View: a reader and studier by nature, but the lessons and techniques that I learn from books and magazines always seem to click much quicker when I watch an artist paint, rather than try to puzzle everything out on my own.

Paint En Plein Air | Two Demos You’ll LoveWant to paint en plein air like a pro? California landscape painter Frank Serrano is a popular instructor of painting en plein air who shares his knowledge and experience with students and helps them develop a foundation in the fundamentals of painting outdoors.

The Painting Techniques Behind The Rocks at Belle-Île by Claude MonetThere is no better art teacher than your own two eyes. Spending time with a painting and studying it — looking at its colors, how brushstrokes are layered, and how forms are “built” — is the best way to truly understand the art of painting and the secrets behind any Old Masters paintings that you love.

“Where … are you going, my pretty girl, all alone in the woods?”—Grimm Brothers, Little Red Cap (1812)Artist Yael Maimon is enthralled in her pastel series titled “Once Upon a Time.” As the series name suggests, it focuses on classic fairy tales, yet Maimon often adds a modern-day twist to the stories.

8 Ways to Create a Focal Point in Your PaintingDuring my years of experience I’ve noticed that many artists tend to ask what my focal point will be before I demonstrate a painting. Fortunately there’s a universal answer to this. For there to be a focal point, there needs to be a peripheral area that’s not that much in focus.

Brush Tips for Every ArtistWant to stay on a sure stroke with a little brush savvy? Here are tips on the art brushes you are most likely to use, plus how to customize your own and what brush to use and when.Don’t Stop at OneUse two or more identical brushes when painting. They’ll let you continue your work with the same types of brushstrokes.