What's New at Art by Carol May?

30+ Painting Tutorials

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Browse the library of free painting tutorials. Choose from step-by-step nature subjects; birds, butterflies, animals, flowers, landscapes, and more. This library is organized by medium and skill level with images and a brief description to aid in selecting your next painting project.

How to Paint Good Art

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:38:00 -0500

You can create good art using the big three! Understand how to paint good art with good composition including a focal point, values and color choices. Learn how to use these three important fundamentals to create diverse and captivating artwork!

Create a Focal Point

Thu, 5 Feb 2026 09:09:50 -0500

How do we create a focal point in art? Where do we put the focal point? How do we find the focus of an artwork? Should all paintings have a center of interest or can they have more than one? Learn from the complete guide of proven techniques using contrast, color and composition for creating paintings that attract and engage the viewers.

Paint a Beach Tutorial

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:58:40 -0500

Create stunning beach art with this step-by-step tutorial. A comprehensive guide on how to paint a beach. It only takes five colors to paint this seascape. Learn the steps of painting the easy background waves. Then paint the afternoon sun reflecting across the water onto the beach sand.

Learn How to Paint

Fri, 2 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500

Are you new and want to learn how to paint art? On this page, you’ll find ideas of what to paint, the supplies we really need, the fundamentals of good art (values, color, composition), and beginner-friendly tutorials where you learn by doing. This beginner's path and set of quick-start projects will walk you to your first paintings step by step.

How to Oil Paint

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Are you eager to learn how to oil paint? What are the essential supplies for oil painting? What do we need for clean-up and how long do oil paintings take to dry? Learn the rules of oil painting and then practice them by painting this beginner's step-by-step tutorial of this cuddly bear.

How Do We Use The Principles of Art?

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Art elements and principles appear over and over in good paintings. The elements and principles work together for us to create successful artwork. Art principles are the rules that govern how an artist uses the elements of art. See examples of how this works in our paintings.

What is the Meaning of Colors?

Fri, 7 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Artists often use the meaning of color to convey emotions, sentiments, and symbolism. Are you intrigued by the idea that colors can enhance or suppress different aspects of your paintings? Let's look at seven colors we find in nature; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. What do they mean and how they may be used in our paintings.

What is the Best Painting Medium?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

What is the best painting medium for the artist to begin painting? Compare the pros and cons of today’s popular mediums, oil, watercolor, acrylic and alkyd paint. What is the difference between their vibrancy of color, drying time, longevity, how easy they are to use and how much they cost.

How to Paint Watercolor Whites

Wed, 8 Oct 2025 12:07:07 -0400

How do we paint watercolor white? Examples of popular techniques of how to paint white in our watercolor artwork. What's the easiest way to paint white in watercolor? How do we keep the paper white? Is there white watercolor paint?

How to Design a Compositon in Art

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 11:16:18 -0400

A good composition draws the viewers to our paintings. How do we make a good composition? When we are designing a painting the #1 rule is place the main subject (the focal point) left or right of the center of the painting. What are more good tips we can use to create intriguing compositions for our paintings?

Do You Want to Paint Some Delightful Daisies?

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 16:47:31 -0400

Enjoy the art of painting while learning how to paint daisies with an easy step-by-step tutorial. Paint these white daisy flowers with oil paint or use the same steps to paint them using acrylic. The white daisies stand out perfectly against the darker artistic background.

How to Start an Artwork Painting

Tue, 1 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Use five easy steps to start a painting. You can start any painting with these steps. Use the steps to start painting the tutorials and you can use them to paint your own individual creations. But, how do we start painting a landscape? Do we start painting the main subject, the foreground or the background? How do we start a portrait painting?

Rule of Thirds Creates Easy Compositions

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Create dynamic compositions with the rule of thirds. It's the artists' shortcut for an easy composition. The idea started back in the 1700a and artists and photographers have been using it ever since. When we have a good compositions we can concentrate on the color and other aspects of the painting. How do we use the rule of thirds? Where is the ideal position for the subject? Why don't we just put the subject in the center of the painting? Should we always design our compositions with the thirds rule? What if our painting has more than one focal point, does the rule of thirds still work?

Color bias: the key to realistic colors

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:42:31 -0500

Have you ever struggled with getting the perfect color mixture? Is it possible the culprit could be color bias? Find the answers as we look at questions about color bias. What exactly is color bias and how does the painting artist use it? Is that why some of our color mixtures turn out muddy looking? Is bias the same as warm and cool colors? Is there a difference? What colors do we mix to get realistic, natural looking colors? How do we identify the bias of the popular paint colors?

What Color Do We Paint The Ocean?

Sat, 8 Feb 2025 21:43:39 -0500

Learn how to paint the beautiful ocean colors. Get inspired with creative tips and guidance in a tutorial to master the art of capturing the ocean's stunning hues! The tutorial also includes an easy way to paint clouds.

How to Do Oil Painting

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 10:23:16 -0500

This how to do painting guide helps intermediate artists create a stunning artwork of a horse running in the surf. You will enjoy doing this step-by-step tutorial from the start to the finishing details. Following the two rules of oil painting makes this painting logical and easy.

How to Paint a Dog

Thu, 5 Dec 2024 08:59:22 -0500

It's easy to paint this fun dog on canvas. A step-by-step dog painting with professional techniques on how to use oil paints. This dog painting tutorial uses only 3 colors.

Ideas for Your Home Art Studio

Sat, 9 Nov 2024 14:29:08 -0500

Get your creativity flowing with your own art space. Where would be a good place to put your art studio and what should you put it? What's the best light for painting? What about supplies and furniture?

Flower paintings bring joy to our homes!

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:11:36 -0400

Flowers are one of my passions whether it's growing or painting them. We can paint from real flowers or make them up out of our artist's head. This painting is a combination of both real and imagined flowers. It was fun painting this flower bouquet with an artist's butterfly coming to visit.

Easy Painting Ideas for Beginners

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:49:25 -0400

You want to start painting? Start with simple, yet delightful projects that aid your progress while celebrating your creative expression.

How to Glaze Watercolor

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0400

Glazing with watercolor is the key to rich, luminous watercolor paintings. What's the difference between a glaze and a wash? Learn how to layer transparent colors effectively with a step-by-step guide of painting some luscious mangoes.

How Do We Tell a Moth from a Butterfly?

Mon, 27 May 2024 14:41:51 -0400

Moths and butterflies are both good subjects for a painting. Moths are related to butterflies and they look similar. But, what's the difference between a moth and a butterfly? There are nine differences that help identify a moth from a butterfly.

Overcoming an Artist's Block

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0400

How to survive an artist's block. All artists can have blocks or delays, but we get over it. What is an art block? How do we get started painting again?

Do an Easy Butterfly Painting

Fri, 9 Feb 2024 16:48:00 -0500

Get creative with an easy butterfly painting tutorial.
Discover the joy of drawing and painting a vibrant Monarch Butterfly with simple watercolor techniques.

What is Fine Art?

Fri, 2 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0500

Distinguish 'What is Fine Art' from arts and crafts. Unravel the distinctions, appreciate the vibrancy of each, and their roles in our world today.

Easy Painting Ideas for Beginners

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0500

Are you looking for easy painting ideas for beginners? Unlock simple yet delightful projects that aid your progress while celebrating your creative expression.

Prophetic Painting of Victory

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0500

Last year the Lord showed me a vision of a bunch of balloons rising up in the air. I painted it and wondered what it meant? He said it meant, "Celebrating Victory".
Sometimes we just need to celebrate a victory before it happens. We start celebrating and then it comes to pass. God is so good!

Values are the backbone of paintings

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Every artist needs to know how to use values in painting. Color is fun, but using values, light and dark colors is what creates strong attractive paintings. Learn the ins and outs of painting values.

What is the Meaning of Colors?

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:15:00 -0500

Empower your paintings with the right color choices. Learn the meaning of color, color symbolism and how color influences the viewers' emotions and perceptions.

What is the best painting medium for aspiring artists?

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0500

What is the best painting medium for the artist to start with? Compare the pros and cons of today’s popular mediums, oils, watercolor, acrylics and alkyd paints.

Unlock Your Creativity with Ideas for Painting

Fri, 8 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Artists draw ideas for painting from our environment, everyday objects, memories, dreams and feelings. We get painting ideas from fellow artists, art galleries, the works of the old masters, and the beauty in ordinary things. Artist explore various natural subjects such as the landscape, flora, fauna and seascapes for more ideas to paint.

How to Paint a Butterfly with oil paint

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Have you ever wanted to learn how to paint a butterfly? Many artists are inspired by their colors and interesting patterns.
This painting uses the basics of oil painting. You can use the same techniques for more butterfly paintings or any other subject you desire.

How do we start a painting?

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Learn how to start a painting with five easy steps to start any art painting. Use these steps to start your own creations and to practice the painting tutorials

Begin Painting with Answers

Wed, 1 Nov 2023 13:05:00 -0400

You want to begin painting, but you need answers to frequently asked questions. What should we paint? Is it expensive to start painting art? What paint should we use? What colors do we need? Do we have to draw? What materials do we need to start? How do we start painting? How do we store our paint?

Try a Mixed Media Painting

Thu, 5 Oct 2023 13:00:00 -0400

Feel the joy and freedom of painting mixed media. Create awesome paintings with this easy painting technique. Do a textured underpainting with acrylic. Then do the watercolor painting on top of the dried acrylic. This creates a wonderful difference from the normal watercolor painting.

Use the Principles of Art In Your Paintings

Mon, 7 Aug 2023 15:43:32 -0400

Use the principles of art to create successful paintings. Learn how artists create pleasing compositions by using the art elements according to the principles of painting art.

Beginning Watercolor

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:05:00 -0400

Watercolor doesn't have to be scary. It's an easy medium to start painting. Learn the 101 basics of watercolor for beginners. Then paint a Rufous Hummingbird and flower with the step-by-step tutorial.

Mixing colors is fun!

Thu, 18 May 2023 08:12:00 -0400

Artists use the color wheel when we are learning how to mix colors. Use only three or four colors for a painting and then mix any additional colors. This creates color harmony. We can mix the greens, darks and tints for our paintings. We don’t buy them.

Creating Good a Compositon in Art

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 10:01:43 -0400

Good compositions in art draw the viewers into our paintings. How do we paint a good composition? When we are painting, it's important to remember the rule of center lines. We normally do not place the main subject on the center lines. Why is that? What are good ways to create a composition in art?

How to Make Skin Colors

Mon, 6 Mar 2023 15:40:00 -0500

Someone requested how to mix skin colors. It had been forty years since painting a person, but I gave it a whirl. Skin colors can be mixed from only 3 colors. Once we have the basics of mixing colors, we can mix the colors for any subject.

Learning How to Paint Watercolor

Mon, 6 Mar 2023 15:35:00 -0500

Learn how to watercolor with confidence and knowledge. Paint a Rufous Hummingbird with a step-by-step tutorial. Watercolor is clean easy and good for beginners.

Painting Watercolor Step by Step

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 10:01:13 -0500

Get started painting watercolor step by step.
What materials do you need? How do you use watercolor? What are the steps and methods of painting watercolor?
Paint a colorful Koi Angelfish while you are learning how to paint watercolor. Follow the easy steps for the beginner and get started painting watercolor. Learn more about Painting Watercolor Step-by-Step

How to Paint a Waterfall

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 09:12:38 -0400

Paint a waterfall in a colorful fall landscape. You can add a lovely waterfall to any of your oil paintings with only three steps. It’s fun and easy! Get the full instructions.

The Secret to Painting

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 11:05:31 -0500

Why do we paint? The real secret to painting is we paint to express ourselves, what we see around us. Painting makes us healthy, helps us relax and relieve stress.

Different Types of Butterflies

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 10:46:48 -0500

Painting butterflies is one of my passions and so is growing flowers. The two go together beautifully. When I lived in Florida there was such an abundance of butterflies. They like warm weather just like people. So I started planting more flowers just for the butterflies. My favorite butterfly flower is Lantana. They come in a variety of colors. And some colors will over-winter, even in northern Florida. Then I started learning how to identify the different types of butterflies. It's fun to learn the butterfly types, so you know what you are painting. Go to Types of Butterflies