Tagged: oil painting

a man visiting an art gallery

What Are the 4 Main Art Styles? A Guide for Artists and Hobbyists

When people talk about “art styles,” sometimes it feels like they’re speaking another language. In practice, though, many works fall broadly into a few main categories or styles that help us see how artists think, not just what they paint. Here are four major art styles and how they show up in your work or studies.

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Man and woman sitting in front of two paintings in a gallery

How Art Galleries Can Thrive Amid Changing Art Tastes

Running an art gallery is more than picking pretty paintings. At its heart, a gallery is a mediator between artists, collectors, and culture. And that terrain moves fast. Taste changes, attention shifts, new voices emerge. If you’re a gallery owner, navigating this flux is part of the job. Here’s how you can stay relevant, resilient, and in dialogue with changing tastes.

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large canvas art in green, yellow, brown

How to Seal a Painted Canvas: Varnishing & Protective Coats

Whether you’re an amateur painter or seasoned pro, sealing your painted canvas is a meaningful last step. It protects your work from dust, UV damage, and abrasion and gives it a finished look. But sealing is an art in itself, and doing it poorly can ruin a piece.

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The 4 Stages of Painting: Step-by-Step for Artists

Every painting whether a quick sketch or a large, refined work, typically moves through stages. Knowing these stages helps you work more deliberately, spot what phase you’re in, and avoid getting stuck. Here’s a breakdown of four common stages of painting.

1. Planning & Design (or “Pre-stage”)

Before a brush ever touches the canvas, you’re already painting in your head. This stage includes:

  • Sketching thumbnails or rough compositions
  • Deciding the format, aspect ratio, cropping
  • Choosing a ground (tone) or underpainting color
  • Working out value structure, major shapes, and color mood

Paintings with strong outcomes often start with a solid design: layout, balance, focal points. Some artists do several small studies here before committing to the final canvas.

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rectangular wood panels

Why Every Painter Should Try Cradled Wood Panels

If you’ve mostly worked on canvas, switching to a cradled wood panel might feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. But there’s good reason many contemporary and mixed media painters turn to cradled panels: they combine rigidity, stability, and a clean, modern presentation. Here’s why using cradled wood panels can be a game-changer.

What Is a Cradled Wood Panel?

A cradled panel is a wood or composite board mounted on a framework (“cradle”) of wood slats on the back. That cradle gives support and stiffness, preventing flexing, bending, or warping of the flat surface. It’s essentially a rigid, self-supported structure.

Unlike stretched canvas, which is flexible and can sag, cradled panels stay firm under stress. That’s the first big advantage.

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Wood Panels vs Canvas: Which Surface Suits Your Painting Style?

If you paint whether professionally, as a hobby, or teach others, you’ve probably asked: should I use a wood panel or stretched canvas? Each has strong points. Picking the right one can influence how your work looks, lasts, how you handle it, and even what techniques feel natural. Let’s dig in.

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6 Tips for Painters in Finding Their Audience

If you’re a painter–amateur, pro, lecturer, or hobbyist–you’ve probably felt it: the fear that your work won’t be seen, that your voice won’t reach anyone. It’s real. But it doesn’t have to stop you. You can build visibility, even when fear is heavy. Here’s how.

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Cradled vs. Uncradled Wood Panels: What Every Painter Should Know

Let’s talk painting surfaces. If you’ve sketched or painted on an artist wood panel, you’ve probably run into the terms “cradled” and “uncradled.” It’s easier than it sounds and it’s a solid choice that’ll affect your finished work.

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A painter using smartphone

How Visual Artists Can Boost Real Engagement on Instagram in 2025

If you’re an artist using Instagram, whether you paint for fun, teach art, or just share your creative journey, getting real engagement can feel like trying to push a boulder uphill. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. Let’s break down how to build actual connection without relying on algorithms alone or getting lost in reels about dancing pets.

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Canvas Toning Made Simple

If you’ve ever stared at a blank canvas and felt a pang of hesitation or found your colors lacking pop, toning your canvas could be the secret to unlocking more expressive, confident painting.

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