Disappointed by your doodles, and wish you could draw better? Drawing well is about your hand being able to do what your brain tells it to do. And if your hand doesn’t have much practice at creating certain shapes or lines, the end result of your sketching may not look at all like it did in your mind’s eye. But drawing is a skill and the old saying “practice makes perfect” still applies—learn how to improve your drawing skills with this lesson from Drawing Teachers. Michael shows you a beautiful and interesting way to practice drawing shapes and lines.
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Paint like the masters! Before you start compiling you oeuvre, build an arsenal of brushstrokes to use in any situation. These will come in handy as your paintings become more detailed and complex. This tutorial by Lorraine Watry—the first in a series—demonstrates solid wash, graded wash, masking fluid and tape, wet on wet, drop color on wet color, and more. See the attachment of the Techniques page and supply list by clicking the attachments button at the top right.
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For career photographers, better product photos mean better clients! In this first lesson of Phillip McCordall’s Product Photography In Depth course, get an overview of professional product photography techniques. Learn how to position products and how to achieve studio-quality lighting with a low-cost method for diffusing light. Most importantly, learn how to eliminate lens flare. These basic techniques help create photos that result in sales, and an expanding client base for photographers!
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Take a photograph using the tips you've learned, and share it with us! Don't worry if you don't have fancy equipment!
If you scrapbook, chances are you have a pretty good stash of paper. Don’t let those resources go to waste—instead, learn how to make a paper kit. In this lesson from Kiwi Lane Designs, Susan shows you how to sort your paper by color and pattern, and how to assemble a kit that contains paper for a background, photo mats, borders, and accessories. Not only will making these paper kits save you money, you’ll also save time by utilizing and organizing the materials you already have.
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You've chosen your paper, but now how do you start applying your scrapbook elements? Kiwi Lane Design teaches you the the cut, trace, replace method to design and adhere your layout! Get tips for cutting out tricky curved designs, learn how inking can hide a multitude of sins, hear the best methods for adhering your elements, and see how your accessories can tie together your scrapbook's color scheme.
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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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Scrapbooking is an excellent way to preserve memories for future generations. Although typically scrapbooks are graphically focused (with pictures, ticket stubs, cards, or other memorabilia creating the bulk of the contents), consider enhancing your books with creative journaling. In this lesson, Susan shows you how to add journaling to your scrapbook. Your life and your memories are unique; ensure that those once in a lifetime moments truly are unforgettable with creative journaling.
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Want to wow the world with the quality HD video you could be shooting with that iPhone in your pocket? This lesson will teach you the basics of shooting video on your iPhone 4, 4s, or 5. Once you are familiar with the camera app, learn how to hold and focus the camera, and how to view an accurate display of your video. Ready to shoot? Finish this lesson by learning ways to stabilize your camera to make your online video or tutorial appear smooth and fluid.
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Channel your inner Bob Ross! With a little bit of black and white paint, a small canvas, and some brushes, you can paint a beautiful moonlit mountain scene. Hang it up in your home, give it to a friend, or sell it to your adoring fans! Rediscover the joy of painting with this quick and simple painting lesson from Art with Mary.
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DSLR stands for “digital single lens reflex,” but DSLR cameras are much more than just an acronym. Unlike the SLRs of old (film cameras), DSLRs can hold thousands of images, all of which can be previewed instantly using an LCD display. Find out why professional photographers almost always choose DSLRs when shooting any type of photography in this tutorial by EasyDSLR.
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Is there a hole in your drawing skills? Fill it in, no problem! In this online drawing lesson from Drawing Teachers, learn how you can use basic shapes like parallelograms and circles to create a realistic picture of a 3D hole. All you will need is a pencil, paper, and marker. These step-by-step instructions will make drawing a hole even easier than falling into one.
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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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Tired of scrapbook styles that only highlight one photo or require expensive decorations? Kiwi Lane Designs brings you a whole new style of scrapbooking based around framing your pages with matching paper borders. See how templates, borders, and layered paper can create a great, balanced look that leaves room for plenty of photographs. Framing with the smaller templates is also great for decorating cards or mini-albums.
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Want to take your scrapbooking to the next level? In this lesson, Kiwi Lane Designs teaches you how to take advantage of templates to experiment with your designs, then add coordinating embellishments to your scrapbook pages. Get trips on selecting coordinating patterns and shapes, using elements of the paper you have already, and cutting out tricky stencil shapes such as delicate floral patterns.
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Preserve the memories from an amazing trip with a scrapbook! Whether you visited the the country of your ancestors or spent a week at a nearby beach, preserve the memories and share your experiences by creating a unique scrapbook of your trip. According to Aly, your scrapbook starts even before you depart (so pack a Ziploc bag to collect important bits of paper like maps or photos from your journey). Once you’ve enjoyed your vacation and gathered the pieces, Aly will show you how to make a beautiful scrapbook of your trip.
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Do you have more cute photos than you have room on your scrapbook page? With a little help from Kiwi Lane Designs, that's not possible! Learn to layer multiple photos on sequential folding flaps in a method known as the waterfall technique. See how to cut and fold your paper, the adhere it to your scrapbook page, and you'll have cascading layers of photographs in your scrapbook!
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Want to get scrapbooking, but not sure how to get started? Kiwi Lane Designs shows you how to select which papers to use! Learn what to look for in a background sheet, how to make sure your patterns and colors won't clash, how many individual sheets to choose, and how to select your patterns for the photo matt, accessories, and frame for your photographs.
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If you are skilled at teaching and have knowledge that you want to share, learn how to educate others by making the best lesson possible! This lesson from Curious Teacher Support is designed to help you grasp the fundamentals of shooting a lesson, from how to light your filming environment (no matter where it is), to recording the highest quality audio possible, to how to frame your shots for maximum impact. We know you’ve got something to say, so say it well with a quality lesson.
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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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