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Drawing heads, hands, and feet often intimidates new artists. In this excerpt from “Figure Drawing Atelier,” Juliette Aristides shares sketches that will help you both simplify the process and inspire you to practice.

From the model’s clothing to the background setting, learn how David Tanner uses various elements to create an engaging narrative painting.

Contemporary artist Jennifer Balkan on the color blue, expressionism, and distorting reality to evoke emotion. She says, "I do not think I could survive without a true blue..."

“Varnish is the great barrier,” says Pamela Wilson, “protecting your painting from a lifetime of dust, grime, weather, heat, cold, age, sunlight, ex-boyfriends, and spilled milk. It brings to life every stroke, every glazed layer of subtle color and drama, deep in that shadow that you forgot about. We all bow to varnish.”

In this four-minute video, artist Joshua LaRock shares some of his advice for drawing portraits with a model.

Using pencil, ink, charcoal, or crayon on paper, Assael could easily draw any sitter into classicized perfection, but he has more interesting plans.

One line, narrowing from thick to thin, can control the weight, movement, and emotion within a composition. See how in this step-by-step portrait drawing demonstration from Jeremy Caniglia.

In this exclusive Q&A, artist and teacher McGarren Flack tells us about his artistic path, including how his art has changed over time, and one of his biggest challenges.

Contemporary realist Sharon Pomales Tousey takes us into the meaning behind her recent pastel, “Aun Llueve en Macondo” (“It Still Rains in Macondo”), and offers her best advice for artists who are just starting to embark on their own journey.

Learn about a device called the "graticola," which Italian artist Antonio Mancini came to rely on for his drawings and paintings.