Van Dyke Brown is a classic, deep warm brown named for 17th-century painter Anthony van Dyck. Once made from peat and soil, today it’s formulated from stable pigments (often transparent red iron oxide + carbon black) for excellent lightfastness. Explore its peat/sepia undertone, how it compares to Burnt Umber, mixing and glazing tips, plus best practices across oil, acrylic, and watercolor. A timeless workhorse for shadows and earthy palettes.
Art & Inspiration
How to Make Cloud Dough: 2-Ingredient Recipe, Tips & Sensory Play Ideas
Cloud dough (aka moon dough) is a silky, moldable sensory favorite you can make in minutes with just cornstarch and hair conditioner. This guide walks you through the 2-ingredient recipe, easy color/scent add-ins, gluten-free and allergy-safe swaps, classroom ideas, and storage tips so your dough lasts for weeks. Great for preschoolers and older kids—perfect for sculpting, pretend play, and fine-motor fun.
Primary & Secondary Colors: Definition, List
Primary and secondary colors are the foundation of color theory. Primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—cannot be mixed from other pigments, while secondary colors—orange, green, and purple—come from blending primaries. This guide explains their definitions, the role of tertiary colors, and how the color wheel connects them. Perfect for artists, designers, and educators, with hands-on mixing techniques (including Gel Press plates) and practical tips for applying colors in art, design, and classrooms.
Watercolor Paper Texture Guide: Differences, Uses & Artist Tips
Watercolor paper texture can make or break your painting. This guide explains cold press, hot press, and rough papers, how each affects absorption, edges, blending, and granulation, and which surfaces fit detailed illustration vs. expressive washes. You’ll also get tips for choosing by style, scanning textured work, safe cleanup, and using Gel Press plates to create custom backgrounds and textures for mixed-media pieces.
Prussian Blue Pigment: History, Uses, Safety & Monoprint Tips
Meet Prussian blue, the first modern synthetic pigment. Learn its accidental 1706 discovery, iron–hexacyanoferrate chemistry, and why it’s lightfast, affordable, and artist-favorite—from Hokusai to Van Gogh. Explore today’s uses in medicine and interiors, plus step-by-step Gel Press monoprinting ideas that make this deep, cool blue sing. Includes studio/classroom safety and cleanup so you can create confidently.
DIY Advent Calendar: Countdown to Christmas with Style
Create a DIY advent calendar that’s cheaper than store-bought and way more personal. This guide covers modern vs. traditional designs, clever themes for all ages, budget supplies you already own, and non-candy fillers (plus activity ideas). Learn simple Gel Press monoprinting to craft custom doors, tags, and envelopes, and get safety and cleanup tips for family-friendly crafting. Start a keepsake tradition that builds holiday magic all December long.
Color Theory for Monoprinting: Mix, Match & Print with Confidence
Unlock better prints with practical color theory. This beginner-friendly guide explains the color wheel, hue–saturation–value, and easy harmonies (complementary, analogous, triadic) to plan palettes that pop. See how Gel Press plates make mixing, layering, and testing tints/shades simple, with age-appropriate, non-toxic paint tips, cleanup, and storage. Build confidence choosing colors that set the mood—and create cohesive, high-impact monoprints.
What Is Encaustic Art? History, Materials, Techniques & Safety
Encaustic art blends beeswax, damar resin, and pigments to create luminous, durable paintings fused with heat. This beginner-friendly guide explains the origins (Fayum portraits to Jasper Johns), the essential tools and safe studio setup, how to melt, layer, and fuse wax, and creative mixed-media options like collage and Gel Press monoprints. Learn why artists love the depth, texture, and archival quality of this ancient-yet-modern medium.
How to Make Paper Mache: Easy Paste, Strong Layers, Fun Projects
New to paper mache? This guide walks you through everything: mixing flour-or-glue paste, choosing paper, building over balloons or molds, layering for strength, and drying safely to avoid mold. You’ll learn sanding, sealing, and painting—plus a creative twist using Gel Press monoprints to decorate your final layer. Perfect for masks, bowls, sculptures, and classroom crafts.
Etching for Beginners: Tools, Techniques & Safer Alternatives
New to etching? This beginner-friendly guide explains intaglio basics, how acid “bites” a metal plate, and what sets etching apart from engraving and drypoint. Explore plates, inks, presses, line etching, aquatint, and sugar lift—then see safer, acid-free ways to mimic etched effects with Gel Press plates at home or in the classroom. Includes setup, safety, troubleshooting, and project ideas.
Cadmium Yellow Color Meaning & Uses: A Complete Guide
Cadmium yellow is a cornerstone pigment: brilliantly vibrant, highly opaque, and renowned for its lightfastness. This guide explains its history, what sets it apart, how to choose between light, medium, and deep shades, and smart mixing tips for oils, acrylics, and gouache. You’ll also get safety best practices and classroom-friendly alternatives—plus ways to make this color sing in Gel Press monoprinting.
25+ Fun Art Ideas for All Ages (Kids, Teens & Adults)
Spark creativity with 25+ fun, low-cost art ideas for every age and skill level. From Gel Press monoprinting and watercolor-resist to recycled collages, potato stamps, and collaborative canvases, you’ll find quick wins and deeper projects to grow your skills. Includes group activities, modern DIY wall art, intermediate layering techniques, and non-toxic setup/cleanup tips so you can create safely at home, in classrooms, or workshops.