Painting blog by Masha Eretnova
Color mixing is so satisfying to me but some combinations are hard to predict. As an artist and teacher, I love sharing color-mixing swatches I make to help you navigate color theory better (and most people hate it! haha). Pink and green are both bright colors but mixed together they make such a variety of … Read more
Have you ever been frustrated with how fast acrylic paint dries? I bet! Especially if you are like me and learned to paint with oils! For my first few paintings, I just wasted acrylics on the palette… On my last trip (Japan) I stumbled on this set of open acrylics and I got it in … Read more
Gouache, also known as opaque watercolor, works so well on paper, yet many beginners wonder if there are other options, like canvas. I tested my Miya gouache on simple gesso-primed canvas and I’ll share what I liked and didn’t quite enjoy in the process. Spoiler: Gouache painting works better on paper, canvas pads, and canvas … Read more
Red and orange are both warm colors that are close to each other on the color spectrum. As an artist, I’m often mixing colors and I will show you my real swatches of red and orange paint. Since both red and orange are warm colors, when you mix red and orange you usually get a … Read more
Choosing acrylic vs gouache? Why not combine?! Acrylic gouache has properties of both! I’ve recently made 4 mini paintings and one portrait with Turner acryl gouache and let me share my thoughts. I also have Holbein gouache and Holbein acryla gouache and I will compare acryla to Turner’s acrylic gouache as well. Is acrylic gouache … Read more
Have you ever looked at beautiful drawings and thought, “I wish I could do that too!” But then that little voice in your head says, “I’m just not talented enough.” Well, guess what? You’re not alone! Lots of people feel that way. They believe that drawing is only for those with natural talent or special … Read more
Did you know that it is quite easy to make your own paints? Pack it in tubes and enjoy painting without paying for brands or marketing? To make acrylic paint, you will basically need 3 components: Acrylic medium or binder, Pigment and Water with a bit of alcohol. You start by adding water and a … Read more
Have you ever tried to find and match all the pieces of the sky in a puzzle? Not an easy task (I’m a puzzle lover myself!). And the same with painting the sky. There are actually a few colors we observe above us: darker blues on the top and paler blue at the horizon line, … Read more
Have you ever stumbled upon an old painting in your house or attended an art auction, wondering if the artwork you’re looking at holds any significant value? I’d like to address a few key factors that determine the worth of a painting. Whether you’re a seasoned art collector, a curious beginner in the art world, … Read more
Gesso is a classic foundation for canvas, paper or wood prep for acrylic or oil painting. Yet, many painters, especially beginners feel like most gessos on the market are quite expressive and thus, look for better gesso alternatives. Some common and effective alternatives to gesso are acrylic medium, clear gesso, primers, and grounds. Cheap alternative … Read more