CREATE A MASTERPIECE WITH EASE!

Here at The Sketching Pad, one of our core beliefs is that when people are given the right materials and a few very simple techniques, they can create a beautiful work of art, regardless of their previous experience. Here are just a few things that are true of just about every painting!

START WITH YOUR BACKGROUND!

It can be so tempting to jump into the part of your painting that feels the most exciting. However, your painting experience will go most smoothly if you do your background first, and then work your way to your main subject of your painting, and then put the smallest details on top!

SOME COLORS WILL NEED TWO COATS

If your canvas is showing through your paint or your colors are looking streakier than you'd like, just let your painting dry, and add another coat! This is especially helpful with skintones. They almost always need two coats of paint to appear smooth.

EVERY PAINTING
​HAS AN AWKWARD STAGE

Don't panic if your painting is looking strange halfway through. This is so normal! Just like people, paintings have awkward stages. Don't give up - you just aren't finished yet!

Here are just a few more things to help throughout your painting process!

• Keep in mind that acrylic paint does not come out of clothes very well, so wear an apron or clothes that can get messy! 
• If you make a mistake, just let your painting fully dry (or dry it with a hair dryer) and paint right over it! If your mistake isn't covering well, put a layer of white paint between your mistake and your final layer of paint!
• When you're done painting, rinse your brushes thoroughly with soap and water so you can use them again for your next painting experience! If you let the paint dry in your brushes, you will not be able to salvage them later.
• If you have any questions along the way, just shoot us a text with a photo of your painting and your question to 678-787-2552. We're here to help!

Painting accent lines is one of our favorite ways to add character and life to any painting! With a few quick light and dark accents, your painting will go from flat and dull to an eye-catching masterpiece!

You want the perfect color for your masterpiece, but you don't always know how to get from the pure color to a lighter, darker, or grayer shade. In this tutorial, Jill shows us how make adjustments to our colors to make it perfect for our paintings!

Mixing skintones is seen as a challenge, but it's simpler than you might think! In this video, Laura shows you how to mix three different colors, so you can make a wide range of skin tones for your masterpieces!

Everyone loves a gorgeous ombré effect, and in this video, Laura shows us how to blend from one color to another! A lovely gradient adds beauty to any masterpiece, whether you're painting on canvas, pottery, or a sign.

Whether you're looking for turquoise, aqua, or teal, these colors are super easy and fun to make! Jill shows us how to create the perfect version of this super popular color.

If you're painting stars, painting snow, or just want to add some excitement and life to your painting, splatter painting is a great way to do it! Don't just start throwing paint around - use our techniques to get perfect splatters every time!

Finger print artwork is a great way to get your little one involved in art and create an item that you will treasure forever! In this video, Laura shows us how to turn fingerprints into adorable animals with ease.

In this tutorial, Jill shows us how to turn fingerprints into adorable bugs! These look great on flower pots, mugs, and more!

When painting signs, the most popular way to create a nice background is by adding a wash. It looks like a stain and preserves your wood grain while adding a nice color to your piece.