Open Studios Club

Open Studios Club is a casual virtual studio session where you can hang out with other artists, work on your own projects, and get feedback from our staff in real time on voice. Emmet, Ava, SC, Elvera, Uma This is an opportunity to learn and be inspired by a small group of artists in a […]

Dec 2023: Visual Map of Your Brain

Art Dare Prompt Art Dare Leap Get started! Submit Submissions close on Sunday, Dec 31 @ 11:59pm EST Prizes We award prizes and honorable mentions. To be eligible for a prize, your artwork must be an original artwork created specifically for this Art Dare, and follow all guidelines. Art Dare winner Artists outside the US […]

October 2023 Winners

This video shows the results of the 2023 October Art Dare: Fall Harvest. Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Jordan McCracken-Foster. Prize Winner Amber DiGerlando As a visually impaired artist, I thought I might represent a different perspective. My sculptural work is found-object wire and is meant to symbolize the creation […]

Workshop: Holiday Ornaments & Decorations

This 1 day workshop is a chance create fun ornaments and/or decorations for any holiday, in a wide range of 2D and 3D media. We’ll talk about different ways you can create unique interpretations of a holiday, and experiment with 2D and 3D materials. Workshop Info To Register Registration is due Friday, December 8 so […]

Workshop: Holiday Cards

This 1 day workshop is a chance to design holiday cards in a wide range of media. We will look at card design from both art history to contemporary designs. We’ll discuss how to create your cards, either unique designs or using techniques like printmaking to produce several cards all at one. Workshop Info To […]

September 2023 Winners

This video shows the results of the 2023 September Art Dare: Bling. Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Jordan McCracken-Foster. Prize Winner Ginger Medrano “I challenged myself to use only glittery/shimmery polymer clay in this piece. I was on the phone with my sibling when I got started. They love frogs […]

Art School Tours

Table of Contents Photos & text by Vivian Cromwell California College of the Arts California College of the Arts is in a quiet part of San Francisco. Two years of campus dorms are guaranteed, and there is additional housing for juniors and seniors. About 900 out of 1500 students live on campus. The three most […]

Nov 2023: No Rectangles

Art Dare Prompt Art Dare Leap Get started! Submit Submissions close on Thursday, November 30 @ 11:59pm EST Prizes We award prizes and honorable mentions. To be eligible for a prize, your artwork must be an original artwork created specifically for this Art Dare, and follow all guidelines. Art Dare winner Artists outside the US […]

Drawing a Child in Soft Pastel

See from beginning to end, how to draw a soft pastel portrait of a child. Children are challenging to draw, their proportions are odd, they have very little visible bone structure! See how to block in the initial patches of color and articulate details in the later part of the process.  Demo by Art Prof […]

Worst MFA Portfolio Mistakes

Don’t waste your time with these mistakes most MFA applicants make in their portfolios! Getting the right information for your MFA is important so you aren’t headed in the wrong direction. There is unfortunately a ton of misinformation online about preparing an MFA portfolio, this video provides trusted, accurate information. Discussion with Art Prof Clara […]

Workshop: Gestural Figure Painting

This 1 day workshop is a chance to learn techniques for capturing a sense of gesture and movement in 2- 15 min. figure paintings. We’ll discuss ways to capture the action of the figure in order to show energy in your paint strokes. Brush techniques for creating fluidity in your paintings will be covered in […]

Workshop: Portrait & Figure, Flesh Tones

This 1 day workshop is a chance to explore how to create flesh tones for portrait and figure that are vibrant and luminous, while articulating convincing figurative forms. We’ll discuss how to develop your own approach to portraying flesh tone colors by talking about layering colors, how light affects color, as well as simple color […]

Workshop: Websites for Artists

This 1 day workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of how to build, organize, and maintain an effective artist website.  Topics we can discuss are website platforms, preparing your artwork images, creating smooth navigation for your audience, organizing a clear menu bar, and more. Whether you are are about to create a website […]

August 2023 Winners

This video shows the results of the 2023 August Art Dare: Underwater Creatures. Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Jordan McCracken-Foster. Prize Winner Ravine Cohen “This piece is a continuation of a topic I’ve been exploring in my work recently — small moments and the environments that create them. Using acrylic […]

Oct 2023: Fall Harvest

Art Dare Prompt Art Dare Leap Get started! Submit Submissions close on Tuesday, Oct 31 @ 11:59pm EST Prizes We award prizes and honorable mentions. To be eligible for a prize, your artwork must be an original artwork created specifically for this Art Dare, and follow all guidelines. Art Dare winner Artists outside the US […]

Three Point Linear Perspective

This is a comprehensive explanation of 3 point linear perspective, that distills the most essential elements. Hear a concrete breakdown of the process, including how to apply these skills into the context of an artwork, without your piece looking like a boring series of cubes in space! Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu. Video […]

Thumbnail Sketches: Tracing Paper Technique

See a step by step demo of how create thumbnail sketches in color, using techniques involving tracing paper, hard copy print outs, and digital adjustments. See Part 1 of this process through creating digital collages as image references for painting. Demo by Art Prof Clara Lieu. Video Walkthrough As a free educational source, Art Prof […]

Workshop: Get Results on Social Media

This 1 day workshop will provide guidance on how to achieve your goals on social media. Whether you want to sell your art, exhibit in galleries, or share your artistic process, we will discuss how you can shift your strategy on social media to get results. “It was really lovely connecting with such a small […]

Workshop, Pumpkins & Gourds

Explore the incredible range of textures, colors, and forms seen in gourds and pumpkins! We will talk about how to articulate the volume and surface of these wonderful forms. Take this subject where you want: anything from a fantasy illustration, a color study, a still life! Watch a Sample Workshop How it Works Before the […]

Workshop, Skeletons & Bones

Spend a day exploring skeletons, skulls, and bones! Bones are exciting because they are the structure within animals and humans. Take this subject where you want, a fantastical skeleton you invent, an anatomical study, whatever suits you. “Fabulous feedback from Prof Lieu as I was going along. This taught me and helped make this piece […]

Workshop, Drawing Dogs

Learn drawing techniques for how you can capture the immense range of expressive gestures our furry friends are capable of! We will discuss ways to show movement in a drawing while also articulating textures and structure within a dog. “I’ve tried a different paid group with video & live tutorials to through Facebook and I’ve […]

Creating Digital Collages for Composition

Digital collages will help you use your reference photos more effectively in your paintings. You’ll be able to create more ambitious compositions, and test of a ton of options quickly, and thereby get more diverse layouts. Demo by Art Prof Clara Lieu. Video Walkthrough As a free educational source, Art Prof uses Amazon affiliate links […]

6 Worst Mistakes When Starting Any Art Portfolio

Here are 6 critical mistakes that are common when starting a portfolio for any professional context: applying for a degree program, a teaching job, freelance illustration, and more. Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artisst Jordan McCracken-Foster and Mia Rozear. Video Walkthrough Prof Lieu’s Tips In general, if you are doing something […]

July 2023 Winners

This video shows the results of the 2023 July Art Dare: Books. Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artist Mia Rozear. Prize Winner Kathryn Meire “After seeing the Art Prof video on Lotus books, I was really curious to try making one. I loved the 3D and sculptural element to it. I […]

Sept 2023: Bling

Art Dare Prompt Art Dare Leap Get started! Submit Submissions close on Saturday, Sept 30 @ 11:59pm EST Prizes We award prizes and honorable mentions. To be eligible for a prize, your artwork must be an original artwork created specifically for this Art Dare, and follow all guidelines. Art Dare winner Artists outside the US […]

Art School Portfolios Group Voice Session Schedule

May 2024 Wed May 1 @ 10pm EST Prof Lieu Tues May 7 @ 10pm EST Prof Lieu Thurs May 16 @ 10pm EST Prof Lieu Wed May 22 @ 10pm EST Prof Lieu Thurs May 30 @ 10pm EST Prof Lieu

2024 Guide to MFA Art School Portfolios

research Programs portfolio: Start here portfolio content artist statement Letters of rec 1 on 1 SUPPORT group support photographing artwork interviews statement & resume CRITIQUES Prof lieu Q&A After art school art school issues attending art school

Workshop: Expressive Figure Drawing

Proportions when drawing the figure can be important to creating compelling figurative art. This is an opportunity to gain concrete skills and strategies for achieving believable proportions in your figure drawings. “I learned so much from Prof Lieu and my fellow students, not only how to improve my own work, but also about the process […]

Workshop: Underwater Creatures & Scenes

Learn techniques for how you can capture mesmerizing creatures, both real and fantastical, within sumptuous underwater scenes. We will discuss ways to show the incredible range of textures, surfaces, and movements seen underwater. “I felt like this workshop really allowed you to dive in and not be afraid of potentially making ‘bad art.’ I also […]

2024 Art School Portfolios Groups

Our Art School Portfolio Groups provide ongoing support and feedback for students applying/transferring to a BFA, MFA, or post-baccalaureate program. To participate, you’ll need to join our Discord server. Table of Contents Do I need to be applying this year to join? What kind of feedback do I get? Voice sessions “I feel that Prof […]

2024 Guide to BFA Art School Portfolios

should you go? research art student interviews sketchbooks 1 on 1 SUPPORT group support Studying art at a non art college art student advice portfolio: Start here Prompts prof lieu Q&A portfolio: subjects portfolio: media accepted portfolios statement & resume photographing artwork CRITIQUES opportunities REJECTION attending art school art school issues After art school

How to Make Prints from Your Art

See start to finish, the entire process for making prints from your artwork. Specific logistics like paper sizes, whether to do print or demand, platforms you can use are covered. Suggestions for how to promote your prints on social media, and how to photograph your artwork images are explained in depth. Discussion by Art Prof […]