What’s New in Painter Essentials
Webinar: Introducing Painter Essentials 8
Introducing Painter Essentials 8! Get a demo of the new brushes and color options, learn about new support for Apple users, and explore new painting presets.
Apple AI auto-painting in Painter Essentials 8
Mac users, get a look at the 10 new AI-based auto-painting presets that you can use to easily transform your photos into natural-looking paintings.
Apple features in Painter Essentials 8
Check out the new Apple features in Painter Essentials 8, including support for Touch Bar, multi-touch Trackpad, Sidecar and Pencil tilt.
Document and layer controls in Painter Essentials
New in Painter Essentials 8, you can quickly select document orientation, canvas color, and texture right from the New Image Dialog box.
AI-based photo painting in Painter Essentials
Learn how to use the Artificial Intelligence-based photo-painting styles in Painter Essentials to instantly transform your photos in works of art.
Color options in Painter Essentials
Explore Painter Essentials’ Color Sets and Color Harmonies that dynamically create balanced color swatches from your chosen color.
New painting tools in Painter Essentials 8
See the new Drawing & Painting layout in Painter Essentials 8, plus a demo of 23 new brushes across all brush categories, many with enhanced smoothing.
Getting Started with Painter Essentials
Getting started with Painter Essentials
This tutorial will get you started using the simple auto-painting tools in Painter Essentials to turn your photos into paintings.
Understanding the interface
Join us for a tour of the enhanced user interface in Painter Essentials. See new features like a dark theme, tool highlights, new icons and more.
Introduction to Painter media
Painter Master Elite Don Seegmiller demonstrates a variety of unique brushes that glow, jitter, shatter, distort and add decorative brushstrokes.
How to use the Color Selector
See how to use the Color Selector in Painter Essentials, including new features like circular grabbers and a split color and clone painting preview.
Painting with a drawing tablet
Painter Master Elite Cher Pendarvis demonstrates the benefits of using a pressure-sensitive drawing tablet with Painter Essentials.
Sketching with pencils
Create your first pencil sketch in Painter Essentials! Learn how to find and use various pencil media types and keep them organized in a custom palette.
Sketching with pen and ink
Learn how to create a simple pen and ink sketch in Painter Essentials, with tips on using various pen brushes and organizing them in a custom palette.
Digital watercolor sketching
Learn how to create a photo painting using pencil sketching and digital watercolors in Painter Essentials.
Applying light and texture to a sketch
Learn how to enhance a simple pencil sketch by using effects in Painter Essentials such as lighting and surface texture to add drama and richness.
How to paint with Digital Watercolor
Learn about the settings and controls for the Digital Watercolor brushes in Painter Essentials, and how to use them to paint linework.
How to paint with Glazing brushes
Learn how to blend colors like a master using Painter Essential’s glazing brushes that allow opacity to build up smoothly along your brushstrokes.
How to paint with Image Hose brushes
This tutorial will show you how to use the Image Hose Nozzles in Painter Essentials to effectively add this exciting imagery to your artwork.
How to paint with Dynamic Speckle brushes
Painter Master Elite Karen Bonaker shares her tips as she demonstrates each of the unique and expressive Dynamic Speckles brushes in Painter Essentials.
How to paint with Dab Stencils and Flow Maps
Learn how to transform a photo using cloning and the extremely expressive Dab Stencils brushes and Flow map textures in Painter Essentials.
Photo Art with Painter Essentials
Getting started with auto-painting
This video walks through the photo art tools in Painter Essentials 8 so that you understand how to get started with auto-painting and paint by hand workflows.
Auto-painting presets
Learn how to combine multiple Artificial Intelligence auto-painting styles and effects to create an impressive work of art in Painter Essentials.
AI-based photo painting in Painter Essentials
Learn how to use the Artificial Intelligence-based photo-painting styles in Painter Essentials to instantly transform your photos in works of art.
Clone painting
Learn how to refine and personalize your auto-painting results in Painter Essentials by adding in hand-painted brushstrokes, textures and blending.
Tracing a sketch
Painter Master Elite Collin Chan shows you how to remove background elements, auto-paint and add hand-painted strokes to your Painter Essentials art.
Understanding auto-painting and touch-up
Learn how to use AI Auto-Painting presets in Painter Essentials to create a work of art from a photo, then use the touch-up tools to fine tune.
Adding hand-painted details to an auto-painting
This tutorial will teach you the difference between cloning color and painting with a selected color when adding hand-painted details to an auto-painting.
Character Illustration with Painter Essentials
Creating your first character illustration in Painter Essentials
Learn how to create your first character illustration in Painter Essentials! This 3-part series will show you how to work from sketch to finishing details.
Painting a 19th century character
Get a glimpse into the painting process and favorite tools of illustrator Pavel Goloviy as he paints a 19th century character in Painter Essentials.
Painting a character portrait
Watch as illustrator Pavel Goloviy reveals his process for painting a character portrait of The Mistress of Copperhead Mountain in Painter Essentials.
Painting realistic hair
Get some helpful tips on how to paint hair in Painter Essentials, starting with a sketch, then adding color and highlights, and fine details to finish.
Painting realistic lips in Painter Essentials
Learn how to streamline the painting process and create realistic lips in this tutorial with concept artist Magdalena Proszowska.
Painting realistic eyes
Concept artist Magdalena Proszowska provides a demonstration and useful tips for painting realistic eyes and eyebrows in Painter Essentials.
Painting a full character
Get a glimpse into the creative process behind the development of Magdalena Proszowska’s beautiful artwork for Painter Essentials.
Shading and rendering a character
Freelance illustrator Brandon A. McDonald provides more detail around shading and rendering a caterpillar character.
Sketching and shading an illustration
Watch as concept artist Brandon A. McDonald creates a character illustration from a blank canvas, with many helpful tips along the way.
Mirror painting a character
Painter Master Elite Don Seegmiller shows you how to paint with the time-saving Mirror tool in Painter Essentials.
Landscape and Still Life Painting with Painter Essentials
Painting a seascape in Painter Essentials
Here are some helpful tips from Painter Master Elite Karen Bonaker to introduce you to key tools and get you started on a seascape painting in Painter Essentials.
Freehand pencil sketch
Paint a grainy pencil sketch from scratch with the Simple Water brush in Painter Essentials and tips from Painter Master Elite Karen Bonaker.
Paint a landscape with Wet Natural Media
Painter Master Elite Cher Pendarvis reviews the Acrylics and Oils brushes and demonstrates how they were used to create the Cloudscape Study painting.
Paint a landscape with Dry Natural Media
Get to work with Pencils, Chalks and Pastels as Painter Master Elite Cher Pendarvis demonstrates some Dry media tools in Painter Essentials.
How to add finishing touches to a landscape painting
In this tutorial, Painter Master Elite Cliff Cramp uses some of his favorite Painter Essentials brushes to add finishing touches to the landscape.
How to add texture to a landscape painting
Painter Master Elite Cliff Cramp demonstrates how to add texture to a landscape painting in Painter Essentials using brushes and texture imagery.
How to establish color and temperature in a landscape painting
Painter Master Elite Cliff Cramp shows you how to establish the temperature of light and shadow in the composition in your Painter Essentials landscapes.
Landscape composition and focal point
Painter Master Elite Cliff Cramp shows you how to set the composition and create a strong focal point to begin your landscape in Painter Essentials.
Cliff Cramp’s favorite landscape tools
Painter Master Elite Cliff Cramp shares his favorite Painter Essentials brushes and how he uses each of them when creating a landscape painting.
Adding detail to a landscape painting
Learn how to complete your landscape painting in Painter Essentials by adding the light and dark values, and details to the background and foreground.
Blocking in color in a landscape painting
Learn how to create an ideal color palette and lay down the general color composition and color harmony for a landscape painting in Painter Essentials.
Sketching from a photo in Painter Essentials
Get some tips from Painter Master Elite Karen Bonaker on how to use tracing paper to create a freehand sketch from a photo in Painter Essentials.
Creating a Concept Landscape
Setting up your interface and tablet
Follow along with Painter Artist Davey Baker as he introduces you to using Painter Essentials with your Wacom Tablet to create a concept landscape.
Creating the basic structure
Lean how to get started on a concept landscape painting by setting your canvas color and creating the structure for the clouds, mountain and river.
Adding color to the landscape
Painter Artist Davey Baker shows you how to choose complementary colors for your concept landscape and the best ways to add them to your canvas.
Adding light accents to the landscape
Give your landscape depth by adding natural light accents to highlight the hills and river, and make the landscape sparkle for additional interest.
Working on the details of the landscape
Learn how to complete your landscape by blending the fine details and adding extra touches like vibrant foliate, sparkling snow and floating clouds.
How to Use the Essentials Brush Packs
How to use the Alcohol Ink Essentials brushes
Learn how to create beautiful ink pours and spills with the fluid and transparent brushes in the Alcohol Ink brush pack for Painter Essentials.
How to use the Animation Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the dripping, glowing, and twinkling brushes to create magic on your canvas with the Animation Essentials pack for Painter Essentials.
How to use the Aquatic Essentials brushes
Learn how to paint an underwater seascape or seaside oasis with the Aquatic Essentials brushes and tips from Painter Master Elite Jeremy Sutton.
How to use the Art Nouveau brushes
Get a preview of the abstract Art Nouveau brushes for Painter and Painter Essentials, inspired by one of the greatest decorative painters, Gustav Klimt.
How to use the Blend Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the 10 rough, smooth or furry Blend brushes for Painter Essentials to smear, pinch, pull or push your way towards painted perfection.
How to use the Blue Moon Essentials brushes
Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to use the Blue Moon Essentials brushes to paint a Bob Ross beach scene in Painter Essentials.
How to use the Bristly Essentials brushes
See how to use the Bristly Essentials brushes to bring shag carpet, fibers, steel wool and other materials to life in your Painter Essentials art.
How to use the Bubbles Essentials brushes
Get a preview of the effervescent brushes in the Bubbles brush pack for Painter Essentials and see how they can be used to create unique bubbly shapes.
How to use the Campfire Essentials brushes
Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to use the Campfire Essentials brushes to paint a Bob Ross forest scene in Painter Essentials.
How to use the Celebration Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the Celebration Essentials brushes to add rocket trails, sparklers, glow sticks, confetti and more to your Painter Essentials artwork.
How to use the Combustion Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the smokin’ hot Combustion Essentials brushes to add a range of fiery effects like scorching flames, billowing clouds or wispy smoke to your images.
How to use the Coral Reef Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the Coral Reef brush pack for Painter Essentials to add organic shape and vibrant color to your underwater seascape paintings.
How to use the Dry Texture Essentials brushes
See how you can roughen up your illustrations with an expressive, hard-edged graphic style using the Dry Texture brush pack for Painter Essentials.
How to use the Fantasy Essentials brushes
Get a preview of the 10 Fantasy brushes for Painter Essentials that make adding magic, mythical and angelic effects to your images easier than ever.
How to use the Fireworks Essentials brushes
With the Fireworks Essentials brushes you can paint and combine explosions, wisps, light trails and more to add unique fireworks to your artwork.
How to use the Floral Essentials brushes
Learn how to paint a garden full of blossoming buds with the Floral Essentials brushes. Daisies, Lavender and Roses have never been so simple to paint!
How to use the Inking Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the Inking Essentials brushes to add illustrative flair and a variety of inky washed strokes to your Painter Essentials artwork.
How to use the Leaves Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the Leaves Essentials brushes for Painter Essentials to replicate Mother Nature’s greenery and make your landscape paintings come alive.
How to use the Pop Art Essentials brushes
Paint your own interpretation of pop culture using the fun and bold Pop Art brushes to add color, shape, and movement to your Painter Essentials artwork.
How to use the Rain Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the Rain Essentials brushes to add sprinkling showers, drenching downpours and other realistic rain effects to your artwork.
How to use the Sunset Aglow Essentials brushes
Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to use the Sunset Aglow Essentials brushes to paint a Bob Ross landscape in Painter Essentials.
How to use the Secret Garden Essentials brushes
Let a land of mystical wonders unfurl from your brush with all new brushes from the Secret Garden Essentials pack for Painter Essentials.
How to use the Shades of Grey Essentials brushes
Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to use the Shades of Grey Essentials brushes to paint a Bob Ross winter wonderland in Painter Essentials.
How to use the Snow Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the realistic Snow Essentials brushes to create a winter wonderland scene with swirling, falling and powdery white snowflakes.
How to use the Stipple Essentials brushes
This video reviews the Stipple brushes for Painter Essentials and shows how these time-saving brushes can be used to create dotted and lined patterns.
How to use the Storm Essentials brushes
Watch a quick demo of how the Storm Essentials brush pack can be used to add different types of weather and atmospheric elements to your images.
How to use the Suminagashi Ink Essentials brushes
Get a preview of the Suminagashi Ink Essentials brush pack and see how you can transform you canvas into vibrant and colorful floating ink.
How to use the Translucent Essentials brushes
Learn how to use the Translucent Essentials brushes to create droplets, prisms, reflections and other illuminating effects in Painter Essentials.
How to use the Trees and Foliage Essentials brushes
Let natural greenery bloom across your canvas in subtle, realistic waves using the Trees and Foliage brushes for Painter Essentials.
How to use the Watery Essentials brushes
Learn how to create everything from fluid skies to rocky beaches with waves, ripples, and spray using the Watery brushes for Painter Essentials.
Learning Painter
Overview of the Painter interface
Transitioning from Painter Essentials up to Painter? In this tutorial, Painter Master Elite Cher Pendarvis introduces you to the interface and key tools.
Managing panels and palettes
Learn how to organize and personalize the user interface by creating your own panels and palettes – your painting experience will flow much better!
Customizing the interface
Learn how to set up and save a custom layout so that the panels, palettes, brushes and commands you use most are always right at your fingertips.
Creating a custom brush
Painter Master Elite Cher Pendarvis shares her tips for making modifications and adjustments to a default brush to create your own custom brush.
Enhanced cloning options
Get to know the clone painting tools in the Photo Art layout, along with tips about clone sources, underpainting, tracing, Quick Clone feature and more.
Exploring Dynamic Speckle brushes
In this tutorial you will be introduced to the Dynamic Speckles brush category and get an explanation of the various brush strokes, controls and settings.
Introduction to Texture brushes
Get an introduction to the texture brushes in Painter. These exciting brushes allow you to apply the texture from a source image onto your painting.
Create a Painting with Aaron Blaise
Part 1: Rough drawing
In this tutorial, professional artist Aaron Blaise shows you how to create a rough drawing, the first step in creating a work of art using an Intuos tablet and Painter Essentials.
Create a painting part 2: Refining a drawing
In this tutorial, artist Aaron Blaise takes a rough sketch and refines it into a clean drawing that will serve as the basis for a digital painting.
Create a painting part 3: Roughing in color
In this tutorial, artist Aaron Blaise shows you how to add local color to a drawing. Local color is the color of an object without any shadows or highlights.
Create a painting part 4: Creating shadows and highlights
In this tutorial, artist Aaron Blaise takes a simple color image and adds shadows and highlights. This stage is essential for giving your painting a realistic quality.
Create a painting part 5: Adding finishing details
In this tutorial, artist Aaron Blaise adds the finishing details to a digital painting of a zebra. He makes the painting come together by removing edges, adding details, and increasing contrasts.
