Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Art Blog

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

Patterns with colorless blender

Better Blending with Alcohol Markers

Leslie Snipes

This step-by-step tutorial for beginners is a great place to start learning more about alcohol marker blending techniques. Even if you are familiar with the basics of using markers, if...

Better Blending with Alcohol Markers

Leslie Snipes

This step-by-step tutorial for beginners is a great place to start learning more about alcohol marker blending techniques. Even if you are familiar with the basics of using markers, if...

7 experiements of marker scribbles on different paper

What You Need to Know About Alcohol Markers

Leslie Snipes

Have you ever looked at a display of hundreds of colorful markers and thought how fun they would be to use, but you weren’t sure where to begin? We’ve got...

What You Need to Know About Alcohol Markers

Leslie Snipes

Have you ever looked at a display of hundreds of colorful markers and thought how fun they would be to use, but you weren’t sure where to begin? We’ve got...

artists using protective gear

Safety and Hazards in Art Studios

Leslie Snipes

Making art can be such an urgent emotional and spiritual experience that safety can be an afterthought. Plus, art supplies are so much fun that we can forget they may...

Safety and Hazards in Art Studios

Leslie Snipes

Making art can be such an urgent emotional and spiritual experience that safety can be an afterthought. Plus, art supplies are so much fun that we can forget they may...

artist sketching man's head

5 Tips to Improve Your Observational Drawing Sk...

Leslie Snipes

Observational drawing practice is about more than just making your drawing look like the subject; it’s about improving how well you see and practicing hand-eye coordination. Our eye can trick...

5 Tips to Improve Your Observational Drawing Sk...

Leslie Snipes

Observational drawing practice is about more than just making your drawing look like the subject; it’s about improving how well you see and practicing hand-eye coordination. Our eye can trick...

Joe teaching people at an art class

Watercolor Painting Supplies: Joe’s List of Eve...

Leslie Snipes

“I was a practicing pharmacist in my mid-40s when I took up watercolor. All I wanted to do was paint nice little landscapes, local scenes, barns, homes, the mountains, etc....

Watercolor Painting Supplies: Joe’s List of Eve...

Leslie Snipes

“I was a practicing pharmacist in my mid-40s when I took up watercolor. All I wanted to do was paint nice little landscapes, local scenes, barns, homes, the mountains, etc....

20 Stocking Stuffer Studio Staples

20 Stocking Stuffer Studio Staples

Leslie Snipes

If you find yourself struggling to decide what to get the artist in your life this Christmas, we are eager to help with recommendations for gifts artists will love any...

20 Stocking Stuffer Studio Staples

Leslie Snipes

If you find yourself struggling to decide what to get the artist in your life this Christmas, we are eager to help with recommendations for gifts artists will love any...

How to Create a Gift Set for Painting and Drawing: Tips from an Artist

How to Create a Gift Set for Painting and Drawi...

CJAS Staff

Step 1: Purchase a Cheap Joe’s Gift Card. (Just kidding, sort of, but it is an artist’s favorite gift!) We know it’s hard to know what to buy for an...

How to Create a Gift Set for Painting and Drawi...

CJAS Staff

Step 1: Purchase a Cheap Joe’s Gift Card. (Just kidding, sort of, but it is an artist’s favorite gift!) We know it’s hard to know what to buy for an...

Creative Christmas Gifts for Artists: Art Supplies for Every Budget

Creative Christmas Gifts for Artists: Art Suppl...

Leslie Snipes

What makes a good gift for an artist? You want to spark their creativity and encourage their practice, plus surprise them with something special they might not buy for themselves....

Creative Christmas Gifts for Artists: Art Suppl...

Leslie Snipes

What makes a good gift for an artist? You want to spark their creativity and encourage their practice, plus surprise them with something special they might not buy for themselves....

green recycle sign

Ways to Reuse Your Watercolor Paper

Leslie Snipes

Ever have a painting that just didn’t meet your expectations of a masterpiece? Well, we all have, yet discarding a full piece of watercolor paper is just out of the...

Ways to Reuse Your Watercolor Paper

Leslie Snipes

Ever have a painting that just didn’t meet your expectations of a masterpiece? Well, we all have, yet discarding a full piece of watercolor paper is just out of the...

Your Guide to Stretching Watercolor Paper

Your Guide to Stretching Watercolor Paper

Leslie Snipes

People tell me all the time they have a hard time finishing the watercolor without getting all hard edges. Let me show you an old method--stretching paper--that also prevents hard...

Your Guide to Stretching Watercolor Paper

Leslie Snipes

People tell me all the time they have a hard time finishing the watercolor without getting all hard edges. Let me show you an old method--stretching paper--that also prevents hard...

Art Presentation Tips: Cost-Effective Matting and Framing Techniques

Art Presentation Tips: Cost-Effective Matting a...

CJAS Staff

As artists, we create art to be viewed and enjoyed. We do not paint to hide our art in a closet or under a bed. In some cases, we may...

Art Presentation Tips: Cost-Effective Matting a...

CJAS Staff

As artists, we create art to be viewed and enjoyed. We do not paint to hide our art in a closet or under a bed. In some cases, we may...

Capturing the Beauty of Fall Foliage with Travel Art Kits

Capturing the Beauty of Fall Foliage with Trave...

Mona Lisa

For those eager to capture the ephemeral beauty of this season on canvas or paper, a well-prepared travel art kit and sketchbook are essential companions. In this guide, we hope...

Capturing the Beauty of Fall Foliage with Trave...

Mona Lisa

For those eager to capture the ephemeral beauty of this season on canvas or paper, a well-prepared travel art kit and sketchbook are essential companions. In this guide, we hope...