News & Blog: Art Lessons
The Meaning Within This Painting
Discussion on the Meaning Within This Painting COMPLETED PAINTING Oil Painting with Palladium leaf 1200 x 600mm (approx 39½ inches x 23½ inches) Painted on Belgian linen archivally attached to aluminium panelThank you to...
THE IMPACT OF RED IN YOUR PAINTINGS Part 2
THE IMPACT OF RED IN YOUR PAINTINGS Part 2 Enchante Par la Provence By Susan Harrison-Tustain HOW TO STRATEGICALLY PLACE RED IN YOUR COMPOSITION In Part 1 of this two part series, I discussed how to create glowing red mixes that dance on your page/canvas. Now I...
HOW TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF AUBURN HAIR IN ANY PAINTING MEDIUM
HOW TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF AUBURN HAIR IN ANY PAINTING MEDIUM WORK IN PROGRESS Watercolor by Susan Harrison-Tustain It is my pleasure to create this free art lesson to help you with your understanding of painting and color! I have used a...
THE POWER OF COLOR – free painting lesson series
WELCOME TO MY FREE ART LESSON: The Power of #Color This is a short series of #freepaintinglessons where you will discover invaluable, powerful insights into #painting! Today's #lesson we will begin talking about The Power of Color. #Color of course is a huge...
FREE PAINTING LESSON: HOW TO GAIN CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE IN YOUR PAINTING SKILLS
Part 2 FREE PAINTING LESSON: HOW TO GAIN CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE IN YOUR PAINTING SKILLS Wow what an overwhelming response to Part 1 of my 'FREE PAINTING LESSON: How to Gain Confidence and Courage in your Painting Skills' article. (If you haven't seen it...
HOW TO GAIN CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE IN YOUR PAINTING SKILLS
HOW TO GAIN CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE IN YOUR PAINTING SKILLS When it comes to self-doubt - you are not alone! It is rare to meet an artist with absolute and supreme confidence in their painting skills. Painting is challenging and if we want to grow our...
HOW TO CREATE SHADOWS THAT DANCE WITH COLOR
HOW TO CREATE SHADOWS THAT DANCE WITH COLOR
#FREE ART LESSON: HOWTO #PAINT #HAIR
FREE ART LESSON HINTS AND TIPS: HOW TO PAINT HAIR #HOW TO #PAINT #REALISTIC #HAIR My blog posts are a great place to learn some of my invaluable #hints and #tips for #painting. Often the information I share will relate to any medium. If you would like to...
#PAINTING : WATCH THE MAGIC OF THE FIVE KEY ELEMENTS AT WORK
LEARN HOW YOU CAN FINE TUNE YOUR PAINTINGS USING THE FIVE KEY ELEMENTS When #teaching #artworkshops and on my #paintingDVDs and #downloads I find one of the most valuable #artlessons I can teach involve understanding the power of the five key elements...
#FREE #ART #LESSON: HOW TO SEE AND PAINT THE SUBTLETIES IN A #WATERCOLOR #PAINTING
HOW TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTY AND SERENITY OF A SCENE IN WATERCOLOR Painting iS not that difficult. By far and away the most important thing is to paint something that has meaning - a work that has something to say about the subject. Take a close look at my...
HOW TO CREATE A COMPOSITION THAT SPEAKS TO THE VIEWERS OF YOUR WORK – Free art lesson
FREE PAINTING LESSON: HOW TO CREATE A COMPOSITION THAT SPEAKS TO THE VIEWERS OF YOUR WORK. 'Liberty' Watercolor painting by Susan Harrison-Tustain www.susanart.com Doris Joa nominated me to a painting challenge on Facebook. I need to post a painting each day for 7...
New oil on 24 Carat Gold and Palladium Painting
Oil on 24 carat gold and palladium leaf – poplar panel. Here are my final tweaks on this pre-study: – Golden eggs lay secure in the kingfisher nest – Russet, yellow, orange and green leaves are carried on an Autumnal breeze behind Alice – And finally I have softened...
FINAL STAGE OF HOW TO #PAINT IN WATERCOLOR; SALLY HOLMES ROSE STUDY
HOW TO FINE TUNE A #WATERCOLOR #PAINTING Here we are at the final stage of this Sally Holmes #watercolor rose study We will concentrate on the differences in the #background. You will see I have two different examples of the background. One is lighter and more gentle....
STAGE 2 OF MY SALLY HOLMES ROSE PAINTING
In this #art #lesson Stage Two – have now extended my yellow underwash in the #background. It looks luscious doesn’t it! Some have said they like the #background just as it is – however – watch this space and you will see how these varying strengths of...
Work in Progress
We all learn so much from watching Works in Progress come to life. Seeing the painting stages and watching as the painting evolves can be fascinating and full of great lessons. I thought I would post a series of stages for my painting of the rose Sally Holmes. This...
Latest news from Susan Harrison-Tustain Studio
LEARN INVALUABLE FREE PAINTING LESSONS, HINTS, TIPS AND CATCH UP ON THE NEWS FROM SUSAN’S ART STUDIO! At last, as promised, here is my latest newsletter. Included in this one are: * LEARN HOW TO BRING THAT PROFESSIONAL EDGE TO YOUR PAINTINGS! Learn some fabulous, free...
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS
” SIMPLICITY HAS FORCE!” What does this saying refer to?Those who have been on my art workshops or have my ‘how to paint’ DVDs will have heard me say this often. Very often we think that by painting every detail in every part of the painting – we will have a...
HOW TO CLEAN OIL PAINTING BRUSHES
Ask someone else to do it! No – I jest. But I love that idea! No let’s be serious about this…. I wear gloves to protect my skin Firstly begin by removing as much paint as possible with a paper towel I then dip my brushes in Odourless Mineral Spirits. I work this...
How to paint in Watercolor – This Week’s Hints and Tips
If there is ONE THING I am asked about above all others – it is “How much water to use when painting in watercolor”. Becoming familiar with how much water to use in a watercolor painting will have a huge impact on so many aspects of your paintings. This lesson will...
LEARN HOW TO OBSERVE TEXTURES AND SURFACES
I have been teaching for over 25 years now and I find one of the most often asked about subjects is backgrounds. So many artists are intimidated by the background. It seems painting foreground is a pleasure – but when it comes to a background – fear sets in!This is...
How to bring depth and three dimensional reality to your painting with a few simple washes/glaze
Hi Everyone I am often asked by artists how they can stop their paintings from looking flat. There are many reasons why a painting can look flat – but one of the common issues is easily corrected with just a few washes! In this example I have used a floral/still life...
HINTS FOR OIL PAINTING ON PANEL AND LINEN
Dedication Oil painting on Oil Primed Belgian Linen by Susan Harrison-Tustain As many of you know I paint both in watercolor and oil. I am often asked what substrate I use for my oil paintings. Generally for oil painting I prefer to use Belgian linen. Often oil primed...
HOW TO PAINT AN INTELLIGENT COMPOSITION
Hi Everyone Have you always wanted to know how to create unique painting compositions? It is high time I posted a teaching lesson for those who love to learn and extend their skill level. It is always my pleasure to help you on your journey Have you ever struggled...
HOW TO PAINT GORGEOUS BIRD STUDIES IN WATERCOLOR
I love to hear the bird song just outside my studio window. We have a Song Thrush family we have encouraged to nest nearby. The mother often flies in and does a swoop around my studio to let me know she and her family are ready for another sirloin mince/wheat germ and...
How to create rich dark luminous colors!
The Winds Song Susan Harrison-Tustain Watercolor on Arches 300gsm Hot Pressed paper 43″ x 19 1/4″ (1090mm x 490mm) I am often asked how to create rich translucent strong color. The answer to the question is found in the strength and staining qualities of the pigments...
How To Paint: Realistic Hair In Watercolor
I love to share the hints and tips that have made all the difference in my painting career. As windows of time come free – I love to post articles that will hopefully inspire artists and lift their skills and knowledge to the next level. Please do share them and...
The power of a background
I am often asked how to paint backgrounds and how to paint pale colors in watercolor. I sometimes choose to paint a study with a white background. A floral work with an unpainted background is often titled a “redoute” style painting. After the famous botanical artist...
How to create form with colour and colour temperature
Color temperature along with tone, color, intensity and edges allow us to create the impression of reality in watercolor and all other painting mediums. How to create form with colour and colour temperature? Have you struggled trying to paint in watercolor? Have you...
How to paint in watercolor and how to paint in oil
How do we paint? Where do we start to paint in watercolor and where do we start to paint in oils? Most artists think a painting begins with the drawing – but in reality a successful painting begins long before we take a pencil in our hands. You will have heard me talk...
The Best Watercolor Paper – for my Painting Methods
Hot pressed watercolor paper versus cold pressed watercolor paper? I have so often asked the following questions: Which watercolor paper is best to use What is the difference between Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper and Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper What is size – on...
Free watercolor painting lesson
This is one of my early paintings showing you how I used to paint before I discovered how to paint in watercolor using my Priming Method. Take a look at the hard edges, shadows and the raw washed-out colors in this early painting. Now take a look below at the...
Bellbird – Painting of a bird in a flax flower and a lesson about mixing greens in watercolor
‘Bellbird’ Watercolour on Arches Hot Pressed 300 gsm (140 lb) Watercolour Paper 485mm x 190mm (19 in x 7 1/2 in) © Susan Harrison-Tustain A picnic stopover at Mavora Lakes, Southland, on a back road to Lake Wakatipu and Walter Peek. So pure and so clear the Bellbird...
South Island Tomtit and Stewart Island Robin – Two original bird paintings in Watercolor
Stewart Island, New Zealand has a well deserved pristine, clean, green reputation. Stunningly beautiful this land feels almost prehistoric and it is not hard to imagine this is what most of New Zealand must have been like before man arrived. Almost predator-free this...
How to create a glowing red in watercolor or oil – Colour Lesson
I had so much fun creating this Red Parrot Tulip and while developing these glowing red washes, it occurred to me that I should share this information with you all. A warm glowing red is a notoriously difficult color to portray – unless you know what I am about to...
Information about Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper
I have just been asked a question regarding the surface of Hot Pressed papers. I will post the answer here as I am sure this explanation may also be of interest to you all: I find the best surface for my purposes is Arches 140lbs Hot Pressed paper. Hot pressed paper...
Art Magazine and Exhibition News – Red Parrot Tulip in Watercolor
Untitled Watercolor painting : Parrot Tulip © Susan Harrison-Tustain Richard and I were wandering around Victoria on Vancouver Island Canada – such a beautiful place. Alongside a grand hotel I spotted a flower bed of stunning Parrot Tulips. I loved their frilled...
Is it Oil or is it Watercolor? – Article in International Artist Magazine on how to paint in watercolor and how to paint in oil color by Susan
One of the most common things Susan is asked about her paintings is this: “Is it an oil or a watercolor painting?” In this newly released issue (#78 April/May) of the prestigious International Artist Magazine, Susan reveals her decision making process when and how she...
Still life Painting: Pear on wood in watercolor – Color Temperature – Watercolor Technique
Pear on wood – watercolor painting © Susan Harrison-Tustain Demystifying Warm and Cool (Color Temperature) Warm and cool is a vast subject but I have a great, simple way of teaching it: Anything with red or yellow is basically warm. Anything with blue is basically...
Watercolor Painting Techniques – My method: Dabbing
“Voyage de Vie” watercolor painting © Susan Harrison-Tustain Techniques and methods generally mean the same thing. You can read about my watercolor techniques in my previous posts but I would also like to discuss how to use our brushes to give us different techniques....
How to paint with watercolor – watercolor painting technique
‘Innocence’ Watercolor Rose Painting © Susan Harrison-Tustain Watercolor is a fantastic medium because it can be used to create any subject at all. I love that is immediate, clean to use and my brushes wash in water. But most of all I love the expressiveness of...
Instructional Art DVD’s and Video Downloads
Click on any of the DVD images below to find more in-depth information on the contents of each of the DVDs and Video Downloads.
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DVD: Watercolor Masterclass Volume One: “Painting Life-Like Leaves and Vibrant Greens” – for all skill levels
US$54.50 -
One-on-One Watercolor Workshops with Susan Harrison-Tustain – for all skill levels
US$54.50 -
Painting Watercolor My Way with Susan Harrison-Tustain – for all skill levels
US$54.50 -
Watercolor Portrait Workshop with Susan Harrison-Tustain – for all skill levels
US$54.50
