Make Faux Tuscan Tile

Make Faux Tuscan Tile

Imported Tuscan tiles add a special touch to any interior design project. Unfortunately, genuine hand-painted Italian tiles can be extremely expensive. One option is to paint your own faux Tuscan tiles. This decorative painting project is fairly simple for anyone with basic art skills. You can choose from one of many iconic Italian designs or create your own.

Instructions

1. Research examples of Italian ceramic tiles. Iconic Tuscan motifs include roosters, geometric patterns and fruit designs. Choose a color scheme. Most tiles have a white background. A traditional color combination is blue on white. Select a style or design your own. Practice your design with a paintbrush on paper so you can paint it quickly and fluently.

2. Tape off the area that you will be painting. Prime with a latex-based primer. Apply one or more coats of white latex-based paint in an eggshell finish to get a clean surface. Use a small foam roller for priming and base painting if the area is small, such as a back splash or edging.

3. Use a ruler and pencil to mark out the composition of your tile. Tiles can either be squares or rectangles. Make your pencil lines ¼-inch thick, as these will show through as faux grout lines.

4. Mix 1 part white base paint with 1 part gloss medium. Apply to surface with 2-inch brush. Soften brushstrokes with a clean bunch of rags. Allow glaze to dry completely.

5. Mix acrylic paint with gloss medium to paint on tile designs. Continue to add gloss medium until paint is fluid. Use long, thin sign-painting brushes to get sharp lines. Keep brushes in water between applications. Wash brushes with soap and water after use.

6. Seal and protect faux tiles with varnish. Use a gloss finish to imitate glazed tile and create a surface that will be easy to wipe clean.

Paint Portraits With Realism

Just about anyone, experienced or not, can learn paint a portrait with realism.

Portraits are an excellent way of flaunting your skill and talent as an artist. Painting accurate portraits may seem like an almost impossible task, but these tips show how just about anybody, experienced or not, can learn paint portraits with startling realism.

Instructions

1. Set up your projector so that your photo is projected onto a piece of tracing paper beside your canvas. It is best to work in front of a wall so that you can stick the tracing paper onto the wall, which makes it easy for you to keep referring back to whilst painting. Take the image out of focus so all you can distinguish on the tracing paper is basic shapes and large blocks of color. Bringing the image out of focus helps you see the shapes and tones of the portrait, and ensures that you are not overwhelmed or distracted by detail.

2. Spray the whole canvas with spray painting medium. This acts as a thin layer of lubricant for the layers that are painted on top. Using undiluted paint, brush in the main blocks of color, then soften the edges to imitate the out-of-focus blur of the projected image. Leave this to dry completely.

3. Bring the projected image on the tracing paper a little more into focus so definite shapes, such as the eyes, nose and mouth, are distinguishable yet still have soft edges. Again spray the canvas with spray painting medium, paint in what you see but soften the edges a little less than you did on the first layer of painting. Let it dry.

4. Focus the projector until the image is almost completely in focus but tiny details, such as wrinkles, are still slightly blurred. Spray a bit less spray painting medium onto your canvas and paint in what you can now see using a smaller paintbrush. Soften the occasional edge but keep most of the edges sharp.

5. Put your projected image into full focus and select a few areas that require a sharp detail. Take a small paintbrush and dip the tip of the bristles lightly in the paint, then stroke in the finest details such as highlights of the hair or reflections of light in the eyes.

Paint With Airbrushes

Practice using the airflow before adding paint to an airbrush.

Painting with airbrushes allows for the drawing of fine lines or the painting of large areas. Using a double-action function airbrush makes the paint transparent or opaque. With a good action airbrush, the power can be either gravity-fed or bottom-fed and the power source can either be a compressor or a CO2 tank. Set up your easel or tape your airbrush paper to a pad of newspaper and then lean it against a protected wall. It is easier to airbrush when your paper is upright or when it is leaning against something.

Instructions

Practice

1. Keep the airbrush hose out of the way by draping it over your forearm.

2. Hold the airbrush in a relaxed way with your index finger. Push down gently on the trigger to practice airbrushing. Always leave the airbrush on between strokes and when applying paint.

3. Practice regulating the flow of the air, which is regulated by the movement of the trigger. When the trigger is pulled back, air flows; the further back the trigger is pulled, the more air is released. Practice with the flow of the air by moving the trigger back and forth before adding paint if you are a beginner.

4. Add paint to the airbrush per the manufacturer's directions. Begin by practicing by drawing a thin, straight line. Avoid wet paint because it can ruin your line by dripping and do not pull the trigger far back. Practice airbrushing larger areas once you are satisfied with your line.

5. Practice airbrushing in a large area by verifying the color on the paper is all the same color. This is not as easy as it seems because if you add too much air, some areas may turn out darker and other areas may turn out lighter.

6. Create shadows by using black paint. Create light areas by using less paint. You can use less paint by adding water to dilute your paint. Add highlights by using white paint in addition to your paint.

Paint

7. Draw a circle on a fresh piece of paper and mask it off with masking film. This gives your picture sharp edges. Cut along the circle very carefully so you don't cut the paper. Remove the masking film from the circle.

8. Add paint to your airbrush per the manufacturer's directions. Follow the directions for filling in large areas by making sure the paint is applied evenly and the color is the same. It helps to airbrush over it a few times so it isn't too dark.

9. Add shadows and highlights to your circle by using black paint and white paint.

Paint Portraits Of Children From Photographs

A relaxed, natural pose is a good reference to work from.

Creating a portrait of a child takes talent and skill. Kids squirm a lot. That's why many portrait artists choose to work from photographs instead of from a live model. Even though you are using a photograph as a reference, it is still important to observe the child you are going to paint from life as much as possible because that will provide you with a visual memory you can use along with a reference photograph.

Instructions

1. Try to use a reference image that has light coming from either side or even above to provide your portrait with form.

Find at least one clear photograph to work with. Keep in mind that the more photographs you have of the same child, at about the same reference age, the better. Avoid photos that were taken with a flash, as flash photography flattens facial features and contours and washes out color from the child's face.

2. If you are working from a digital photograph you can enlarge the image on your computer screen as you work.

Either display your selected image on your computer screen next to your easel or print your image. The size of the head on your reference image should be at least as big as the size of an egg to provide you with detail as you create your portrait.

3. Use the best paint possible to create your portrait with so it will last for a long time without fading.

Create thumbnail sketches to help determine placement of the child on your canvas or paper. A small preliminary sketch can save time and troublesome mistakes later. Make an "X" from corner to corner on your thumbnail and place your subject's chin where the lines intersect for a classic portrait position.

4. Gather your paints. A basic palette for an oil portrait (that you can expand on later) comprises only four or five colors (plus white) that you mix to create many colors. Choose raw umber, cadmium red (or vermilion), yellow ochre, Indian red and ivory black. You can mix five values of each of these colors and some intermediary colors to have at your disposal as you paint.

5. Paint the area that will comprise the background a color that will set the mood for the portrait. Leave space for the head and shoulders.

6. Work to keep your brushstrokes soft in the initial stages of your portrait. Set the overall shape and form of the child's head by painting mass and values to reflect where shadows fall and where lighter areas appear.

7. Use at least five values to help model a likeness and solid form in your painting. These five values comprise the body tone (the part that is in the light), body shadow (the part that is away from the light), cast shadow (an area in shadow, like under the nose), reflections (a lighter value reflected into the shadow area) and highlights (the places where the light is the most intense). In your thumbnail sketches above, you can even number and label where these values will fall in general to provide you with a road map to painting your portrait.

8. Use brushstrokes with the sharpest edges on the areas where you want the most attention paid, like the eyes. For a painterly portrait, resist the temptation to fill in all the details, be selective and direct the viewer's eyes to the areas that are most meaningful to you.

Paint In The Style Of Monet

Impressionist paintings capture mood rather than offering snapshot views.

Claude Monet (1840-1926) broke away from traditional methods of oil painting that relied on preliminary sketches, the use of models and classical designs. Instead, he, along with many of his contemporaries, chose a different style that allowed for the replication of a moment in time. His aim was to capture the vitality of life. He emphasized movement, light and color. Leaving the studio, he painted in the open-air, setting up easels near his subjects. He used techniques for putting color to canvas that elicited impressions of color and form, rather than creating a formal, photographic rendition of a scene.

Instructions

1. Monet painted in the open air, as this artist is doing, to capture the moment.

Gather all your equipment into a carrying case along with several canvases and an easel. Include enough brushes, paint thinner, linseed oil, oil paints and rags or paper towels to get you through your session. Have all necessary equipment close at hand once you arrive at your destination to paint as Monet and his fellow artists did.

2. Look for views that inspire impressionism, like this view of the River Seine.

Choose an area to set up your easel. Monet and Renoir often painted together when using a common backdrop. A busy, local French restaurant inspired some of their first paintings. They painted the restaurant itself, the islet nearby, boats and weekend visitors. City parks near waterways, a verdantly landscaped shopping mall or a sculptural public fountain offer many possibilities for subject matter. Include the people that frequent these scenes and don't overlook your own or a friend's blooming, backyard garden. Monet painted quickly to capture color and form before the light or scene changed. He started anew when the scene changed enough to warrant beginning another painting. He was most interested in capturing the image with the lighting present at the time. He completed these paintings at his studio. Therefore, one outdoor foray offered several canvases to work on later.

3. Monet frequently rendered water lilies.

Use pigments similar to those Monet used -- titanium white, cadmium yellow light, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, alizarin crimson and vermilion. Viridian green and emerald green are handy to include but not necessary when first starting out. Monet used ivory black at one time but abandoned it in favor of mixing gray hues. The primary colors are red, blue and yellow. Use primary colors to create the secondary colors. Make purple by combining red and blue, orange with a combination of red and yellow and green by combining yellow and blue. Create shades of gray by mixing the secondary colors with white. Mix primary and secondary colors to create different hues. Yellow plus purple creates brown tones that are altered by adding more or less of its component colors.

4. Viewers are almost compelled to squint at the brightness of the sun conveyed in this impressionistic painting.

Employ the technique called "visual mixing" when you apply the paint. Monet mixed his colors using either a wet into wet technique or scumbling, which means applying wet color spots over dried layers. He also applied wet colors alongside or on top of one another thereby creating a third hue. Apply strokes of pure colors over masses of mixed colors to enrich the original color. Red and yellow, for example, make orange, so apply small strokes of red or yellow to enrich an area of orange. Some strokes are linear, some swirling and some dabbed on, but they do not overlap one another unnecessarily.

5. Purple and orange color variations changed this view to one of a Monet sunset.

Allow the paint to dry or become tacky, at least, between sessions. Scumbling cannot be accomplished when the paint layer is still wet. Monet applied paint working layer by layer over the course of weeks before completing a painting. Using oil colors makes for longer drying times. Acrylic paints dry within hours and can be employed using these techniques; Monet, however, did not have that option.

Make Large Encaustic Paintings

Encaustic painting is a technique that's been used since the 4th Century B.C. The Romans often used encaustic in wall paintings though any flat surface will do. Encaustic refers to mixing melted with color pigment to create a painting. The end result of this technique is a rich and glossy surface that is very durable.

Instructions

1. Select a separate saucepan or metal vessel for each color in the painting. Put enough wax in the saucepan to cover the panel size you have chosen a few times. The mixture should be a ratio of 95 percent beeswax and 5 percent canuba wax.

2. Melt the wax in each saucepan until it reaches a temperature of 160 to 220 degrees F. Keep the encaustic mixture on the heat source while you work on the painting.

3. Add oil paint to the melted wax, until you achieve your desired richness of color.

4. Use a spatula, palette knife or any tool that can hold the encaustic. Scoop the encaustic out of the pan and apply the color mixture to the panel.

5. Add layers of encaustic on top of each other to mix colors. Scrape back to bottom layers or simply draw with a knife or razor into hardened encaustic to create texture.

6. Apply heat over the surface of the encaustic painting with the heat gun to melt colors and textures together. This unifies the painting with a glossy surface.

7. Finish the painting by buffing it with a soft cloth after it has cooled. Bring the surface up to a high gloss periodically in this way.

Make A Stencil Template For Signs

Handmade stencil templates let you create custom-designed signs economically.

Stencil templates are reusable plastic sheets in which a design has been cut. The stencil is used to paint the design onto signs or other surfaces and can be used repeatedly on multiple pieces. Using a stencil template makes sign making much faster and exact than painting by hand.

Instructions

1. Lay the stencil's design pattern on the work surface and then place the clear acetate plastic sheet over it. Center the design as desired and tape in place at the corners.

2. Trace the design onto the plastic with the fine tip permanent marker. Allow areas to dry completely before touching to prevent smearing the marker.

3. Cut the pattern shapes out using the small-blade cutting knife; make sure to work slowly with a steady hand. This will ensure straight lines and prevent mistakes.

4. Remove the tape from the corners. Spray a layer of repositionable adhesive to the backside if desired or simply tape the stencil in place onto the signs for stenciling.

Paint A Fall Colors Scene

One of the greatest and most therapeutic hobbies you can take up is painting. Possibly due to the rich colors of the landscape, fall is a favorite found in many a museum. Learning to paint a fall color scene will give you an opportunity to see nature and perhaps yourself in a light you'll be thankful for later in life.

Instructions

1. Get an idea of what time of day you want to paint. You can choose from early dawns, late mornings, cloudy afternoons and glorious sunsets. Add weather if it fits the idea you want to convey.

2. Pick out a setting like a farm, country side or house. Look at other painters' portraits for inspiration to help you decide which you'd like to undertake.

3. Consider the effect of light on the site you've chosen. The sun will cast its changing shadow throughout the day. The imagery will somewhat change so you have to prepare for it.

4. Decide what it is you want the viewer to see in your painting. Take a 3x5 card with your central objective written on it and attach it to your canvas to keep you focused.

5. Plan the composition. You need to think about roads, fences and nature's own add-ins like tree lines and creeks. Think about color temperature, depth and individual separation like one tree from the next.

6. Enjoy the experience. Allow the time you spend with nature to become a marked memory in a day in your life.

Make 3d Images Of Clouds

Three-dimensional clouds painted against a sky-blue background are an elegant touch to any bedroom or high ceiling. The steps below are specific to decorating with cloud motifs. Painting clouds on canvas or wood may require a slight modification of drying times.

Instructions

1. Begin with a light-blue background wash on the walls. A sky blue is preferable but the actual tone of the blue is up to the individual. Regular wall paint is best but acrylic can substitute for smaller areas.

2. Use a flat end stencil brush with a small amount of white paint to create the first layer. By dabbing the brush straight against the wall in short burst, you can create a haze of white over the blue. Try to vary the intensity of the white paint by mixing dense and sparse coverage across the surface being sure to leave some areas completely blue for as more realistic look.

3. Allow the first layer of white paint to dry before applying a second layer. This time use your stencil brush more sparingly, picking a select few areas to create more distinct cloud shapes. Be sure to hold the brush straight against the wall to avoid unlikely swish or swirls from an over relaxed paintbrush.

4. Create a stormy look to clouds by adding a small amount of gray acrylic paint to the bottom edge of a few clouds to give depth and shadow. Take care not to overuse the gray and ruin the effect. If storm clouds are not desired, skip this step and go on to Step 5.

5. Add a final layer of white paint to the free form clouds being sure to leave a few in the Step 3 shading stage to create diversity. The final look should consist of at least three layers of white. Create clouds that look fragile by shifting the form slightly with each layer.

6. Let the paint dry completely before adding any additional effects such as birds or hot air balloons to your completed cloudy sky.

Make Tile Murals

Funky tile murals add an intriguing touch to any surface, from a bathroom floor to an outdoor wall. Once you get started on a mural project, you'll start to see inspirations for materials in everything from marbles to mirror tiles. Whether you're making a small decorative table or a giant sculpture, the basic process is the same.

Instructions

1. Use cement board as the backing for your tile mural. It can be tempting to use other surfaces for convenience or cost reasons, but wood and other materials warp too easily to stand up to the mural process. Most craft stores offer a broad selection of tiles for murals. Choose smooth, glossy tiles; they will make the grouting step much easier.

2. Draw a simple design for your tile mural on the board. This is an especially important step if it will include recognizable images.

3. With this outline as a guide, begin to glue pieces of tile to the board using tile adhesive. Leave about 1/4 inch of space between all tiles. Use different colors of tile to make an eye-catching design. For example, if your image is a tree, use only green tile inside the tree shape, and other colors outside the outline. Wait for the adhesive to dry thoroughly.

4. Apply grout between the tiles. Be generous with the grout, since you'll be wiping some of it off later. You want to make sure the gaps are filled completely.

5. Immediately wipe the surface of the tile mosaic with a dry sponge to remove some of the extra grout and smooth the surface.

6. Continue wiping the surface with a damp sponge, rinsing to remove extra grout from the sponge whenever necessary. Wipe until the tiles are all clean and the grout is relatively smooth.

Paint Watercolors

Watercolors are an easy way to get into painting.

Watercolor painting is a great way for amateur artists to get started in the world of painting. You don't need an excessive amount of equipment and watercolor paints are generally a lot less expensive than oils. The process of making a watercolor painting can also be relatively quick, which is part of the appeal for new artists who want to see results quickly. While painting with watercolors is relatively easy, there are some guidelines to keep in mind that will help your artwork come to life.

Instructions

1. Make a few test paintings before getting to work on something more substantial. Watercolor paint is very finicky and it takes a while to figure out get your desired color intensity. Practice holding the brush in different ways and manipulating it to get different brush strokes. When you think you have the hang of it you may want to try your first official painting.

2. Dip your brush in the water, rub it into the paint and begin painting. The more water you add to the paint, the less intense the color will be. Blend colors on your palette to create new colors. It is best to blend colors while they are still wet. Don't forget that extra water will create even more varieties of color.

3. Roughly sketch out your picture with your paints. Use a light touch in case you want to change things a little bit. It is best to pre-plan your painting before putting your brush to the paper. You might want to sketch your scene or subject on paper beforehand as a reference.

4. Start filling your paper or board with a wash of color. You might want to tilt your board or paper when doing this, but do not tilt it too much or your wash will be streaked. If you want a layered look, let your initial wash dry and then wash over it with a second color.

5. Go over the figures in your painting with bolder brush strokes so they stand out over the wash. Paint the lightest elements first and then add in darker colors later. This is the opposite approach to that which is used in oil or acrylic painting. Add small brushstroke details as a final touch then let your painting dry.

Paint Wall Borders

Two-tone walls can change up the look of your room. You can create sophistication or whimsy, or make the room look cozier or more expansive. The most common border between two colors is a horizontal line. If the line is low on the wall, it provides the classic look of wainscoting; if it's higher, it brings the eye up. Establishing the border between your two paint colors requires some detailed work, but if you follow some tips, you can get a professional-looking finish.

Instructions

1. Mark the line where your two colors of paint will meet. Measure up from the floor or down from the ceiling, depending on the look you want. Make a pencil mark at this measurement, about every three feet across the wall.

2. Hold your 4-foot carpenter's level horizontally against the wall where you made the pencil marks. Check the bubbles in the level to make sure it is sitting perfectly horizontal. Draw a light pencil line along your level. If some of your original pencil marks are higher or lower than the line, it's because your floor or ceiling isn't level.

3. Apply your low-adhesive painter's tape just below the pencil line you drew. Press the tape firmly along the line so no paint will seep underneath.

4. Paint the wall above the line of tape, using a brush in the corners and around the trim, and a roller on the main portion of the wall. As you paint along the taped edge, be sure to get very little paint on the tape. This will prevent the paint from chipping when you remove the tape later.

5. Let the paint dry for 48 hours. Remove the tape by pulling down gently and slowly. Apply a new line of painter's tape on top of your newly painted area. Place the bottom edge of the tape on the bottom edge of your painted area.

6. Paint the bottom portion of the wall with your second color in the same way. Let the paint dry for 48 hours, then carefully remove the tape as you did before.

Play Clawhammer Style Banjo

Clawhammer is one of the oldest of the banjo playing techniques, as well as one of the easiest techniques for the beginning banjo player to learn. The term clawhammer is used because it accurately describes the clawhammer shape a player uses to play the banjo using this technique. Clawhammer banjo is a versatile playing technique you'll be able to use for whatever style of banjo playing you enjoy.

Instructions

1. Sit comfortably and hold your picking hand in front of your banjo. Form a backward C with your thumb and index or ring finger. Either finger will work. Some players use both. The shape of your hand vaguely resembles the head of a clawhammer. Rest your thumb against the lowest string of your banjo.

2. Pluck the first, second, third or fourth strings of your banjo with your index or ring finger. In some cases, you may find it easier to play the first (highest) string with your index fingers and the second, third and fourth strings with your ring finger. Play the melody line on these strings. Play each string by flicking your finger forward and striking the string with the nail of your finger.

3. Pluck the lowest string on your banjo (fourth or fifth, depending on the banjo you use) in between the notes you play on the higher strings. Rest your thumb against the lowest string of your banjo or hover just above the lowest string with your thumb. Play the string by moving your thumb in a downward motion to sound the note. Alternate between the melody notes on the other strings and a bass line on the lowest string to play in the clawhammer style.

Get Your Young Dancer Signed

Getting a young dancer signed requires a combination of talent and perserverence.

Many young dancers dream of getting a contract to work in a professional dance company or to be a for-hire dancer. A small percentage of aspiring dancers are able to make a living as a professional, and many others work on the side as a dance teacher. Even though the world of professional dance is a very competitive one, there are certain career trajectories that many dancers follow to get signed.

Instructions

1. Decide what kind of dance your dancer would like to pursue. Think about what career path the dancer is interested in outside of mere genres. Concert dancers that work within a company generally do not necessarily need agents and can get hired through recommendation and audition. Commercial work, such as film, television and music videos will likely require the assistance of an agent.

2. Have your young dancer take many classes at a local dance company. This has dual importance for a dancer; not only will the dancer build the skills necessary to work on a professional level but she will also be around professionals in the dance world who can make recommendations to dance agencies, directors and choreographers.

3. Sign your dancer up for cattle-call auditions. These are general-entry auditions for shows where dancers without agents can get an audition spot. Even if these early auditions do not result in a gig, it will give your dancer valuable experience in the dance audition process. Be aware that cattle-call auditions often have hundreds of participants and can be an all-day affair.

4. Audition for dance companies or dance agencies. Search a directory to find a legitimate dance agency in your area. Some agencies have open auditions a few times a year, while some require recommendations. This is where connections through dance lessons will pay off.

5. Consider moving to New York or Los Angeles. Although many other cities have agencies and companies, these two cities are the dance hubs in America and will greatly increase your dancer's chance of getting signed.

Paint Using Watercolor Pencils

Paint using watercolor pencils for a new technique.

Combine the art of colored pencils and watercolor painting into one art form with special watercolor pencils. When you create your masterpiece first with watercolor pencils, you can apply the colors with just the right blending and color gradations. After you finish applying the colored pencils, move onto the painting stage of the creative process or leave your drawing alone with only the color from the pencils. If you add water, you can flawlessly blend and create watercolor effects on your drawing.

Instructions

1. Create your drawing with the watercolor pencils. Draw the foundation of the picture and then begin to add in the colors. Add the lightest colors first and change gradually to the darker colors for best blending. Continue working until you add color to all of the areas of your picture. If you make mistakes with the watercolor pencils, erase them with the art eraser.

2. Fill the small dish with water and place paper towels nearby to blot your paintbrush.

3. Dip the paintbrush into the water and blot it onto the paper towel to remove the excess water.

4. Apply the moist paintbrush to the areas you filled in with watercolor pencils. The dryer the brush, the brighter the colors will remain. If the brush is wetter, the colors will become more muted and blended.

5. Work slowly. Do not to apply too much water to the paper because you may cause the separate areas of color to all blend together if the paper becomes too wet.

6. Place the paper aside and allow it to dry completely before you display the picture.

Paint Underwater Ocean Scenes

An underwater scene can include as much depth, detail, and color as you like

Whether you're painting a mural, a child's bedroom, or on a canvas, use the same basic steps to paint underwater ocean scenes. For inspiration before you paint, look over a few photographs of underwater landscapes and fish to get an idea of what type of scene you want to paint. Gather your supplies before you begin and go as quickly as you would like---to finish in under an hour, or allowing for more than one session to finish it.

Instructions

1. Sketch out a quick drawing on a sheet of paper to create a blueprint of how you want your scene to look. While this drawing will not be as detailed as your painting, you can include basic items such as large rocks, fish, or coral so you can make sure your picture looks balanced on the page without every item crowding to the same side.

2. Determine the background color of your scene, which can be a light or dark blue, or even shades of green. The closer you want your scene is to the surface of the ocean, the lighter your background color; deeper ocean scenes are a deeper blue.

3. Paint the entire surface of your canvas or wall with your background color by starting with a light shade of your background at the top. As you work your way down toward the bottom of the canvas, add in more of your blue and/or green base to subtly darken the shade.

4. Allow the background to dry thoroughly. Make very light markings with your pencil on the painting, outlining background items such as cliffs, coral reefs, large boulders, or shipwrecks.

5. Paint in your background items as detailed or plain as you want them to appear. As you paint, remember the light source for your work is coming from above, so darker shades should be used along the bottom half and base of your landscape.

6. Let the background items dry before tracing light marks for your more prominent items, such as fish, dolphins, starfish, or seaweed. Paint these foreground items over your background where needed, keeping the shading of darker colors toward the bottom of the objects you paint.

7. Finish your painting by adding any further details, such as fish scales, gills, wood grains on ships, or texture of coral to the images you have created. Often, stepping away from the painting and looking at it from about 10 feet away will help you see where your painting may look sparse or need more detail.

Paint Trompel'Oeil

Trompe-l'oeil--"trick the eye"--is an art genre that extends back to the Greeks. Its original function was as an architectural tool, a means of using a mural to make a simple flat surface into something more expansive. It has evolved into one of the most engaging kinds of art used by surrealists, sidewalk artists, and wallpaper designers.

Instructions

1. Begin working on your sketching and painting skills at a young age. Trompe-l'oeil requires a great degree of technical drafting skill. In particular, study perspective and the art of three-dimensional renderings.

2. When you are ready to attack the genre, familiarize yourself with the history of trompe-l'oeil. Study the works of contemporary artists.

3. Continue to hone your skills. Attend one of the art academies that specifically feature trompe-l'oeil.

4. Add murals to your paintings. Murals are a very commercial form of trompe-l'oeil, and until you develop a reputation as a gallery artist, they can be a way of keeping the lights on.

5. Study the works of the some the more successful sidewalk artists. Their works have become Internet events and helped quickly create a widespread reputation.

6. Explore the possibility of creating patterns for trompe-l'oeil wallpaper. It has become a popular decorating device.

7. Visit the National Gallery of Art and tour its works of trompe-l'oeil. Decide where your masterpiece will best fit.

Paint Tribal Flames

You may not be dancing and singing "Greased Lightnin" atop your flamed car like John Travolta, but custom painted tribal flame graphics add character and attitude to your vehicle. Using painted graphics rather than decals, which are commercially designed by someone else, gives you the opportunity to create your own unique artwork.

Instructions

1. Clean the surface of your vehicle to ensure proper adhesion of the paint. Wash the automobile with car wash soap and water. Once dry, wipe the car down with an automotive wax and grease remover.

2. Wet-sand the areas to be painted with 600-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Start by soaking the sand paper in a bucket of water --- 3 to 5 drops of dish washing soap added. Place the sandpaper on a sanding block or an electric sander.

3. Wipe the car with an automotive pre-paint cleaner. This will mildly etch the surface, as well as remove all sanding residue.

4. Cover all areas not to be painted, such as the windows, wheels and grill with masking paper and tape. Cover the areas to be painted with self-adhesive masking film.

5. Reference images of flames online, at AutoGraphicDecals.com and SignSpecialist.com. Or in a hot rod magazines such as Truckin' Magazine.

6. Draw your flame design onto the masking film using a permanent marker.

7. Trace around the flame shapes with a craft knife.

8. Peel away the flame shapes, leaving the space around the flames still masked.

9. Paint the flame areas with automotive primer, using a paint sprayer. Apply three coats of primer. Allow the final coat of primer to completely dry. Primer should be dry within 45 minutes.

10. Use a paint sprayer to paint the flames. For gradations of more than one color, apply the light color, then add darker colors. Overlap and feather the edges to create smooth transitions. Feather an edge by spraying light, wispy sprays of one color where it overlaps the previous color. This will make some of the lighter color show through the darker color, creating a gradual, rather than abrupt, change from one color to the next.

11. Remove the rest of the self-adhesive masking paper before the paint dries, otherwise the masking paper can lift the paint with it. You can check dryness by touching paint on the masking paper (so you do not get fingerprints on the car). Remove masking paper when the paint feels slightly tacky.

12. Create a graphic outline around the flames with black, or with a color that goes well with the flame color. Carefully hand-paint the graphic outlines using a thin, round paintbrush, such as a size 2 or 4 brush. Allow the paint job to dry for 24 hours.

13. Spray the automobile with 3 coats of automotive clear coat to bring back the luster and shine. Spray the clear coat consistently over the flame areas and outside the flame areas. Allow the clear coat to dry according to the dry time on the can.

14. Remove the masking from unpainted areas.

15. Buff the car with a soft cloth and automotive wax for a final, protective coating.

Paint Travertine Tiles On Your Floor

Travertine is closely related to marble and limestone.

Travertine tile is a type of stone that is basically a step between limestone and marble; it is formed when rock undergoes more pressure than limestone but less pressure than marble. Travertine's coloring leads to nicknames such as Mexican onyx or onyx marble. The stone is hard but porous, and if unsealed it will easily attract stains. If you want to change the look of your travertine floor or cover up old stains, painting over the tiles will help.

Instructions

1. Remove all furniture from the floor. Ventilate the room by opening windows or running exhaust fans. Paint produces strong fumes that can be harmful if inhaled for too long.

2. Wipe down your travertine tiles with a rag dampened in mineral spirits. This will eliminate all dirt and dust, and will also cut through any grease, wax or oil buildup on the floor. These buildups can occur as a result of cooking or eating in the same room as the floor.

3. Rinse the surface with a rag dampened in clean water. Allow the travertine to dry.

4. Start in the far corner of the room from the entrance so that you cannot paint yourself into a corner. Block off any other entrances to room so that no one walks on the wet paint.

5. Prime the travertine tiles with a base coat of latex or shellac paint. Choose a color that matches or is close to the color you want for your top coat, so that it will not show through. Use a foam roller to spread a thin layer of the paint over the surface, applying an even coat with no roller marks. The roller marks will show through your final coat, so work slowly and methodically to ensure the best look. Prime the entire floor and allow the primer to dry.

6. Top the primer with an oil-based paint or glaze, depending on the look you want. Glaze will give the travertine a shinier finish. Use the same method that you used with the base coat to achieve a smooth, even layer with no roller marks. Paint on a thin layer only; multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat. Allow the first coat to dry.

7. Inspect the surface for gaps, marks and overall appearance. Apply touch-ups as necessary, or apply a full second coat if required by your chosen paint product or to achieve a darker color. When you have applied all coats, allow the final coat to dry for 24 hours before allowing foot traffic and returning the furniture.

Paint Travertine Tile

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Travertine, a type of limestone, forms through crystallization after water seeps through and dissolves portions of highly porous calcium carbonate containing stone. As a result of the stone's porous composition, not only does the stone experience damage, but fading, wearing and cracking of any painted areas can and often does occur, as well. By painting and sealing travertine tile, it will be easier to maintain for years to come.

Instructions

1. Buy travertine in the cut, size and color of your choice. Select matching glossy or flat paints. Keep in mind that the paints should have a low water content (no watercolor paints) as water can dissolve travertine surfaces.

2. Decide on whether you will paint directly on the travertine surface or fill and/or seal the stone first, paint and then reseal. Given travertine's porosity, polishing and sealing the stone prior to painting can reduce the amount of paint needed and provide a more even and flat surface on which to paint.

3. Polish and completely seal the tile. Paint on its surface as you would on any flat polished surface and reseal with one to two coats of sealant after the paint has dried. Make sure to fill any holes with resin or sealant before painting so the holes do not collect moisture from the air resulting in larger holes or cracks.

4. Apply a first coat of background paint, if not using sealant, directly on the surface of the travertine tile. If you have decided the travertine will act as a backdrop for your painting, use a simple design you can repaint easily after the first coat has dried as the travertine will "soak up" the first coat of paint and cause the painted area to appear faded or dull.

5. Seal between coats of "wet looking, but dry to the touch" paint, when working with more complex or detailed paintings, to reduce fading and create a uniform surface on which to paint. Keep in mind that although travertine's porous nature often results in fades, wearing and cracking, travertine porosity benefits those trying to create certain forms of art (cracked oil painting illusions, faux aging or antiqued paintings). For these forms do not fill or seal the travertine at all or until you have finished painting.

6. Add one final coat of sealant to the painted travertine tile when finished handpainting the tile.

7. Rub on pre-made stencils, if all else fails, instead of hand painting your travertine tile. Pre-made rub-on stencils allow you to create the illusion of a handpainted surface without the time and expense of hand painting. Once you have rubbed on the stencil, fill and then seal the surface with two to three coats of sealant.

Paint Travertine

Travertine tile, a kind of limestone composite, has a porous, powdery texture.

Travertine is a type of limestone that home decorators and artists use for decoration and works of art. Travertine stone tiles are extremely porous -- full of small, spongelike holes -- but are also dense and durable. Raw, untreated travertine looks porous and dusty, but painted or treated Travertine can appear smooth and glossy. When choosing to paint Travertine tile, make sure to prepare the tiles before applying the first layers of primer and paint.

Instructions

1. Clean the tile and grout. Use a soft-bristle scrub brush or paintbrush to dust the tiles. Brush away any stone dust so the paint will be able to stick.

2. Select glossy or matte paints. At a paint or hobby store, ask for paints that have a low water content: Travertine tile's porous surface will not react well to watery paints.

3. Polish the tile. Apply a coat of a polish to the tile's surface until it gets a glossy look. Wait for the polish to dry.

4. Seal the tile. Seal with one to two coats of sealant after the polish dries. Fill any holes with the sealant. Wait for the sealant to dry, up to 24 hours, but usually less.

5. Coat on one layer of white, latex base paint. Apply the paint evenly using a wide or soft-bristle brush. Wait until the coat completely dries. The Travertine's spongelike material will absorb the first layer of paint, like a fresco painting.

6. Apply a first layer of glossy or matte paint. Add one thick layer. Aim not to make any brush strokes but to spread the paint evenly. If you are working on a big patch of tiles -- not a backsplash, for instance -- use a roller brush with an extended handle for fluid application.

7. Paint on more details. Use detailed or large brushes. Create a floral pattern, stenciled shapes or mural images -- whatever you wish to make a gorgeous painted tile design.

8. Add two or three more sealant layers after you have finished painting and/or stenciling. Apply the gloss over the paint to lock in your work and protect the tile's surface.

Paint With Acrylics

Acrylic paints are a versatile and fast-drying medium. Many effects can be achieved by painting with acrylics. They can be purchased for a low price and are good, especially for beginners.

Instructions

1. Choose a surface on which to apply the paint. With acrylic paints, this can be about anything. Paper and canvases are commonly used. So are cardboard, wood and pottery. With acrylics, the possibilities are endless.

2. Decide whether to use the paint as transparent or opaque. Acrylics have the ability to be either. Transparent mediums allow the light to shine through the color and bounce off the surface underneath for highlights. Opaque finishes completely cover the surface, whether it is paper or canvas.

3. Mix the paint from the tube with water. Acrylics are water soluble and can move more easily when wet. Add just a little water to move the color more easily, but add a lot to use the acrylics like watercolor. Watercolors are transparent and allow highlights from the light background. When used like this, acrylics allow the colors to be layered upon each other for blending. Add a lot of water to use acrylics as a glaze.

4. Use the paint thick and straight out of the tube to recreate the look of an oil painting. Acrylics dry much faster and are much cheaper than oil paints, but can achieve much of the same effects.

5. Work very quickly to blend, since acrylics dry at a rapid pace. Work time can be extended by mixing the paint with a slow-dry medium. These are found at art supplies stores with the acrylic paint in tubes just like the paint. Using the medium won't thin the paint at all, like water does. Water also increases work time. If working on paper, wet the paper to also increase drying time.

Paint The Solar System On A Ceiling

Do you have a future astronomer in your family? Paint a ceiling that will inspire him or her to reach for the stars!

Instructions

1. Remove or cover furniture and put down a drop cloth.

2. Paint the ceiling dark blue and let it dry. See "Paint a Ceiling" for directions.

3. Use light-colored pencil or chalk to draw a large circle at the center of the ceiling to represent the sun. If you have a light fixture in the center of the ceiling, it can represent the sun.

4. Use solar system bulletin board pieces as templates for tracing the planets onto the ceiling.

5. Start at the center of the ceiling close to the sun and trace Mercury. Continue out from the center, tracing each planet and finishing with Pluto, the planet farthest from the sun.

6. Use the bulletin board pieces as guides for selecting acrylic paint colors for each planet.

7. Pour each color into a plastic container.

8. Paint each planet and the sun, using the appropriate bulletin board piece as a guide.

9. Use a flat sponge brush to paint in large areas of color.

10. Add details with a round craft brush.

Paint The Sky With Watercolors

Paint a sky with watercolors by using a common technique known as flat wash. This technique works well for large areas that need layering, like going from dark to light. The wet-in-wet technique means applying a colored-wash over a water surface. To remove colors, the lifting off technique creates lighter effects by using a dry brush, sponge or paper tissue to remove excess color. Painting a sky uses these techniques.

Instructions

Paint a Graded Sky

1. Paint a horizontal line to divide the sky from the land. Use one color or mix two colors together for your one color. Use watercolor paper with weight at least #140.

2. Wet the sky area with water. Use a 1 inch flat brush or round No. 10 or 12.

3. Take blue and begin at the top by painting a dark horizontal stroke across the sky. Add up to four more rows to bring the sky downward for a darker effect. Let the blue drip downwards for a graded color wash if you prefer.

4. Cover the remaining sky with a lighter color. Simply dilute the horizontal strokes with more water, less watercolor. Blend the sky colors to the horizon, dark to light.

5. Use water only to brush along the bottom edge of the last horizontal skyline. This blending effect creates contrasts between colors.

Paint a Variegated Sky

6. Choose two or more colors. Blue, yellow and red work well but you select whatever color is needed.

7. Dampen the paper with water only.

8. Paint several horizontal strokes across the paper with mixed blue and red. Bring this part of the sky as low as you want. Remember blue and yellow together produces green.

9. Spread your yellow watercolor into the lower section of the first color blue/red and let it flow downward. Add several horizontal layers moving downward for the next color.

10. Add red into the lower yellow area and bring it to the horizon. Use more water to lighten the red.

11. Correct any straight lines by bleeding the colors into each new horizontal line.

Paint a Wet-in-Wet Sky

12. Choose the sky color or colors. This watercolor technique creates more movement in the sky.

13. Use plain water to brush the entire sky area.

14. Place the colors you want onto the wet areas.

15. Hold the paper up to let the colors run and mingle together.

16. Lay the paper flat to dry after finishing the desired effects.

Paint The Sea

Paint the Sea

The sea may be one of the most difficult subjects to paint. It is ever-changing and moving and is composed of numerous colors. You can paint the sea while sitting on a beach or a deck looking at it, or you can paint from photographs. You can use any type of paint medium and technique, since the sea has been painted in every artistic genre and category possible.

Instructions

1. Decide what form you want to paint the ocean in. Large waves or small waves? An overcast day or a sunny day? Calm seas or rough seas? It is important to study the water before you begin to paint, as you will most likely be using numerous color shades and will want to study the different depths of color, from the foam on the waves to the horizon line. It may help to lightly pencil in what you are planning to draw.

2. Decide what medium you want to use, whether it is oil paints, watercolors or acrylics. For the ocean, watercolors or oils are great because they provide the ability to layer and blend together. Lay out the colors you may need, including dark blue, minty green, turquoise, gold, orange, violet, red, silver, dark green, brown and black.

3. Complete a solid backdrop for your sea painting. This may be clouds, sky, ships, a forest or birds. Since the ocean has so much texture, it may be best for your backdrop to be flat. You can depict a sunrise or sunset, or a perfectly blue sky with minimal colors. Keep in mind that different weather elements affect the ocean's color.

4. Paint the sea by layering the darker colors first. Make sure to not neglect the light, by adding silver, white gold and light green to the tips of the waves or an angle on the water's surface. The base of a wave is darker, while the top is lighter. Select a certain direction for the wave movement, and stick with it. Paint the water at an angle to show movement, or facing you to show more color depth.

5. Look over your painting regularly by stepping back and picking out what needs to be improved. Regular editing and critiquing is an important aspect of painting.

Make Large Abstract Paintings

Making a large abstract painting is a great way for a beginning painter to become familiar with acrylic paints. This is a fun art project that will look great on the wall when it's finished. Creating an abstract painting takes little skill and talent, a few supplies and some attention to detail.

Instructions

1. Choose three colors to use in your painting. Use any colors you prefer, but keep in mind that the painting will be most striking when you use contrasting colors. Some good contrasting combinations are red, black and white; red, blue and yellow; or orange, purple and green.

2. Begin with the base color for your painting. Squeeze paint from the first tube all over the plywood in nickel to quarter-sized globs.

3. Squeegee the globs of paint in quick and flowing gestures. Sweep the paint in different directions until most of the plywood is covered. Create a nice effect by leaving small amounts of birchwood showing through or leaving the edges natural.

4. Add globs of paint from the tube of the second color. Make these globs fewer and farther between. Squeegee this second color of paint with only one or two sweeps per glob. Do not cover a lot of the first color.

5. Apply the third color of paint in the same manner as Step Four. Create texture and visual interest by leaving the paint coagulated in some areas and wiping it nearly off in other areas.

6. Create even move texture by using a variety of things while the paint is still wet. Use your fingers, a card, a fork or anything you think will look interesting.

Paint Synthetic Rifle Stocks

Synthetic stocks are very popular among modern rifles because of their durability and affordability. Unfortunately, they're not as attractive as traditional wooden stocks. However you can easily customize your rifle stock by painting it to your liking. Epoxy-based primers and paints are particularly well suited for synthetic stocks. Before preparing your rifle for painting, verify that your rifle is unloaded. Additionally, remember to wear eye protection and a respirator while painting your rifle stock.

Instructions

1. Separate the synthetic stock from the rifle. Since the process may vary slightly by manufacturer, consult your operator's manual for dis-assembly instructions. If possible remove the stock's butt plate.

2. Use 180-grit sandpaper and sand down the stock surface by hand. Many synthetic stocks have parting lines running down the length of the stock, sand them down until they are flush with the surface. When preparing your stock do not use a mechanical sander since you can easily damage your stock.

3. Apply masking tape to the interior bedding of the stock and over the butt plate (if attached). Use a razor blade to carefully trim the tape to contour with the exposed surface of the stock.

4. Spray an even, thin coat of epoxy-based primer onto the stock and let the primer dry. Repeat the process until you have applied three coats. Let dry for 24 hours.

5. Remove and replace the masking tape over the interior of the stock and butt plate.

6. Spray the stock with an even coat of epoxy-based paint. Let dry and apply a second coat. Allow an additional 24 hours for drying.

7. Evenly spray the stock with automotive clear-coat. Allow the stock to dry for a few days.

8. Remove the masking tape and reassemble the rifle.

Paint Studio Furniture

White latex paint studio furniture.

Studio furniture is sleek-looking furniture that is meant for a small section within an apartment. Modern furniture and even antique furniture is considered studio furniture when used in a way that accentuates the small area in which it is placed. Studio furniture that needs to be painted or repainted to give an updated look can accentuate a studio apartment or small space both artfully and economically. Painting studio furniture in choice colors eliminates the need to buy new furniture down the road.

Instructions

1. Examine the surface of the studio furniture. Determine whether the furniture is bare wood that is varnished, or covered in paint. Put on protective gloves and a dust mask. Place old newspaper on the floor around the furniture. Open up windows to properly ventilate. Seal off air conditioning ducts, so no wood dust gets into the filter.

2. Sand furniture with 150- to 320-grit sandpaper, depending on the condition of the wood. Use 150-grit sandpaper and lightly sand bare wood coated in clear gloss varnish. If furniture is already coated in paint, use 320-grit or an electric sander to remove the paint from the surface. Sand in the direction of the grain, in even strokes. Remove wood dust with a tack cloth, or clean paint brush.

3. Prime furniture with primer and a clean paint brush. Apply one coat of primer. Make sure to cover the entire surface. Use a clean paint brush and apply two coats of latex paint in semi-gloss or flat finish, depending on the look you want. Semi-gloss will have a slight shine, and flat will dry in a matte finish. Apply the paint in light coats, so that it dries evenly. Let the first coat dry, and apply a second coat.

4. Visit a local hardware store in your area to inquire about paint for the distinct type of studio furniture you have, if the furniture is not wood. Use an enamel or oil-based paint on surfaces other than wood.

5. Make sure the surface is lightly sanded with 150-grit sandpaper so the primer will properly adhere to the surface. Ask a professional at the paint center within the hardware store what to use for metal or resin furniture. The surface on this type of furniture is generally not sanded, and will need different type of paint other than a wood or veneer furniture paint.

6. Coat furniture with a water-based polyurethane finish. Take a clean paint brush, and dip it into the finish. Apply evenly and quickly in one thin coat over the furniture surface. Let it dry and apply second coat.

Learn Spoken Tamil Through English

Tamil is spoken in southern India

About 52 million people worldwide speak the Tamil language. Tamil is the primary language of Tamil Nadu, a state in the nation of India. Tamil is based in phonics when written and read aloud, so learning to speak Tamil through English first will help you to learn read and write it later on. Learn to speak some basic Tamil from English online at first, for free; then consider investing in Tamil language books, discs and tutorials later on -- it's a challenging language to learn, but the process is interesting and rewarding.

Instructions

Learning

1. Copy and paste these basic Tamil words on a Notepad document, the way that they appear below:

Tamil Nadu = (The Tamil country language)

Yes = Amma

No = Illai

Hello = VaNakkam (vanakkum)

See you later = Paakalaam (puckahllum)

Thank you = Nandri (nandree)

Water = Thanni

Food = Saapadu

Time = maNi

Today = Innaikku

Tomorrow = Naalaikku

Yesterday = Nethu

Every day = Dinamum (sounds like: dinamoom or dinnum)

Sun = Sooriyan

Moon = Nila

What = Yennu

Two = Rendu

Twenty = Irvadhu

2. Listen to the various words spoken by native Tamil speakers by visiting the links provided in the references section. While you are listening to the spoken language, try to identify the Tamil words from the list on your Notepad document.

3. Make mental note of the tone and rhythm of the speech in the recordings. Spoken Tamil sounds somewhat like verbal music. Try to recognize various components of the Tamil language by the sound of Tamil spoken by native speakers. Let your ears get comfortable with listening to spoken Tamil by recognizing various mixtures of other languages within the Tamil language, such as hints of French, Arabic, and Khoisan. If you have some experience speaking foreign languages, you have an advantage to correctly pronounce some Tamil words and phrases.

4. Listen to the video and spoken Tamil-to-English conversations again. Repeat the spoken Tamil words out loud as closely as possible to the way the native Tamil speaker is pronouncing the words. Make notes on the Notepad document as to how the spoken Tamil words sound to you, in English. This will help you to remember pronounce the Tamil words. (Don't be concerned with spelling at this time.) Use mental tricks to associate the Tamil words with English words or phrases. For example, the Tamil word "MaNi" means "time." The word "MaNi" sounds almost like the word "money" in English. This reference to the phrase "Money is time" or "Time is money" is a mental trick that can help you remember that Tamil word later on.

5. Study how sentences are formed and where words are used. When learning time and number systems in Tamil, you may notice a similarity to how time and numbers are spoken or thought of in other languages, such as German. They are not spoken or thought of in the same order that English number systems are. In English, when we want to say the number "twenty-two," first "twenty" is designated, then "two." In Tamil, it is the other way around. "Rendu Iruvadhu" means, literally translated, "two twenty," or "two plus twenty." This is also how Tamil phrases are basically formed. In order to ask the question, "What's the time?" in Tamil, you would put the word for "what" first: "Yennu" and then the word for "time" after that, "MaNi." "Yennu MaNi?" literally means "What time?" Don't concern yourself yet with the interjection of the verb "is" or the proper placement of it in a spoken Tamil phrase. Concentrate on more specific and precise conversationally specific formalities later, after you have achieved a more advanced level of learning speak Tamil from English. You can now use the same word structure to ask "Where's water?" in Tamil, and "Where's food?"

6. Write down the following words on your Notepad document:

Medicine =

Doctor =

Bathroom / toilet =

Telephone =

Help =

Me =

I =

You =

How =

Who =

Why =

Stop =

Go =

Sorry =

Wash =

Look up the Tamil words for those words using the online dictionary in the References section. Practice using those words in basic two-word phrases, repeatedly.

Paint A Prairie Sunrise

A prairie sunrise creates a calming effect in the viewer.

Sunrises can be exhilarating and uplifting scenes to paint. In a prairie sunrise it may be useful to make the sun itself as a focal point, so it can encompass up to half the width of the canvas. You can use an array of colors in the painting for the rising sun and the sky, including different shades of yellows and reds. Regardless of the sunrise scene you portray, a feeling of tranquility will surely remain with the viewer.

Instructions

1. Moisten both paintbrushes with clean water.

2. Dip the small paintbrush in green paint and draw an uneven line across the canvas, approximately 3 inches from the bottom. This is the horizon in the painting. Rinse the paintbrush with water.

3. Dip the small paintbrush in red paint and sketch a small semi-circle in the middle of the canvas, at least 2 inches wide, starting on the left side of the horizon line and ending on the right side. Rinse the paintbrush with water.

4. Plunge the fan brush in orange paint and brush the entire canvas above the horizon line with orange paint. Rinse the paintbrush with water.

5. Sketch streaks of yellow paint into the orange paint with the fan brush. Rinse the paintbrush.

6. Paint streaks of red into the orange paint with the fan brush. Rinse the paintbrush.

7. Dip the fan brush in plain water and brush over entire sky, mixing the colors together. Rinse the paintbrush.

8. Sketch tall weeds of grass with the fan brush dipped in light brown paint. Use an up and down motion below and also slightly above horizon line. Rinse the paintbrush.

9. Dip the small brush in darker brown paint and make some vertical lines throughout the grass. This will create a few individual blades of grass.

Paint Beautiful Skies

The right equipment will help you produce the look you're going for.

Painting a beautiful sky involves perfecting your brush technique and learning mix the colors. A mixture of the right colors will show depth in your painting, even for blue skies. The blue skies should indicate a sunset or sunrise, or even set the tone for the rest of the painting, whether that includes a landscape or water. Once you have determined the type of sky you want to paint, you can start painting.

Instructions

1. Sketch the landscape or the horizon of the sky onto the canvas. The sky should occupy about three-quarters of the canvas to create a nice horizon. The other portion can be used to paint the landscape.

2. Take the ultramarine blue paint and squeeze it onto the paint palette. Squeeze some of the white paint onto the palette as well. How much you use will depend on how you want to mix the colors and how dark or light you want the sky to be.

3. Dip the paint brush into the white and blue paint to get your desired color distribution.

4. Take a 1-inch paintbrush and create criss-cross strokes at the top of the canvas all the way down to the horizon line. Use colors such as purple and blue to highlight a blue sky with a sunset. Use red and oranges near the horizon to indicate the sunset.

5. Blend the colors on the canvas to produce a nice mixture of colors. After you create the skyline, you can add whatever landscape you choose.

Paint Sea Coast With Watercolors

The sea coast is a traditional subject in painting. Working with watercolors allows for many beautiful effects. Use washed, layered and blended watercolors to create a realistic or more expressionistic versions of the sea. Use a photo as a source or create an original composition. Follow these watercolor techniques to paint an illusion of the sea.

Instructions

1. Draw a horizon line lightly in pencil across the center of the paper. Treat the top half as sky and the lower half as sea.

2. Create a sky using diluted color, that is nearly transparent by using a large, flat brush. Be creative with dark stormy colors or a golden sunset. Use sweeping strokes that cover the entire width of the paper.

3. Choose a color for the sea. Wash the color in a horizontal direction across the paper. Scallop the edge in wave patterns. Wash a lighter tone of the color closer to the horizon line.

4. Wash in several more bands of color for the sea. Each one should be slightly darker than the previous. Then lighten the top edge of each band slightly by applying water to the paint.

5. Add detail to the waves such as white foam at the crest of each wave. Apply white paint with a smaller brush in a rough or textured manner. Paint thin, dark stripes in wave patterns randomly throughout the lowest band.

6. Use a sponge to apply additional colors in the sky such as grays and whites for clouds. Dip a wet sponge in the water color and dab into the sky area of your painting to create the effect of clouds.

7. Apply a sand color to the very bottom of the painting beneath the waves if there is any room left. Create the coastline in this way. Add any details like shells or rocks.

Layer Paint

Layer paint colors to create dimensions in your paintings or other art projects.

If you want to create dimension with paints, you can do so regardless of what kind of paint you are using. Different types of paints will need different supplies and a specific technique to layer different colors, without accidentally mixing them together and creating an undesirable color. You can even layer different types of paint over each other, depending on the look you are going for and the project you are working on.

Instructions

1. Squeeze a dime-sized or smaller amount of watercolor paint on a palette. Dip a soft brush in a cup of clean water and gently press the side of the brush against the cup to release some of the excess water. Gently touch one of the colors on your palette and an mix the water and paint on the palette. Lightly apply the watercolor paint to the canvas. Allow the first layer to dry completely. Repeat the process with the following layers. Watering down the paint and applying it lightly with a soft brush will prevent the colors from mixing on the canvas.

2. Dispense a dime-sized amount of acrylic paints onto a clean palette. Dip a broad, soft brush into a container of water and squeeze a very small amount of excess water from the brush. You need plenty of water to create a more transparent look for the acrylic paint. Grab a tiny amount of paint from the palette and make a puddle with the paint and water. Add a little more paint to get the level of opacity that you need. Apply the layer to the dried layers of acrylic paint, or on an area of wall paint if you are making a design on an interior wall.

3. Squeeze small amounts of the darkest oil paint color you need in different areas of your palette. Pour some turpentine into a container. Dip a brush into the solvent and mix it with the darkest color you are working with, and make a transparent puddle on the palette. Apply it to the canvas and allow it to dry for at least three days, since oil paints dry very slowly. Mix the next layers of oil paints with linseed oil to thin them and go from the darkest to lightest color. This method is known as "fat over lean," which means the first layer is thinned with solvent and the following layers are mixed with linseed oil to make the paint flexible.

Paint Scarves

Get creative to design an original scarf.

If you are looking to combine your love of fashion with your creative side, painting scarves may be just the hobby you're craving. With some practice, you can design and make beautiful scarves in a variety of colors and endless designs. Whether you keep them for yourself, give them as gifts or hang them up as decoration, everyone will be asking where to scarves just like them.

Instructions

1. Trace the design you will be creating in pencil on your scarf.

2. Stretch out your scarf. You will need to pin it down so it does not move when you are painting. Pin it down on a flat surface or tack it up to a wall. Don't overstretch the scarf, but make sure it is tightly secured.

3. Apply the gutta or resist on the outline you traced. This will prevent the different colors from running into each other on the scarf.

4. Spray your scarf evenly with the water and rubbing alcohol mix from your spray bottle.

5. Start painting with your brushes. Fill in your design first (flowers, for example) and save the background color for last. If you are overlapping paints, wait until one layer is dry before moving on to paint the next. Blend colors by having them overlap on the edges.

6. Wait until your entire scarf is completely dry. Remove the gutta or resist. It will come off easily.

7. Set the colors in the scarf by following the directions given with your paints or dyes. Depending on the brand, you may have to steam it or spray it with a finisher. Usually you can wrap the scarf in newspaper, steam it, and then rinse out the scarf to remove any excess paint.

8. Iron your scarf. It is now ready to wear or hang up as decoration.

Paint Rust On A Model Car

Advanced model-making sometimes requires that you weather and age a model to make it look more realistic. Few things demonstrate age in a car more than a bit of rust around the edges. For a model car, you can easily emulate rust by using a specific painting technique that can be applied with just a few short steps. The result of the technique is the look of badly kept metal perfect for cars destined for the junk heap.

Instructions

1. Apply a traditional paint job to your model car. Make sure the paint on your model is completely dried before beginning the rusting process.

2. Apply a light coat of brown paint to your model in the desired rusty areas. Choose a center point for the rust and drag your paintbrush outward from that point for realistic rust effects.

3. Sprinkle a layer of fine sand onto the wet brown paint on the model to get the texture of rough, pitted metal for your car. Get the sand from model shops that carry model railroading supplies. Allow the sand to dry embedded into the layer of paint.

4. Remove the excess sand from the model, gently shaking loose particles free.

5. Mix the brown ink with water, creating a mixture that's half ink and half water. Stir the mixture well, as the ink tends to form a layer if it isn't well-mixed.

6. Take the brush and lightly dip the tip into the ink. Raise the brush and allow the ink to drip from the bristles back into the mixture, until the brush is barely damp. Give it a few shakes to help the dripping along.

7. Lightly apply the ink to your model covering the sand. As with the paint, apply the ink making strokes from the center outward. Allow the ink to dry once a layer has been applied. Apply a second layer of ink for a heavily rusted look. The more ink applied, the more rusted the area on the model car will appear.

8. After applying the ink, finish the car detailing such as decals or other weathering effects and spray the entire model with a layer of Testors Dullcoat to protect the paint job.

Paint Rusty Steel Rims

Steel rims on a car are especially vulnerable to rust.

Metal is naturally prone to rust when it is exposed to the environment. Painted steel surfaces are protected against moisture and other natural elements which cause steel to oxidize. Rust is oxidation that forms on unprotected steel. Steel rims on an automobile are especially vulnerable to rust. They are exposed to harsh weather conditions, as well as the wear and tear of the road. Rust begins in the little nicks that expose the bare metal. Painting rusty steel rims protects the rims and gives them a longer life.

Instructions

1. Remove the rust with an all-purpose auto cleaner and a wire brush. Spray the rim with water. Spray the auto-cleaner on rim and let it sit for 30 seconds. Scrub the rim with a wire brush or a wheel brush. A toothbrush works well for areas that are difficult to reach. Rinse the rim well to remove to remove all the auto-cleaner.

2. Sand the rims to remove the clear coat. In addition to removing the rust on the rims, it is necessary to remove the clear-coat protecting covering on the rims before they are painted. Sand the entire rim with 400 to 600 grit sandpaper. Finish the job with 1,000 grit sandpaper.

3. Wash the rims with soap and warm water. This removes the last traces dirt, debris, and other forms of contamination. Rinse the rims well with clean water to remove all soap residue.

4. Cover the tires with duct tape and newspaper. The paint and clear coat will be applied with a spray can. Protecting the wheels will make the painting part of job much easier and worry free.

5. Apply a rust-inhibiting primer. There are several rust-inhibiting primers designed specifically for steel surfaces that come in an aerosol spray. Follow the directions on the can and apply two coats. Hold the spray can 8 to 12 inches away from the rim. Lightly apply the first coat and allow it to dry for fifteen minutes. Apply a second, heavier coat. Allow the second coat to dry for twenty minutes.

6. Spray paint the rims. Follow the same procedure used for applying the primer. Apply two coats. Apply one light coat and allow it to dry, and then, apply the second coat. Inspect the rim for drips and runs.

7. Protect the paint with a clear coat. Clear coat materials are also available in an aerosol spray. Clear coat protects the paint from nicks and small scratches. Nicks and scratches are not only unsightly, they expose metal which makes the rim susceptible to rust.