“What color should I use for underpainting?” It’s a simple question, but there isn’t a single answer. The right choice depends on what you want the painting to do.
Underpainting sets the tone, literally and visually. It influences your values, your color relationships, and even the mood of the final piece. So instead of looking for one “correct” color, it’s more useful to understand what each option gives you.
If you’ve spent any time around oil painting, you’ve heard it: fat over lean. It gets repeated so often it starts to sound like a slogan rather than something useful. But it matters alot.
Wetting a canvas before painting is one of those studio habits you’ll see some artists swear by and others completely ignore. The truth is, it depends on what you’re trying to do.
Making your art look more “expensive” isn’t about faking anything. It’s about clarity, control, and good decisions. Viewers can sense when a piece feels resolved and intentional. That’s what gives work a higher-end feel.
Here are ten practical tips that make a real difference.
Many painters spend hours polishing details that viewers barely notice. Meanwhile, the things that actually make the painting work often get less attention. This is where the 80/20 rule becomes useful.
The idea comes from the Pareto Principle. It suggests that roughly 80 percent of results come from 20 percent of the effort. In painting, that small percentage usually comes down to a few critical decisions: composition, value structure, and color relationships.
If those three elements are working, the painting will feel strong even before the details appear.
Canvas has been a favorite painting surface for centuries, and for good reason. It’s lightweight, durable, and holds paint well when properly primed. But one question comes up again and again in studios and classrooms: what type of paint actually works best on canvas?
The short answer is that several types work well. The real choice depends on how you like to paint and what kind of results you want.
Spanish neo-expressionist artist Domingo Zapata has been commissioned by Saudi Arabia to create the largest mural in the world. Announced in February 2026, Zapata is tapped to head a team of about 100 artists, engineers and architects to make a 540,000-square-feet, or about nine football fields, painting in Riyadh.
According to Page Six, the New York-based artist received a blank check for this huge project which hopefully would be visible from space. Zapata said, it would be “the Middle Eastern version of the Sistine Chapel.” He added that, “It’s more than just a painting. It’s a declaration of humanity, of love, understanding, union and progress.”
In an email to artnet, Zapata wrote, “As an artist, having the freedom to create without boundaries is incredibly rare. That’s why I reference the Sistine Chapel–not to compare myself to Michelangelo, but to evoke that moment in history when an artist was entrusted with complete creative freedom to interpret humanity as it was understood at the time.”
Zapata is internationally recognized for his works in Times Square and Miami, and his celebrity clientele.
In 2019, he worked on a 15-story, 300-foot-tall vinyl mural on the façade of One Times Square building and in 2010, the 35 x 15 foot mural at Wynwood Walls in Miami.
The Spanish artist has portrayed celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, George Soros, Kim Kardashian and Sofia Vergara, and has even painted with the late Pope Francis at the Vatican.
An art journal is not a sketchbook, a diary, or a finished artwork though it can borrow a little from all three. At its simplest, an art journal is a private space where you explore ideas visually without pressure. It’s where paintings begin long before they ever reach a canvas.
For painters, an art journal is less about making “good” work and more about making honest work.
When you’re standing in front of a blank canvas, one of the first questions you’ll face is what paint should I use? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all but understanding the properties of the main paint types makes choosing easier whether you’re just starting or have years in the studio.
When it comes to turning your artwork or photos into finished wall pieces, canvas prints and acrylic prints are two of the most popular options today but they deliver very different looks and experiences. Understanding their strengths can help you choose the best way to present and reproduce your work. Below, let’s break down what makes each option unique and why one might suit your needs better than the other.