Free eBooks

The Color Wheel and Beyond: Color Theory, Mixing Colors, and How to Create Complementary Color Schemes

Courtney Jordan — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:26:14 GMT

In our latest Artist Daily eBook, The Color Wheel and Beyond: Color Theory, Mixing Colors, and How to Create Complementary Color Schemes, the groundwork is set so that you can focus on color whether you are painting an indoor still life, an outdoor painting, or want to spend studio sessions looking at masterworks by famous artists and being able to visually understand what you see and why it works or evokes certain reactions in you.

To start, you’ll first find an introduction to color theory and the basic tenets behind how we interpret the spectrum of colors in The Color Wheel and Beyond: Color Theory, Mixing Colors, and How to Create Complementary Color Schemes. Then there is a whole chapter focused on color mixing and how to create and use a complementary color palette, which is a foundational part of any color mixing lessons.

There is also a chapter devoted entirely on color mixing for the landscape painter or plein air artist, including how to mix colors with correct values and how to create harmonious color relationships in your work.

How to Draw Flowers from Artist Daily: How to Draw a Rose, Azalea, or Any Flower Drawing You’d Like

Courtney Jordan — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:27:17 GMT

Our latest free eBook, How to Draw Flowers: How to Draw a Rose, Azalea, or Any Flower Drawing You'd Like gives you all the art instruction you could want on how to draw flowers, from what medium you can use and the benefits of them all, to what surface to choose and why, to the tools you'll want on hand to pull off your flower drawing with realism and loveliness--it's all here.

There is instruction on drawing flowers like azaleas, daisies, hydrangeas, magnolia blossoms, water lilies, and, of course, detailed instruction on producing a rose drawing that may not smell as sweet as its name, but it will sure look as lovely and vibrant as the real thing! Each flower drawing mini-chapter has a step-by-step component so you see how each flower drawing comes together. So learn how to draw flowers with How to Draw Flowers: How to Draw a Rose, Azalea, or Any Flower Drawing You'd Like.

Learn How to Draw From Artist Daily: Drawing Techniques on Depth, Color & Value--Plus a Learn to Draw With a Quill Pen Bonus Chapter

Courtney Jordan — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:53:14 GMT

In our newest free eBook, Learn How to Draw From Artist Daily: Drawing Techniques on Depth, Color & Value, you'll find drawing instructions on how to draw with an eye toward creating the illusion of depth in your work; how to draw with color effectively; and drawing techniques surrounding value, which is a mainstay of all draftsmanship.

We've also included a bonus chapter--Learn to Draw With a Quill Pen--so you can delve into this centuries-old tool and use it just like the Old Masters did. There's even a section on making your own quill pen step by step. How to draw lessons learned through this free eBook will enable you to draw with a firmer idea of what really makes a difference in drawing, plus you'll learn how to draw in a wide range of styles and methods.

Human Figure Painting Tutorial: Painting Figures Like the Old Masters and Using Figure Paintings to Express Your Feelings

Courtney Jordan — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:29:06 GMT

In our new, free ebook Human Figure Painting Tutorial: Painting Figures Like the Old Masters and Using Figure Paintings to Express Your Feelings you'll find strategies from portrait artist Leonid Gervits on techniques that go all the way back to Velazquez, plus how to paint figures and faces to express feelings and opinions, and how to capture the essence of an individual and not just a likeness. There's also tons of artwork to inspire you, and you'll hear directly from the artists about what works and doesn't work for them when they are painting figures.

Charcoal Drawing Lessons: Learn How to Draw Charcoal Art and Improve Your Charcoal Drawings

Courtney Jordan — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:22:46 GMT

Seeing a skilled artist conduct a charcoal drawing demonstration will greatly help you work with value in any medium, and this is where our free video, Charcoal Drawing Lessons: Learn How to Draw Charcoal Art and Improve Your Charcoal Drawings, comes in.

In Charcoal Drawing Lessons, you'll see how artist Chris Wynter takes the raw material of a still life and transforms it with attention to the finer details of a charcoal drawing. Wynter discusses charcoal drawing details such as the subtleties of value, edges, and creating a path of light all of which he uses to create a successful drawing.

Human Anatomy Drawing for Artists: An Art Lesson on Studying & Drawing Anatomy

Courtney Jordan — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:26:19 GMT

You have to study anatomy the right way—the artistic way. That's why we created our latest free eBook: Human Anatomy Drawing for Artists: An Art Lesson on Studying & Drawing Anatomy. In it you'll find out what the artistic purpose of anatomy is all about and most important in Human Anatomy Drawing for Artists, you'll find where to go and whose teachings to explore when it comes to the art side of anatomy.

The Artist Daily Guide to Using a Photo Reference: Art Tips for Drawing from Photographs and Turning Photos to Paintings

Courtney Jordan — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:41:38 GMT

Using the camera to create a photo reference doesn't magically translate a photo to a painting. There is a lot to assess in the process of painting from photographs, and plenty of pitfalls. That's why it can often make sense to start drawing from photos first, so you get a handle on how to use photos without the time commitment of a major painting. The Artist Daily Guide to Using a Photo Reference: Art Tips for Drawing from Photographs and Turning Photos to Paintings gives you the lay of the land in a really accessible way.

Artist and instructor Sandra Angelo discusses how she uses a photo reference in her own work, often beginning by taking many photos of a sitter and then creating a contour drawing pencil sketch of the major shapes she sees. This allows Angelo to use a photo reference as a stepping-off point, interpreting the image early on in the process so that she establishes her own vision and is not constantly referring back to the photo reference as her be-all guide.

Angelo also recommends working from a large photo reference and even using a grid kit when starting out. By far the section I found most informative in The Artist Daily Guide to Using a Photo Reference: Art Tips for Drawing from Photographs and Turning Photos to Paintings was the section in which Angelo discusses the three common mistakes that often arise when working from a photo reference and how to avoid them, plus the portrait photography tips she includes so that you know how to get a good photo to work from in the first place. Download The Artist Daily Guide to Using a Photo Reference: Art Tips for Drawing from Photographs and Turning Photos to Paintings now and enjoy!

Paint the Flow and Movement of Water: Painting Techniques, Methods, and How to Paint Water with Power & Rhythm

Courtney Jordan — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:19:07 GMT

Paint the Flow and Movement of Water: Painting Techniques, Methods, and How to Paint Water with Power and Rhythm covers everything you'll want to know about water painting. It starts with Guy Corriero's unique approach to recognizing how water moves and circulates through close observation and a bag of tricks that involve painting sea foam, knowing the anatomy of the wave, and using a particular kind of brush.

William Hays takes it from there and talks about how color contrasts are his key compositional tool for the reflection and refraction of light on different bodies of water--shallow pools, shorelines, and offshore depths. Plus there are three step-by-step water painting demonstrations that breakdown the essential elements of painting water. All in all, Paint the Flow and Movement of Water: Painting Techniques, Methods, and How to Paint Water with Power and Rhythm is one that I'll keep on hand all summer. Download your copy now! Enjoy!

Pen and Ink Drawing Techniques from Artist Daily: Drawing with Ink to Create Art with Strong Contrast and Surprising Subtlety

Courtney Jordan — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:01:34 GMT

In its most elementary form, a pen and ink drawing is stark black marks against a white surface. No dilution of color, no shades of gray. But artists who've spent time inking their way across a page know that drawing with ink can actually be an incredibly subtle and finessed endeavor if you use ink drawing techniques that allow for a slow build up of dark areas for value contrast, and if you are open to the idea of how to draw using line in varied ways.

In our latest free eBook, Pen and Ink Drawing Techniques from Artist Daily: Drawing with Ink to Create Art with Strong Contrast and Surprising Subtlety, you'll find the ink drawing practices of artists past and present that show you how these effects are achieved.

Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Artists

tiffwarble — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:20:48 GMT

How Much Do You Know About Copyright?

Artist Daily and the staff at Interweave have released a new free eBook Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Artists to help raise awareness of the issues surrounding copyright and give credit to the talented writers, designers, artists, photographers, and innovators who work with us to share their products and ideas with our readers.

This guide to the basics of copyright is for anyone and everyone: designers and makers, crafters, retailers, library staff, educators, and more.

"Most people think of pirated movies or music when they hear about copyright violations," says Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits magazine. "But we answer questions about copyright for crafters, artists, designers, and authors every day—copyright and other intellectual property issues are a big deal in the DIY marketplace, where the "I can do that!" spirit and respect for original, independent design and authorship need to coexist peacefully."

This free resource addresses topics such as:

What is copyright?
How does copyright work?
What is copyright infringement?
Plus other pressing topics from simple questions to more complex issues, such as:
- Can I resell a pattern/magazine/book/DVD I own? What about purchases of my digital downloads?
- Can I make and sell projects I found in a book or magazine?
- Where can I find more instructions for projects that I can make and sell?
- How can I tell if a work is in the public domain?
- Do I always retain copyright as the original author of a piece?
- What do I do if someone’s violating my copyright?
- And much more.

"Ultimately, copyright is about protecting the creative process, ensuring that the creator of a work can benefit from that work," adds Jang. "Our goal at Interweave is to educate our consumers about what copyright is, and why it matters—and to give authors, artists, and designers everywhere the tools they need to protect their own rights so they can continue to create new works and share them with the public."

Step by Step Painting Techniques: Learn to Paint with Free Painting Tips on Making Corrections, Paint Texture, and Painting Materials

Courtney Jordan — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:51:44 GMT

Our newest free eBook, Step-by-Step Painting Techniques: Learn to Paint with Free Painting Tips on Making Corrections, Paint Texture, and Painting Materials, is tailored to the fundamental aspects of painting with a capital 'T.'

In Step-by-Step Painting Techniques: Learn to Paint with Free Painting Tips on Making Corrections, Paint Texture, and Painting Materials, you'll find the same techniques you would learn in painting courses all across the country, but this time you don't have to go anywhere or pay a thing for them. So download Step-by-Step Painting Techniques now and enjoy!

Drawing Faces: Learn How to Draw a Face with Attitude, How to Draw Eyes with Impact and How to Draw Lips with Structure

Courtney Jordan — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:45:13 GMT

In this free eBook, you'll find an in-depth report from drawing expert Dan Gheno on how to draw dynamic heads, which includes everything from how to capture a likeness to drawing faces with differing attitudes to understanding the elements of head structure. And that's just the start. There's also a section on understanding the anatomy of the lips written by artist and instructor David Jon Kassan. And there's even a list of tips on how to draw eyes from Artist Daily editor Courtney Jordan.

Download Drawing Faces: Learn How to Draw a Face with Attitude, How to Draw Eyes with Impact and How to Draw Lips with Structure now and you'll have a companion guide for sketching faces that will give you solid art instruction and words of wisdom from two of the savviest artists in the biz.

Mixed Media Painting Techniques: Combine Media to Create Inspired Mixed Media Art

Courtney Jordan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:10:11 GMT

Our newest free eBook, Mixed Media Painting Techniques: Combine Media to Create Inspired Mixed Media Art profiles two artists who blur the edges between media to create some really standout work.

Janet Cook's paintings of New York City pulse with life and rhythm, partly due to the fact that she is able to mix the vibrant colors of pastel with the expressive fluidity of watermedia. It gives each of Cook's scenes a sense of drama that the artist really craves, and allows her to create detailed underpaintings that have a strong enough structure so that she can put a lot of gesture and movement into the final pastel layers.


	Steppin' Out on Broadway by Janet Cook, 2009, pastel over gouache and watercolor on paper, 27 x 20.

For Russell Irwin, painting is more like mosaic art, as he uses mixed media collage elements like torn paper in combination with acrylic paint to form a richly textured surface on his paintings. The artist acknowledges that this process forces him to approach his work as if it was abstract art, where the relationship between shape and color dominates.

11 Reasons for Drawing Models & Attending Life-Drawing Sessions from Artist Daily

Courtney Jordan — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:12:45 GMT

Life drawing is a consistently rewarding artistic experience because there's hardly a more inspiring—and challenging—exercise than drawing models.

There's just so much to take in! Every time a model makes a move, there's something to glean and work on—shadows and gesture to skin texture and how the limbs extend. Every life drawing pose reveals a whole new avenue of artistic pursuit.

If you are thinking the same thing and want to delve more into your own life drawings, 11 Reasons for Drawing Models & Attending Life-Drawing Sessions from Artist Daily is sure to spur you on. Author and artist Sharon Allicotti has a whole list of reasons why life drawings should be part of every artist's repertoire, and points out that drawing models isn't just for students. In fact, making life-drawing sketches a part of your career can result in better art for us all.

By taking life-drawing lessons, you are able to network with other artists, save substantial amounts of money on model fees, and most importantly improve your overall drawing skills of gauging proportion, assessing space more accurately, and understanding the landscape of the body.

"The body can be conceived as analogous with the manifold living and nonliving forms of the natural landscape: It's no coincidence that we speak of the trunks and limbs of trees, and find in hilly terrain the undulating forms of a reclining nude," says Allicotti.

This article contains artworks of nude figures. Parental discretion is advised.

Shading Techniques Beyond Cross-Hatching: Artist Daily Pencil Shading Tutorial on Modeling Gradations

Courtney Jordan — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:37:25 GMT

Using a pencil feels so simple, doesn't it? I mean, it's the first thing we learn to write with when we are kids, so what could be more familiar and comforting than that? But I've found again and again that using a pencil or graphite for certain types of shading can get pretty complicated. For example, with cross-hatching you don't need to be as particular about pressure and gesture, but it can be a real challenge when you go beyond that to subtler shading effects. I needed some help when it came to shading techniques that didn't appear heavy-handed or inconsistent, and that's where Shading Techniques Beyond Cross-Hatching: Artist Daily Pencil Shading Tutorial on Modeling Gradations comes in.

I had been missing a part of the puzzle until reading this eBook because I didn't realize that the best way to conquer gradation was to practice shading shapes like cylinders. Artist and instructor Jon deMartin points out that drawing convincing forms and figures means becoming a master of gradation. And you do that first by starting with a form that curves in one direction, like a cylinder. From there, you can go onto more complicated forms and the figure.

DeMartin discusses how to make smooth gradations, how surfaces relate to a light source, and how to breakdown an object or figure's planes in order to identify how to model it. What I found most interesting was learning that to really make a cylinder look round, I don't just smooth away edges, but instead truly gradate the values appearing on the form.

All that and more is in Shading Techniques Beyond Cross-Hatching: Artist Daily Pencil Shading Tutorial on Modeling Gradations. It is a crucial chapter in the book of drawing fundamentals, and it is one I know I'm going to revisit again and again. The information is too valuable not to. Download your copy of Shading Techniques Beyond Cross-Hatching: Artist Daily Pencil Shading Tutorial on Modeling Gradations now and rediscover the methods that separate good artwork from great. Enjoy!

And if you have anyone who might be interested in the drawing methods in Shading Techniques Beyond Cross-Hatching, feel free to send this link to them so they can learn pencil-shading tips, too. They are sure to thank you!