How-to-be-a-bad artist.com is a free step-by-step guide to arts and crafts projects and places to visit that inspire creativity. I created this website as an online version of my notebook. The aim is to share free arts and crafts tips and techniques and review exhibitions and places to visit for those interested in art or writing. A selection of the latest art and craft techniques and inspiring places to visit are listed below:

Art techniques

The Mische Technique sounded like such a bizarre thing to do that I had to try it. The name “Mische” means mixed in German and refers to using two different types of media; egg tempera and oil paints. The idea is that you paint the highlights and detail with egg tempera and use oil paint in a series of glazes (red, yellow and blue), before adding local colour on top to finish Read more about the Mische Technique….

Craft techniques

Metal leaf gilding is a cheap, easy-to-use alternative to gold leaf gilding. To add to my collection of ACEOs, I decided to use gilding to replicate a small metal book cover that I’d seen in the medieval Europe section of the British Museum.I always thought that gilding would involve lots of swearing with bits of gold leaf stuck to areas it shouldn’t be. But I was pleasantly surprised that I managed to do it. Read more about metal leaf gilding…

Places to visit

The British Library is the national library of the UK and one of the most famous in the world. There are always temporary exhibitions on offer as well as tours. Read more about the British Library…