Art Forums

Every time I finish a piece of art, I find the nearest person, be it my husband, my friend, or even one of my children, and say, "What do you think of this?" While it's nice to hear pleasant comments, it's also helpful to receive a little constructive criticism with the feedback. Even my ten-year-old's opinion that something doesn't look quite right pushes me to look at the work again and make it better.

Did you know you can also get help with art from the experts in the comfort of your own home? There are several art forums online in which artists advise and encourage one another.

When I was painting the illustrations for the picture book Cathy's Animal Garden, I needed to find a way to paint with oils on a flexible surface so the printer could use it on their scanner. After searching the Net for ideas, I finally found the answers I needed after joining a forum. Who knew you could paint oils on a watercolor paper by first treating it with an acrylic matte medium? The artists on the forum did!

Are you looking for some extra help? Here are some forums you can try:


ArtPapa.com This forum is on the website of artist Alexei Antonov, a contemporary artist who paints in the style of the Old Masters. Here you can post your drawings, paintings, and photography and receive helpful critiques from other artists for yourself. You can even show off your children’s work!


WetCanvas.com - forum postings are made to the more than forty differnt categories offered. These categories include: abstract art, oils, watercolor, wearable art, colored pencils, pen & ink, photography, acrylics, art business, glass art, marine art, pint-making, digital art, decorative art, and so much more.

This site also features a large photo reference library for registered users posted by other users (registration is free), as well as product reviews of various art supplies. You can also post your work or works in progress and have others critique it with helpful suggestions. It’s a great site for learning more about all types of art -- I’m sure you’ll be inspired!


Cennini Art Forum This forum is part of the Studio Products website. To access all of it, you do pay a small fee - $7.00 per month. I subscribed for a few months when I had a question that wasn't answered anywhere else, and I found the help invaluable!

Return from ART FORUMS to HOME