Johann Hunt
Making great art doesn’t have to mean years of practice or expensive supplies. The best techniques come down to simple tricks that can change the way you create. Whether you’re sketching, painting, or experimenting with mixed media, these hacks will help you get better results with less frustration.
Use The Rule Of Thirds For More Balanced Compositions
Borrowed from photography, the rule of thirds helps artists create dynamic and appealing layouts. Picture your canvas divided into a three-by-three grid, like a tic-tac-toe board. By placing focal points at the intersections instead of the dead center, you guide the viewer’s eye naturally through the piece, creating a sense of movement and harmony.
Try A Limited Color Palette For Stronger Impact
Using too many colors can make an artwork feel messy or overwhelming. Sticking to a limited palette—just three to five colors—forces a more intentional approach. Many professional artists, even legendary painters like Claude Monet, swear by this method because it makes their work feel cohesive.
Turn Your Work Upside Down To Spot Mistakes
If something looks “off” in your drawing but you can’t figure out why, flip it upside down. This trick makes it easier to see proportion issues and imbalances because your brain stops focusing on what the subject should look like and starts seeing it as simple shapes.
Sketch With Your Non-Dominant Hand For More Fluid Lines
It sounds counterintuitive, but using your non-dominant hand for warm-up sketches can help loosen up stiff drawings. Because you have less control, lines will be less rigid and more expressive. Even Picasso was known to experiment with different hands while drawing, proving that perfection isn’t always the goal.
Use A Mirror To Check Your Perspective
Artists have been using mirrors for centuries to double-check their work. Looking at a reflection of your drawing or painting reverses the image, making it easier to catch distortions in perspective or symmetry. It’s an old trick, but digital artists also rely on it by flipping their work in Photoshop.
Soften Pencil Shading With A Simple Tissue
Blending tools can get expensive, but a regular tissue works just as well. Instead of using fingers—which can leave behind oils and smudges—try lightly rubbing a tissue over pencil shading. It creates smooth transitions and soft gradients, giving that artwork a more polished look without fancy supplies.
Use Cheap Eyeshadow For Unique Textures
Want to add soft, powdery textures to your art? Look no further than an old eyeshadow palette. The finely milled pigments blend easily with colored pencils and charcoal, creating rich, layered effects. Some pastel artists use it as a substitute for traditional soft pastels. Plus, it’s way cheaper.
Try A White Gel Pen For Perfect Highlights
Adding highlights can be tricky, but a white gel pen makes it easy. Whether you’re working with colored pencils, markers, or watercolor, a few bright touches can add contrast and depth to your artwork. Comic book artists use this technique to create the illusion of light and shine.
Create A DIY Viewfinder To Frame Your Subject
A simple paper frame can help artists find the best composition before even starting to sketch. Cut a small rectangle out of an index card and use it like a camera viewfinder. This trick is especially useful for plein air artists who need to quickly decide how to crop a landscape or city scene.
Use Tape For Crisp, Clean Edges
For precise lines and sharp edges, painter’s tape is a must-have. It works wonders for keeping borders neat or creating bold geometric designs. To avoid tearing, press the tape down firmly and peel it off slowly while the paint is still slightly wet. This technique is effective with acrylics, watercolors, and even spray paint.