Techniques & Tips

Learn the Technique. Then Make It Your Own.

Small changes in technique can make a significant difference to the finished result.


The Techniques & Tips section at Mont Crafters is designed to help artists, students, beginners, teachers and makers understand the practical side of creating.

Good artwork isn't only about the materials you use.

It's also about understanding how those materials behave.

How much pressure should you use with a pencil?

How much water should you add to watercolour?

Why is your acrylic paint drying too quickly?

How do you create smoother colour transitions?

What is the best way to prepare a surface?

Whether you're learning your first technique or looking for a better way to approach a familiar one, start here.

Acrylic Painting Techniques

Acrylic paint is highly adaptable. You can apply it thinly, build it into opaque layers, create texture or combine it with suitable mediums.

Understanding how the paint behaves will give you much greater control.

Layering

Allow one layer to dry before applying another.

This lets you build:

Background → Midground → Details → Highlights

Layering is particularly useful for landscapes, portraits and detailed artwork.

Dry Brushing

Use a relatively small amount of paint on a dry brush.

The resulting broken mark can be useful for:

  • Texture
  • Hair
  • Grass
  • Wood
  • Rough surfaces
  • Highlights

Blending

Work quickly while the paint remains workable and gradually transition between colours.

Because acrylics can dry relatively quickly, work in manageable areas rather than trying to blend an entire canvas at once.

Glazing

Apply a thin transparent or translucent layer over a dried area to alter its colour or appearance.

This can add depth without completely covering the layer underneath.

Stippling

Build an image using individual dots or small marks.

This can create texture and controlled transitions in colour.

Brush Techniques

Your brush isn't simply a tool for applying paint.

The way you hold and move it changes the mark.

Try changing:

Pressure

  • Light pressure creates softer marks. More pressure generally produces stronger, broader marks.

Angle

  • Using the side of a brush can create a completely different mark from using the tip.

Direction

  • Experiment with horizontal, vertical, diagonal and curved strokes.

Speed

  • Slow movements can produce controlled marks. Faster movements can create more expressive strokes.

Amount of paint

  • A heavily loaded brush behaves differently from one carrying only a small amount of paint.
  • Instead of simply asking which brush is "best", learn what different brushes can do.

Colour Mixing Techniques

Colour mixing is one of the most useful skills an artist can develop.

Instead of immediately reaching for a ready-made colour, experiment with mixing your own.

Start with a limited palette

Choose a few colours and see how many variations you can create.

For example:

Yellow + Blue → Greens

Blue + Red → Violets

Red + Yellow → Oranges

Then experiment with adding white, darker colours or complementary colours to change the resulting value and intensity.

Understanding Colour Temperature

Colours can influence the perceived mood and depth of an artwork.

Warm colours

Reds, oranges and yellows generally create a warmer visual impression.

Cool colours

Blues, greens and violets generally create a cooler impression.

But colour temperature is relative.

A blue can appear warmer or cooler depending on the colours surrounding it.

Try placing two different blues beside each other and compare them.

This simple exercise can dramatically improve your understanding of colour.

Light, Shadow & Value

If you want your artwork to appear three-dimensional, understanding value is essential.

Value refers to how light or dark something appears.

Before worrying about colour, try converting your subject into:

Light → Mid-tone → Shadow

Then gradually introduce additional values.

A useful exercise

Take a simple object such as an apple.

Place it under a single light source.

Identify:

  • Highlight
  • Light area
  • Mid-tone
  • Core shadow
  • Reflected light
  • Cast shadow

Draw these areas before attempting fine detail.

Pencil Drawing Techniques

Graphite pencils can produce remarkably different results depending on pressure, pencil hardness and the type of mark you make.

Hatching

Create parallel lines to build tone.

Cross-Hatching

Layer intersecting lines to create darker areas.

Stippling

Use dots to build tonal variation.

Blending

Soften graphite transitions using an appropriate blending method.

Erasing

An eraser isn't only for correcting mistakes.

You can use it to draw light back into a dark area.

This is particularly useful for highlights in graphite artwork.

Coloured Pencil Techniques

Coloured pencils work particularly well when colour is built gradually.

Layering

Apply light layers rather than trying to reach the final intensity immediately.

Burnishing

Apply heavier pressure near the end of the process to create a smoother, more saturated surface.

Colour mixing on the page

Instead of physically mixing colours on a palette, layer different colours over one another.

Directional strokes

Follow the direction of the surface you're drawing.

For example, when drawing hair, curved directional strokes can communicate the flow more effectively than random marks.

Watercolour Techniques

Watercolour behaves differently from opaque paints because water controls how the pigment moves across the surface.

Wet-on-Wet

  • Apply pigment to a wet surface.
  • The colour spreads and produces softer transitions.

Wet-on-Dry

  • Apply wet paint to dry paper.
  • This provides greater control and sharper edges.

Gradient Wash

  • Gradually transition from stronger colour to lighter colour.

Layering

  • Allow one wash to dry before adding another.
  • This allows you to build depth while retaining the transparency characteristic of watercolour.

Splattering

  • Controlled splashes can introduce texture and energy into suitable artworks.
  • Protect surrounding surfaces before using this technique.

Charcoal Techniques

Charcoal is excellent for expressive marks and strong tonal contrast.

Try:

  • Broad strokes
  • Fine lines
  • Smudging
  • Layering
  • Erasing
  • Cross-hatching
  • Blending

One particularly useful approach is to start with large dark shapes rather than details.

Establish the major values first, then refine the smaller areas.

Pastel Techniques

Pastels allow you to place colour directly onto the surface.

Experiment with:

Layering

  • Place colours over one another to create new visual mixtures.

Blending

  • Soften transitions between colours.

Broken Colour

  • Leave individual marks visible rather than completely blending them.

Pressure

  • Change pressure to vary the intensity of the mark.

Pastel artwork can become particularly expressive when the marks remain visible.

Perspective Tips for Beginners

Perspective doesn't need to be complicated.

Start with simple forms.

One-point perspective

Choose a vanishing point.

Draw lines that move toward it.

Use this to practise:

  • Roads
  • Hallways
  • Railway tracks
  • Interior spaces

Two-point perspective

Use two vanishing points.

This is useful for:

  • Buildings
  • Boxes
  • Furniture
  • Street scenes

Once you understand the basic structure, you can begin adding more complex forms.

Composition Tips

Even technically strong artwork can feel uncomfortable if the composition isn't working.

Before beginning a large piece, make several small thumbnail sketches.

Ask:

Where does the eye go first?

Is the subject too close to the edge?

Is one area significantly heavier than the others?

Where are the lightest areas?

Where are the darkest areas?

Is there enough breathing space?

A five-minute composition sketch can save hours of reworking.

Preparing Your Surface

The surface you work on affects the final result.

Before starting, consider:

  • The medium you're using
  • The texture of the surface
  • Absorbency
  • Required preparation
  • Expected finish

For example, a surface suitable for watercolour may behave very differently from one intended for acrylic or oil paint.

Choose a surface designed for your intended medium whenever possible.

Explore Canvas & Surfaces →

How to Keep Your Brushes in Good Condition

Brush maintenance is often overlooked.

Good habits include:

Clean promptly

  • Don't allow paint to dry in the bristles.

Don't overload the ferrule

  • Avoid pushing paint deep into the metal section of the brush.

Reshape the bristles

  • After cleaning, gently reshape the brush.

Store properly

  • Allow brushes to dry appropriately and store them so the bristles aren't being crushed.

Taking care of your brushes can extend their useful life considerably.

Working With Mediums

Art mediums can change the behaviour or finish of a paint.

Depending on the product, a medium may influence:

  • Flow
  • Transparency
  • Texture
  • Drying characteristics
  • Gloss
  • Matte finish

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific product you're using.

Don't assume that a medium designed for one type of paint will automatically be suitable for another.

Mixed-Media Techniques

Mixed media allows you to combine different approaches within one artwork.

For example:

Pencil sketch → Watercolour → Ink details 

Or:

Acrylic background → Collage → Drawing → Texture

The important consideration is compatibility.

Test unfamiliar combinations on scrap material before applying them to an important artwork.

Common Art Problems & How to Approach Them

"My colours look muddy."

You may be mixing too many colours together or using colours that neutralise each other.

Try returning to a smaller palette.

"My painting looks flat."

Check your value structure.

You may need stronger differences between light and dark areas.

"My drawing doesn't look realistic."

Check proportions before adding detail.

Details cannot compensate for incorrect underlying structure.

"My acrylic paint dries too quickly."

Work in smaller sections and consider whether an appropriate acrylic medium could help with your intended technique.

"My artwork looks overworked."

Know when to stop.

Adding more detail doesn't necessarily improve a piece.

Sometimes the strongest decision is leaving an area alone.

Practice Before the Final Artwork

One of the best habits an artist can develop is testing ideas before committing to the final piece.

Create small studies.

Test your colours.

Try different compositions.

Experiment with brush marks.

Work out the difficult areas first.

Then begin the final artwork with a clearer plan.

This is particularly useful when working on a large canvas or an important commission.

Keep a Technique Sketchbook

Create a dedicated sketchbook for experimentation.

Divide it into sections:

  • Colour
  • Brushwork
  • Texture
  • Drawing
  • Composition
  • Reference studies
  • Ideas

Don't worry about making the pages beautiful.

The sketchbook is a laboratory.

Record what worked, what didn't and what you'd change next time.

Improving Your Art Skills

Improvement doesn't come from buying more materials alone.

It comes from deliberate practice.

Instead of drawing randomly for an hour, choose one skill.

For example:

Monday: Value

Tuesday: Perspective

Wednesday: Colour mixing

Thursday: Brush control

Friday: Composition

Then apply what you've learned to a personal project.

This makes practice more purposeful.

Keep Experimenting

There isn't one correct way to make art.

  1. Learn the fundamentals.
  2. Understand your materials.
  3. Practise the techniques.
  4. Then experiment.
  5. Try the technique differently.
  6. Combine techniques.
  7. Break the rules deliberately.

The more familiar you become with your materials, the more confidently you can use them.

Explore Art Materials →

Frequently Asked Questions

What art techniques should beginners learn first?

Start with fundamental skills such as colour mixing, value, brush control, basic drawing, shading, composition and observation. These skills transfer across many different art mediums.

How can I improve my painting technique?

Practise individual techniques rather than only completing finished paintings. Experiment with brush pressure, layering, blending, colour mixing and different surfaces.

How do I make acrylic paint smoother?

Smooth acrylic application depends on factors such as paint consistency, brush choice, surface and technique. Work in manageable areas and use appropriate acrylic mediums when the intended technique calls for them.

Why do my paintings look flat?

Insufficient value contrast is a common reason. Study the relationship between highlights, mid-tones and shadows before focusing heavily on detail.

How can I improve my drawing?

Practise observation, proportion, perspective, value and shading. Drawing regularly from real objects rather than relying exclusively on photographs can also strengthen observational skills.

What is the difference between wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry?

Wet-on-wet involves applying wet paint to a wet surface, allowing softer colour movement. Wet-on-dry involves applying wet paint to a dry surface, generally giving you more control and sharper edges.

How do I take care of paint brushes?

Clean brushes promptly after use, avoid allowing paint to dry in the bristles, reshape them after cleaning and store them so the bristles are protected.

What is mixed-media art?

Mixed-media art combines two or more artistic materials or techniques in one artwork, such as acrylic paint and collage, or pencil, watercolour and ink.