My top 3 pieces of art content. Written & Video (Done by Doug Swinton)

Here are my top 3 art posts from Doug Swinton. I was watching the iconic TV show Friends the other day. An episode showcased all the past episodes and the funniest moments with Joey Tribbiani. This got me thinking: we should create a blog post that revisits the best written and video posts my dad (Doug Swinton) and I have done.

• Rion Swinton

  
  
  
  

My Top 3 Art Posts by Doug Swinton

In this post, I will share my top three art posts that I believe have provided the most value. These posts cover crucial techniques and insights every artist should know.

Written posts:

1. 7 Ways To Give Your Painting Dimension

This article can elevate your paintings from beginner to advanced levels. By practicing all seven steps, you can learn to use Value, Temperature, Chroma, Perspective, and Texture effectively. These techniques help give dimension to your artwork.

Chroma and Value Colour Guide

Read the full post here -> 7 Ways To Give Your Painting Dimension

2. 10 Painting Rules & When To Break Them

This post not only outlines the essential rules to follow but also teaches you when and how to break them. Mastering these rules can enhance your art significantly.

Read the full post here -> 10 Painting Rules & When To Break Them

3. 7 Benefits of Painting with a Limited Palette

This is a common question when artists are considering colours to buy. They often ponder whether to choose professional-grade or student-grade paint.

Using a limited palette has many benefits. It encourages you to learn colour theory, allowing you to mix any colour you need for your artwork.

It is often more beneficial to invest in professional-grade paint and stick with a consistent palette. This approach yields the best results, saves money, and helps you become adept at using the colours you’ve selected.

Read the full post here -> 7 Benefits of Painting with a Limited Palette

Video Posts:

Doug and I have created hundreds of video posts on social media, all about painting techniques. Among these, I have found three that offer the most impact and value.

1. Horizontal Lines Go Away and Vertical Lines Come Towards You

This quick 60-second video demonstrates how to enhance the believability of your paintings.

Watch the video here ->

Or view the original video on TikTok here -> TikTok Video

A side note: This video generated over 6 million views and helped us gain over 100,000 followers across various platforms with just one video!

2. Concave vs. Convex

When Doug introduced this concept, I was amazed. The difference is striking, yet many don't notice it unless pointed out. Concave lines communicate weakness, while convex lines convey strength.

By incorporating convex lines in your artwork, you can enhance the appearance of concave shapes, lending boldness to your painting.

Watch the video here ->

Or view the original video on Facebook here -> Facebook Video

3. Re-Shape Your Brush with Sugar Water

I frequently receive questions about how to restore a brush's shape. This question is essential since brushes can be expensive.

You can easily re-shape your brush by steaming it, dipping it in sugar water, molding it with your hands, and allowing it to dry. For flat brushes, a playing card paired with a paper clip can aid in maintaining the flat shape.

Keep in mind, though, this may not work for brushes that are too worn out.

Watch the video here ->

View the original video on Instagram here -> Instagram Video

After the initial video, we decided to create a faster and funnier version. See it here:

Watch version 2 of the video here -> Instagram Video Version 2

Conclusion

I hope you found value in these posts. Doug has been extremely busy with teaching lately. Even on a typical week, it’s tough to get him out of the studio. I decided to give him a month off from writing to focus on teaching and painting.

Love you, Dad!

Your friend in art,

Rion

Bonus Content!

If you’re looking for a challenge to kick off your year and elevate your painting skills, check out this video exercise from last year. Many students participated, although only two completed it. Congrats to those two!

Watch the challenge video here ->