Ever wonder how painters capture the ethereal beauty of flowers in nature? Painting with watercolors is as much about practiced technique as it is about natural talent. This lesson demonstrates how to paint a floral scene, but the skills and techniques you'll learn can be applied to any subject. Learn how to add texture, create transparency and use the bleeding tendency of watercolor paints to your advantage.
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Take on a true watercolor challenge! This lesson by Larry Hamilton, the first in a series, shows you how to start painting a Californian mission scene. Even if you have a different scene in mind, Larry’s narration provides countless pro tips and tricks that apply to any subject. Follow along at home or take notes on techniques to use in your next painting.
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Well-executed special effects can contribute thematically to a visually compelling film. But if executed poorly, the entire content of a film may be disregarded or even ridiculed. Not to worry, Tom Antos is here to teach you the art of invisibility, using the green suit transparent effect! Using Adobe After Effects, Tom walks you through the process—you’ll learn how to make the necessary various layers, as well as how to use the “keylight” and “mask” features required for the effect.
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You may control the shot when you are filming your movie, but unfortunately you can't control the weather. So what do you do when the sun keeps moving back and forth from behind clouds? Tom Antos offers this lesson from his filmmaking tutorials series to show you how you can use color correction to fix the sudden shifts that result from capricious sunlight. Learn to edit your saturation, contrast, and warmth to match up different shots.
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Whether you are an experienced decoration artist or a first-timer, this lesson provides a few easy-to-understand pointers on painting clouds for large-scale ceiling murals. Don’t make the common mistake of painting cartoonish clouds with obvious patterns and symmetry. For a realistic mural of the sky, use nuanced techniques for creating shadows, breaking up patterns, and providing structure to each shape. Note: this lesson does not cover how to apply the blue base coat.
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Want to improve upon your realist painting techniques? This lesson by Anna Mason Art demonstrates how to use color and highlights to paint an incredibly realistic strawberry with watercolors. Once you have drawn a faithful depiction of your photo reference, be patient, work slowly, follow the highlights with your brush, and your work will look good enough to eat!
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This lesson will teach the budding painter how to add dimension to an acrylic painting of the ocean by using the wet-on-wet technique. By layering and blending colors of wet paint, artists can create a realistic painting of ocean waves crashing, complete with variations in tone and color. This lesson teaches how to mix paint to achieve a richer picture, as well as how to add reflection to water and give sea foam the illusion of volume by using highlights and shadows.
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Want to capture a laser sighter, a spooky flashlight beam, or car headlights for your movie? Lasers and beams of light won't appear on camera without a little cinematography magic. In this lesson from his Filmmaking Tutorials series, Tom Antos teaches you how you can use a fog machine to create an atmosphere where light can reflect and appear on your screen.
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Pablo Picasso is well known for his unrealistic portraits and figures, but what exactly do his stylistic choices mean? In this art history lesson on “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” learn about the culture of 1907, and what a painting of five naked women in a brothel has to do with Einstein. True art is often a commentary on the world in which it is produced—learn why Picasso, despite being an accomplished painter in the traditional sense, chose to paint in his own abstract and angular style.
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Looking to grow your artistic side? Try watercolor painting! This lesson will outline all the supplies you need to get started on your journey. Watercolor is a form of visual art that traditionally uses water-soluble paints on thick paper. You’ll learn the basic brushes and colors you need for a starter-kit, as well as how to choose a palette and pad of paper. Once you’ve got the essential tools and supplies you need, you’ll be ready to create original and beautiful pieces of art.
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Create a world of your own with the magic of cinema! In this filmmaking lesson, award-winning cinematographer Tom Antos teaches you to make and use a homemade, low-budget blue screen with any matte blue or green fabric. Discover what materials to use and how to rig your blue screen. Learn how to light your screen and your actors, and then shoot your movie! CGI will do the rest...
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Let's go to the movies... in the movies! In this filmmaking lesson, award-winning cinematographer Tom Antos teaches you how to light and shoot a movie theater scene, simulating the light that comes off of a cinema screen. Real life cinemas are too dark to get a camera exposure, so you can recreate the effect using a 1000-watt light. Learn how make a lighting spin wheel and use red and blue gels to create a flickering effect with changing intensity and color.
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Make your own spray paint art with this easy and simple lesson. You’ll start by forming basic planet shapes and then add layers of color. Follow along as you learn how to shade and highlight in a few easy steps, as well as use a painting technique that will add dimension to this out-of-this-world DIY solar system art.
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Get that slick Hollywood look for your film footage by altering it with color correction! Part of Tom Antos' Filmmaking Tutorials, this lesson focuses on transforming the saturation, levels, shadows, mid-tones, and highlights of your footage in post-production to add drama or transform certain effects. In particular, learn how to manage nighttime scenes shot during the day, change a daylight scene to appear as though the sun is setting, and design a complementary color scheme.
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Some films rely heavily on color as a thematic element, while other times color is used to create a specific mood for a scene. In this lesson from Tom Antos, learn how to approach a shot while considering color and tone. Tom demonstrates how to color correct in Final Cut Pro and Premiere, but warns that any color correction degrades your image—so learn his tips and tricks for getting it right the first time, and film a stunning shot that won’t take hours in post production.
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Want to capture the action of a movie scene in a moving car? In this lesson, cinematographer Tom Antos teaches you how to construct, install, and use a sturdy and adjustable car mount for your camera that will not damage your car. This easy to make camera mount even can be used for shooting while driving on the highway at full speed. The video also provides an example of the kind of footage you can capture using this mount.
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Anyone can learn how to paint. Let professional painter Darrell Crow teach you how to paint with acrylics. This lesson shows you how to create landscape masterpieces of waterfalls, cascades, rocks, and lakes. Learn how to mix your paints for the perfect colors, and discover techniques unique to acrylic painting. Soon you’ll produce landscape paintings you wish you could walk into!
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So, you’ve always dreamed of shooting an indie film, and your buddy finally finished his screenplay. Now, bring your creative vision to life! In this lesson from Tom Antos, start with the basics and learn what to look for in a camera, how to make a set feel larger than it actually is, and how to do a full light setup for a scene. No matter your budget, you'll be able to create a visually compelling shot.
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Love art and wish you could paint watercolors like Van Gogh, Audubon, Durer, Hopper, and Cezanne? In part two of her watercolor painting lessons, Lorraine Watry introduces you to several watercolor stroke techniques including scumbling, pushing out pigment, wipe out, masking fluid, scratching wet and dry, and creating hard and soft edges. See the attachment of the Techniques page and supply list by clicking the attachments button at the top right.
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