For students of the humanities…
Metalpoint in general (and silverpoint in particular) is a very old technique that many people just don't bother with today. That doesn't mean that it is not capable of some amazing affects, however. In this video, DrawingAcademy.com details silverpoint techniques and materials. For my students, I use parts of this video in class; but because… Continue reading Video: Drawing in Silverpoint-Almost Lost Secrets of the Old Masters
Have you ever heard of a pie bird? If you like to bake, you may want to consider getting one. Basically, pie birds allow your pie to vent and help to keep the bottom from getting soggy. This Taste of Home article explains how pie birds work and how you can use them to get… Continue reading Article: How to Use a Pie Bird (and Why You Should)
Drying or pressing flowers has long been a popular pastime. However, there is a new spin on this old tradition: hammering flowers. This artform works by choosing flowers, placing them on paper, and hitting them with a hammer.... The result is actually quite lovely. This YouTube Channel: HammerFlower shows many examples of the artform, with… Continue reading Video: HammerFlower
Even though it's not as famous as oil paint, tempera paint was a very popular medium in the Italian Renaissance. Traditionally made by combining egg with pigment, tempera is a bit more forgiving than watercolor, but much more delicate than oils. For this reason, it has been the medium of chose for many artistic masters… Continue reading Article: Italian Renaissance Art: Tempera Painting
Do you ever wonder how ancient Roman concrete buildings still look amazing, while our concrete sidewalks quickly crack? If so, then this article will help answer your questions. The Smithsonian talks about the innovations the Romans included that has allowed a number of their concrete structures to survive through to today. link to "Self Healing"… Continue reading Article: “Self Healing” Concrete May Have Preserved Ancient Roman Structures
This video from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston presents a fun take on the process the Greeks may have used in making red-figure pottery. If you're interested in pottery or ancient Greece, then you may find this both enjoyable and helpful. link to Figures in Red: Red-figure technique in ancient vase painting
Marbling paper or other materials can be fun, but the process can also be surprisingly complex. This website discusses the process and shows many examples. If you’re interested in either marbling or Japanese art in general, this site is a good place to start. link to Suminagashi: The Ancient Art of Japanese Marbling
Printmaking can be a bit of a complicated and confusing process to study. If you need more information on printmaking--in particular lithography and relief printing--then you may find this article helpful link to Lithography and Relief Printing
When it comes to Modern Art, it sometimes makes more sense if you can see how an artist made his or her particular works. In this YouTube playlist from the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), you can watch artist and conservator Corey D'Augustine show you how painters such as Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and… Continue reading Video: MOMA In the Studio
Weaving silk is a delicate process. This video showcases companies in France that weave silk using traditional methods. link to Shimmering Silk from France
Paintings don't have to be done on a canvas. Wood, fiberboard, and even silk are options when creating amazing works of art. This video from the Victoria and Albert Museum shows how a silk painting was made by recreating a historical Chinese work. link to How Was It Made? Silk Painting
When most of us think about mosaic art, we probably imagine something fairly large. Micromosaics take the mosaic artform and miniaturize it. In this video from the Victoria and Albert Museum, you can see how a micromosaic is made as they recreate a historical example. link to How Was It Made? Micromosaics
This website has so much information that it can get a little overwhelming, but luckily it also has a really effective search function. If you are looking for anything from humanities to art history to artistic techniques, My Modern Met may have what you need. link to My Modern Met
Many artistic techniques of the past have unfortunately been lost to history. This video from the Victoria and Albert Museum details the quest of a 5th generation Japanese dye maker to recapture the colors of the past. link to In Search of Forgotten Colors
Rise Art offers works of art for sale, but the guide side of the website provides information on art basics, art history, and art news. It's a good place to find out more about composition, and it has up to date information on a number of artistic topics. link to Rise Art-Art Guides
Humanities Scholars 