Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Art Blog

Tips, Tricks, Thoughts, and inspiration from across the art spectrum.

Artist Tip 2: Aerial Perspective

Artist Tip 2: Aerial Perspective

CJAS Staff

If you're fairly new to painting, you may not know what the term aerial perspective means, but we'll guarantee you've seen it. It's what makes things look far away. It's...

Artist Tip 2: Aerial Perspective

CJAS Staff

If you're fairly new to painting, you may not know what the term aerial perspective means, but we'll guarantee you've seen it. It's what makes things look far away. It's...

Artist Tip 3: The Order of Attraction

Artist Tip 3: The Order of Attraction

CJAS Staff

A successful painting is not simply a well-designed depiction of a pleasant subject any more than a successful novel is a grammatically correct description of an interesting event.

Artist Tip 3: The Order of Attraction

CJAS Staff

A successful painting is not simply a well-designed depiction of a pleasant subject any more than a successful novel is a grammatically correct description of an interesting event.

Artist Tip 4: Getting Figures Into Shape

Artist Tip 4: Getting Figures Into Shape

CJAS Staff

The mere mention of getting our figures into shape makes us all a little nervous; we know we should watch our diet and get more exercise. But getting your figure...

Artist Tip 4: Getting Figures Into Shape

CJAS Staff

The mere mention of getting our figures into shape makes us all a little nervous; we know we should watch our diet and get more exercise. But getting your figure...

Artist Tip 5: This Old Barn

Artist Tip 5: This Old Barn

CJAS Staff

I've painted this old barn many times, each time for a different reason. This time I'll go from photo to sketch and work from the sketch. It's a simple subject,...

Artist Tip 5: This Old Barn

CJAS Staff

I've painted this old barn many times, each time for a different reason. This time I'll go from photo to sketch and work from the sketch. It's a simple subject,...

Artist Tip 6: Fear and Courage

Artist Tip 6: Fear and Courage

CJAS Staff

The process of painting never seems to go easily and rarely is it fun. We start each painting with great optimism, the highest of hopes, even confidence; and then, more...

Artist Tip 6: Fear and Courage

CJAS Staff

The process of painting never seems to go easily and rarely is it fun. We start each painting with great optimism, the highest of hopes, even confidence; and then, more...

Artist Tip 7: Stretching Canvas Onto A Frame From Fredrix

Artist Tip 7: Stretching Canvas Onto A Frame Fr...

CJAS Staff

Assemble frame by fitting together tongue and groove ends of stretcher strips. Check the squareness of the frame by measuring across the diagonal comers so that both are equal. Attach...

Artist Tip 7: Stretching Canvas Onto A Frame Fr...

CJAS Staff

Assemble frame by fitting together tongue and groove ends of stretcher strips. Check the squareness of the frame by measuring across the diagonal comers so that both are equal. Attach...

Artist Tip 8: Some Thoughts on Landscape Painting: Rusticating In Paint

Artist Tip 8: Some Thoughts on Landscape Painti...

CJAS Staff

If it's rusty, old, bent, or broken and somewhere out in the countryside, do you have an irresistible urge to paint it? Nothing seems to attract a watercolorist more than...

Artist Tip 8: Some Thoughts on Landscape Painti...

CJAS Staff

If it's rusty, old, bent, or broken and somewhere out in the countryside, do you have an irresistible urge to paint it? Nothing seems to attract a watercolorist more than...

Artist Tip 9: It's All About the Edges

Artist Tip 9: It's All About the Edges

CJAS Staff

When you are first learning to paint in watercolor, you don't think much about edges. You're mostly concerned with control. You consider the painting a technical triumph when the dark...

Artist Tip 9: It's All About the Edges

CJAS Staff

When you are first learning to paint in watercolor, you don't think much about edges. You're mostly concerned with control. You consider the painting a technical triumph when the dark...

Artist Tip 10: Sneaky Darks

Artist Tip 10: Sneaky Darks

CJAS Staff

Whoever told you that you should "always put your darkest darks next to your lightest lights" should have his (or, maybe, her) teaching certificate revoked. It is true that when...

Artist Tip 10: Sneaky Darks

CJAS Staff

Whoever told you that you should "always put your darkest darks next to your lightest lights" should have his (or, maybe, her) teaching certificate revoked. It is true that when...

Artist Tip 11: Color in Shadows

Artist Tip 11: Color in Shadows

CJAS Staff

Most watercolorists seem wonderfully color-oriented when painting the lights in their landscapes. They fill these areas with vibrant and lively color. But when they address the shadow areas, they seem...

Artist Tip 11: Color in Shadows

CJAS Staff

Most watercolorists seem wonderfully color-oriented when painting the lights in their landscapes. They fill these areas with vibrant and lively color. But when they address the shadow areas, they seem...

Artist Tip 12: Adding Metallic Foil

Artist Tip 12: Adding Metallic Foil

CJAS Staff

If you're a painter who likes to experiment with or occasionally try new materials, you'll have loads of fun with reflective materials, such as gold leaf and metallic foils.

Artist Tip 12: Adding Metallic Foil

CJAS Staff

If you're a painter who likes to experiment with or occasionally try new materials, you'll have loads of fun with reflective materials, such as gold leaf and metallic foils.

Artist Tip 13: Value Sketching

Artist Tip 13: Value Sketching

CJAS Staff

The number, shape, proportion, and placement of your lightest values are important considerations when planning a painting. To help make design decisions more easily, try using a medium-gray marker pen...

Artist Tip 13: Value Sketching

CJAS Staff

The number, shape, proportion, and placement of your lightest values are important considerations when planning a painting. To help make design decisions more easily, try using a medium-gray marker pen...