Tips for the Beginner
Tips for beginners that want to learn how to draw, with reference to drawing techniques and step-by-step instruction.
- 18
How to Keep Calm and Stay Positive When Life Is Hard
How do you keep a positive attitude when life is falling apart? Actions you can take to stay positive and make good things happen in your life.
- 14
Why Optimists Live a Healthier Life
Focusing on positive and happy thoughts create amazing changes in our chemical balance that reduce stress and positively affect our health and well-being.
- 17
How to Draw Realistic Roses
How do you draw a rose? Drawing instructions for beginners step by step.
- 10
Features of a Happy Lifestyle
How do you find happiness? What characteristics determine if someone lives happily and merrily or sadly? Tips to a happy life. How to avoid disappointments and misfortunes.
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How Laughter Is a Powerful Stress Reliever and Healing Technique
Did you know laughter has multiple beneficial effects on our brain and body? A good belly laugh reduces stress. Laughter is truly the best medicine.
- 15
"Cow on Mountain" Landscape Acrylic Painting: Step-by-Step Process
A step-by-step overview of the different stages and decision making involved in a landscape acrylic painting, with an example featuring a cow in an Alpine pasture.
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How to Paint Atmospheric Perspective in Art
How do you represent distance and depth in art? Learn Aerial Perspective and tips on how to render the illusion of recession in painting.
- 10
Learn Basic Italian Before You Travel To Italy
Learn some basic Italian vocabulary and simple sentences like greetings, conversational words, and numbers. Enough Italian to have a basic conversation with Italians.
- 11
Teaching Children About Money
Tips on teaching children that money is a limited and hard-to-get resource. Ideas on how to explain where money may come from, how to save, and how to spend. Help your kids to learn about money, and they'll grow having a better feeling about bills, saving plans, and financial emergencies.
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La Befana Brings Stockings to Italian Children
Who brings stockings in Italy? Not Santa. Italian Christmas festivities end on the Epiphany day, when La Befana brings gifts to children. Who is La Befana and what are the origins of her tradition?
- 15
Chicken With Mushrooms and Onions - Low Carbs Recipe
A good serving size of this yummy chicken with mushrooms and onions will provide only 233 calories and 6 grams of carbohydrates.
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Financial Expert Suze Orman Quotes
Some of Suze Orman's best quotes about creating a life of material and spiritual abundance.
- 8
How to Grow an Herb Garden From Seed
Herb seedlings can be purchased, but it is much more economical to start your own herb garden from seed.
- 13
How to Use the Color Wheel to Plan Color Schemes and Color Mixing
The color wheel is a great tool that helps artists decide what color scheme they want to use with a geometrical mixing method, taking into consideration the distance between colors on the wheel. Learn how to use it and how the color wheel can help you choose color schemes and mixing colors.
- 11
Pasta Puttanesca - Vegan Recipe
A vegetarian and vegan version of the tasty classic Italian puttanesca sauce. A yummy pasta recipe with capers, olives, and anchovies (optional) in juicy tomato sauce.
- 14
Natural Fertilizers
Learn organic fertilizers' advantages over synthetic fertilizers. Compost, Manure, Bone Meal. How to choose the best fertilizer. Roles of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in fertilizers.
- 5
How Is Acrylic Paint Made?
Acrylic paint is available in all kind of shades and tints, and in a vast array of qualities. But what is this popular medium in modern art and how did it become the medium of choice for many?
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6 Common Acrylic Painting Techniques
Acrylic paints provide the opportunity to experiment both watercolor and oil painting techniques. A review of the most popular acrylic painting techniques.
- 2
Missoni Italian Fashion
Italian Fashion Brand Missoni, founded in 1953 By Ottavio Missoni, has a magical artistic alchemy always at the top of contemporary fashion design. during 60+ years.
- 9
Northern Italian Cuisine
Italian culinary tradition of Northern Italy reflects all the characteristics of this multifaceted part of the country. Recipes reflect the richness in territory, dialects, climate, and history.
- 12
Sardinia, Italy - Great Beaches and Rich History
An island in the Mediterranean Sea, "Sardegna" offers beautiful beach resorts and striking natural sites. A rich history and archeological sites add even more interest to this beautiful destination.
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How to Decide What to Paint and How to Do It
Things You Need to Plan Before Starting a Painting. What to paint? How? With what techniques and styles? Learn how to take the most important decisions before and during the painting process.
- 11
Italian Beaches: Lignano Sabbiadoro
Italy has miles and miles of coast, with all kind of different beach options. Lignano Sabbiadoro offers a golden sand shore and a lot of fun opportunities that can please everyone.
- 18
Travel Tips: 5 Great Places to Visit in Northern Italy
5 of the top places to visit when you travel to Northern Italy. What to see in Trieste, Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, and Genoa.
- 130
Step-By-Step Acrylic Painting for Beginners
Step-by-step painting tips for beginner artists. Learn the seven supplies you need to paint with acrylics, how to get started, how to plan your painting composition, and how to proceed in the painting process.
- 16
How to Ruin Paint Brushes
Some common mistakes quickly ruin paint brushes. How you clean and store paint brushes determines their life span and how they stay in shape. Great tips for beginner artists.
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Easy Spaghetti Recipe: Noodly Hot Dogs
A cheap recipe that kids will love, so easy that kids can make it themselves (with some help). main ingredients: spaghetti and hot dogs.
- 9
Romantic Things To Do In Venice
Venice is the perfect romantic destination in Italy for both honeymooners and seasoned couples. Prepare to get mesmerized by the magic city on water.
- 15
How to Use the Rule of Thirds in Painting Composition
The rule of thirds helps artists and photographers to plan a winning composition. Use it as a guide to composing pictures that looks balanced and interesting. Keep the rule of third as guidance, but integrate more structural elements to make the scene visually pleasing.
- 19
How to Get Kids to Try New and Healthy Foods
Tips on how to get children to try new foods, with examples of dishes that my children would eat at enjoy on a regular basis.
- 7
10 Mom's Tips to Raise a Good Eater
What can you do to raise non-picky eaters? 10 tips on how to raise children that are adventurous eaters and love healthy food, from a mom of two good eaters.
- 16
How Having Children Changes Your Life and Marriage
Marriage after children can be hard but fortunately most couples survive. How children change your life, big times and how we survived. True story! :)
- 20
How to Stay Happily Married After Having Children
A guide to building a loving and happy marriage that survives and thrives as the family grows.
- 29
Color Harmony: Color Schemes Explained
What color combinations work well together? Which color scheme is best? An overview of the basic color schemes as guide to find an harmonious color palette.
- 13
Growing Herbs Indoor and Outdoor
Learn how to grow your own herbs. Tips on how to grow herbs in a garden, flower bed, or pots, indoors or outdoors. Herbs provide natural flavors, aromas, and medicinal qualities.
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Venice Is Sinking: Struggles of the City Built on Water
Being built on water is one of Venice's charming characteristics, but also the very thing that is threatening its survival. Venice environmental challenges may ruin it or even sink it forever.
- 22
Main Attractions in St. Mark's Square - Piazza San Marco
Saint Mark's Square is one of the most spectacular and famous destinations for millions of tourists every year. Some of the attractions are the Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the bell tower, the Clocktower, Museo Correr, Caffè Florian, Caffè Quadri, and Harry's Bar.
- 16
Best 5 Ways to Spend a Lump Sum of Money
What is the best way to use an unexpected sum of money? Windfalls are hard to come by, and once you've got your hands on a lump sum, you should plan carefully how to use it, taking care of the most important expenses first.
- 6
Annual, Biennial, and Perennial Plants and Herbs
What are the differences between annual, biennial, and perennial plants? Why are some annuals tender and other hardy? Examples of different plants.
- 18
Learn to Say "No" - Choose What Makes You Happy
What makes a person happy? There are many ways to find happiness, but what works for one may be totally ineffective for another. How to Live a Happier Life Finding Your Balance
- 8
How to Visit Venice With Kids
Is Venice child and stroller friendly? Things you need to know when going to Venice with children.
- 50
Non-Touristy Things to Do in Venice, Italy
A list of the top things to do in Venice, besides the typical tourist itineraries. Venice's less famous attractions and beauties.
- 46
How to Set SMART Personal Financial Goals
A guide on how to set and achieve SMART financial goals and track your progress. What's keeping you from getting rich?
- 23
7 Ways Art Improves Quality of Life
Art appreciation improves quality of life and makes you feel good. Great artworks stimulates the brain similarly to what happens when we fall in love: we produce dopamine.
- 37
Guide to Choosing the Best Paint Brushes for Acrylics and Oils
A guide for fine art painters on how to choose and use paint brushes, the best artist's working tools. To achieve the desired painting effects you must choose the right brush for the job.
- 27
Best Varnishing Techniques for Acrylic Paintings
Varnishing step-by-step. Your acrylic painting is complete. As a final step, apply the best varnishing techniques to protect your artwork, and getting it ready to hang or to be sold. Learn how to brush on or spray the varnish, and how to remove it.
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Easy Personal Budget Planning Tips
How to make a successful personal budget plan. All you need to know to start planning your finances and stop worrying about money.
- 8
How to Prepare a Vegetable Garden for Winter
What to do in the fall to prepare a vegetable garden for winter so you find it ready for planting in the spring. Harvest, protect, dig, and fertilize your garden in the fall.
- 22
Zucchini, Cheese, and Ham Quiche - Light & Tasty Recipe
Tasty and light recipe for a delicious zucchini, ham, and cheese baked dish.
- 10
Step-by-Step Simple and Easy Family Budget
How to Set up a Family Budget. All you need to know to make a family budget and plan your personal finances. Step-by-Step simple and easy budgeting tips.
- 18
Rice Salad - Cold Dish Recipe from Italy
Rice salad is a delicious cold dish the all family will love. Always popular at potluck parties, rice salad makes a great summer dish.
- 16
How to Grow an Indoor Vegetable Garden
Indoor gardening: make seeds grow in front of your eyes into edible crop, powerfully satisfying and a delight to all senses. Plus it's a great conversation starter!
- 8
The Purpose of a Personal Budget
Learn why and how it's important to have a personal budget and set and achieve your short, medium and long-term financial goals. Following a budget will benefit your life in remarkable ways, putting you in control of your income and expenses.
- 14
How to Clean Up Acrylic Paints
How to clean up acrylic paint from brushes, painting palettes, or clothes whether they are still wet or after they are dry.
- 16
How Technology Is Shrinking Your Brain - Importance of Using Our Spatial Memory
How relying on technology to remember things and find directions shrinks your hippocampus. Importance of exercising spatial memory.
- 26
How to Prepare a Canvas for Painting Step-by-Step
Before you can paint on canvas, the fabric should be primed. How do you prep a canvas for acrylic or oil painting? Step-by-step instructions on how to prime a canvas with acrylic gesso.
- 51
Cheapest Time to Travel to Italy
Planning to visit Italy during less expensive periods can save you a lot of money. Tips on how to save money during a trip to Italy and what periods of the year are best to visit each region.
- 9
25 Easy Ideas for Going Green, Free or Low Cost
25 ways to go green - Save money by reducing, reusing, & recycling. Tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint.
- 7
Simple Family Budgeting and Financial Planning
Investing some time planning your family budget can save you lots of money. Things you need to do to gain personal financial stability.
- 7
Advantages of Wind Energy
Anyplace where wind blows steadily and strong, wind-power systems could be installed. Wind farms and turbines have many advantages, but some disadvantages too...
- 2
Energy Saving Tips - Save Resources, Spend Less and Help The Environment
Cutting down on energy usage saves money and helps the environment.
- 6
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Properties and Health Benefits
All about extra virgin olive oil - characteristics and benefits of olive oils. Understanding olive oil labels, how to purchase the best olive oil, health properties, and alternative uses of olive oil.
- 12
Vinegar: A Safe and Efficient Green Cleaner
Make your home a healthier place for you and your family by cleaning with white distilled vinegar.
- 21
How to Live Below Your Means and Be Happy
Tips on how to save and leave happy on a tight budget - based on my personal experience. Understanding needs vs. wants.
- 4
How Solar Energy Becomes Electricity
How does solar energy work? Photovoltaic systems explained in a simple way. An insight on the technical characteristics and efficiency of solar power.
- 4
Yummy Bolognese Sauce with Hidden Veggies - Step-by-Step Recipe
Recipe for a delicious Bolognese meat sauce, delicious on pasta, gnocchi, and lasagna with minced carrots, celery, onions, and garlic.
- 6
Why Painting Value/Tone Is More Important Than Color
Value means light or dark, an essential element in drawings and paintings. Learn how value is the key to a successful painting, not color. How to understand and see values in art.
- 6
How to Be Frugal and Environmental Friendly
Ready to save money and help the environment? Get your brain and heart ready to change habits and you can save money while reducing pollution and resource consumption.
- 3
How to Start Saving For Your Emergency Fund
We all need an emergency fund to financially protect ourselves and our family. How much do you need to save for emergencies? What are financial emergencies? Tips to save money.
- 13
How to Keep Romance Alive and Your Man Happy in Long Relationships
Tips for women to keep the romance in a relationship. Daily acts of love nurture a healthy and loving relationship and keep the passion alive.
- 63
How to Paint with Acrylics: Creative Painting Techniques
Painting tips for beginners. A guide to acrylic paint techniques you can use to get creative effects: splattering, pouring, masking, collage, and more.
- 6
Easy Game You Can Play Anywhere
A free family game that you can play anytime and anywhere. It’s totally free and you don’t need any supplies. You can play it with family or friends. Children love this game!
- 18
Pasta Carbonara: A Quick and Easy Recipe With Eggs and Bacon
A delicious pasta recipe that's very easy to prepare. It uses eggs, bacon, and Parmesan cheese as the main ingredients. Yum! Good with spaghetti, linguine, penne, or your favorite noodles.
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10 Tips to Shake Away the Creativity Burnout and Find Artistic Inspiration
How to find artistic inspiration. 10 tips to overcome lack of inspiration, and get back at creating art. Tips and ideas to shake off the creativity burnout.
- 26
Acrylic Painting for Beginners: Getting Started in 10 Easy Steps
Acrylic painting for beginners: all you need to get started. Great info about art supplies and materials needed to start painting with acrylics for beginners. Tips on what paint, brushes, canvas, and easel they should buy.
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Apprenticeship Alum
Hello! I write about art and my other passions: gardening, cooking, traveling, and personal finance.
My background, kind of unusually for an artist, is in business, financial counseling, retail, and technology; fruit of an MBA from the University of Venice, Italy and jobs in the retail, finance, and technology field .
A true believer in the power of positive thinking, I think that when we focus our thoughts on beautiful, joyful things, we will then attract more of the same into our lives, and we will begin to notice more beauty in unexpected places.
For that reason when choosing a subject for my paintings, I choose images with the potential of bringing joy both to me and the viewer.