Watercolor Painting Tutorials
Watercolor Face Studies
Learn systematic watercolor face study techniques. Master progressive build-up methods, strategic color mixing, and character development through selective detail placement.
Robert Joyner
Full time artists from good ol Virginia specializing in loose, bold acrylic and mixed media paintings.
Watercolor Painting Tutorials
Mastering Watercolor Shading
Before teaching watercolor shading, I shucked scallops on a 100ft boat 12 hours a day. Those chaotic nights taught me everything about steady hands and working with unpredictable conditions - skills that translate perfectly to mastering wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry watercolor techniques.
Mixed Media Painting Tutorials
Fish-Inspired Mixed Media Painting Tutorial
Turn scrap collage paper into vibrant art with this fun mixed media fish painting tutorial. Follow along as we create two colorful fish paintings at once using acrylics, recycled paper, and a playful, loose approach.
Mixed Media Painting Tutorials
Mixed Media Cityscape Tutorial
This tutorial breaks down the systematic approach to building a cityscape using acrylics, collage and layered construction techniques.
Watercolor Painting Tutorials
Guide to Cleaning and Caring for Watercolor Brushes
Watercolor brushes aren’t cheap. Here’s my no-fluff system for cleaning, reshaping, and storing them so they last for years instead of months.
Watercolor Painting Tutorials
Beginner's Guide to Setting Up Your Watercolor Palette
Setting up a watercolor palette isn’t rocket science. Start structured so you can learn the basics, then break the rules and find your own way. Here’s how I do it in the garage studio.
Mixed Media Painting Tutorials
Painterly Collage and Acrylic Still Life Techniques
Turn old sketches into vibrant art with this mixed media flower painting tutorial. See how acrylics, collage, and simple design choices create a lively floral still life.
Watercolor Painting Tutorials
The Most Versatile Watercolor Brush
Most watercolor artists think they need a dozen different brushes. I thought that too, until I discovered the Sword brush in my garage studio experiments.
Loose & Expressive Painting Techniques
How to Paint Loose & Expressive: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide
I chased abstract art, but this site’s real story is loose & expressive painting. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll share how that shift began—and show you simple, lively techniques for watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media.
Acrylic Painting Tutorials
Loose Acrylic Still Life Painting Tutorial
When I paint interiors, it could be seafood dinners, Twinkies, or a glass of milk. This step-by-step acrylic still life keeps it raw and loose—garage style.
Mixed Media Painting Tutorials
Collage Art Ideas: Rare Finds in a Blizzard of Noise
Found it! 16 fresh collage ideas you won’t see elsewhere—strips, borders, motifs, and a three-beat triptych in acrylic + mixed media.
Watercolor Painting Tutorials
Garage Artist Color Theory vs. Traditional Color Theory
Color theory doesn’t have to be confusing. In this article I share the Garage Artist approach — tonal vs chromatic palettes, values over color — and compare it with traditional wheel-based theory.