Paint CLEAN & SMOOTH Lines, Every Time!

How I Paint Clean, Smooth Line Art with Acrylic Paint.
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[@obsidianwing]

For those who cant affort GOLDEN Acrylic Paint you can use you common good Paint and thin it out with some drop of Fluid Medium. The stuf you use for Pouring Color. Just makes the color a bit more fluid and wont break the chemical bounds like water does. Fun is even before he started i said " Liner brushes" and Cat Tounge brushes for thick clean lines. Next Pro tip for extra strait Lines for geometric Art , Painters Tape ! Also a Tip : be confident in yourself , learning a clean line takes a bit hand eye cordination like everything. Took me Years, in having a stable stroke on my GT on PC , with Fineliners etc. " Dont think to much about it " when you do you cramp up and the Hand hurts too much , Lines automatic going shaking. Just go from Point a to b with confidence, also have a sheet to test

[@tjduprey]

This. This is all of it right here. So much better than thinning with water.

[@jeet8858]

Wow

[@SomethingImpromptu]

Just want to note: I’m sure you probably can use any fluid acrylic medium to pour to some extent (when you say “fluid medium” I’m picturing the liquid medium that’s usually just sold as “matte medium” or “gloss medium,” as opposed to “gels” which tend to be thicker)… I’m not sure exactly how it would turn out, because despite their thin consistency, those are generally made for adjusting the consistency of paint before brush-applying it (or using sponges or whatever else), though I doubt it would be catastrophic. Might have some problem drying weird when applied as thickly as in a pour, or it might dry too fast to be practical, or something like that- I’m not sure what the actual ingredient difference is)… But the medium we usually use in pouring is a distinct medium which is specifically sold as “pouring medium.” You can still get it in gloss or matte or sometimes satin or semi-gloss depending on the brand, but it’s different from the fluid mediums that get sold as just “matte medium” or “gloss medium.” And both are different from glazing medium, which is also a fluidy medium, but is meant to be applied far more thinly & transparently, for glazes. So I’m not sure if you meant one of these in particular, or if you did mean pouring medium specifically (I’ve never used it for anything but pouring, but I’m sure it could be useful for some other purpose). But in their ideal use-cases, they do all serve that purpose of thinning paint to a more fluid consistency without the drawbacks you mentioned of adding too much water & breaking up the binder. I’d guess that matte/gloss medium is more specifically formulated for the purpose of helping the paint flow from the brush & apply evenly, since it isn’t specialized for a different purpose, but that’s just my supposition.

[@xyoungblood]

Thanks for pointing that out. I stopped using water to thin acrylic paints because I read/saw warnings about how water can make acrylic paint fail because of the breakdown of the chemical bonds with water. I now use Golden acrylic airbrush medium to get really thin paints to tone my canvas without the worry of paint breakdown.

[@BevChoy]

Much appreciated!

[@chillywilson]

I noticed your shake, I learned from a pinstriper that if you use your pinkie as a pivot instead of your palm, you'll get more control and less shake on your line. Also 2 hands with pinkie's down for super long lines.

[@tamaskato9575]

that's a good tip. it also helps while painting minis

[@kailaniloko]

My tip is to spend a little time warming up your hand before you draw or paint. Draw straight lines, circles, whatever you like. My technical drawing teacher always used to have us do it so we could learn to freehand straight lines, it was surprisingly effective

[@kommon6183]

I can’t tell you how vindicated I feel to hear TenHun say he can’t tell the difference between cheap and expensive liner brushes. I’ve always said the same and have felt like an absolute outcast in my art community

[@epiccas6668]

SAME HERE! Oh my goodness, it was just like the most satisfying sigh of relief when he said that :D

[@BrittanyArtPoetry]

I really appreciate it. I will say that more expensive liner brushes can take more handling without loosing their shape- bit at their price it’s not really worth it tbh

[@jendubay3782]

The expensive ones hold liquid longer. They also hold their shape longer. If you're not doing mop work, and your rigging brushes hold enough liquid for you, get cheaper. Only other concern is bristle shedding.

[@BUChiAlpha]

Thanks for the video. I really value getting a better glimpse of your technique. I would like to see something like this on your blending.

[@dylnbxtr]

Especially how he blends with spray acrylic. That’s tough….

[@capharnaum_urbain5732]

This is ten hundred percent the level of tutorial accuracy I wish I had when starting out ! Most tutorials just assume you KNOW how to paint and directly start with in depth color theory or composition rules

[@madtattooer5973]

You were really embracing your inner Bob Ross with your vocal tone. Great video. 😎😎

[@kimbaxley7595]

Pin striping brushes have a much bigger learning curve but what they can do is insane. Amazon has really inexpensive sive ones and really expensive ones. I would suggest getting the less expensive sets and mess around with them. If you like them, get some more expensive ones. I love them. Liner brushes are great too. People who would like really solidly opaque acrylics should try adding gesso to their paint.❤

[@BenHeffernanArt]

"It's just paint! You can always paint over it!" I love that comment because I tend to get so precious with my own art that I forget this very simple rule. You can just paint over it or re do it. Might be a pain but certainly not a deal breaker...BTW pretty gutsy and just shows how confident you are filming your lines in real time! I'd be shaky as! Thanks .

[@xyoungblood]

Don't forget the work isn't nailed down; you can always turn it to get an easier/better hand angle for applying the lines.

[@MaxRide1]

The "liner" brushes you mention are also called rigger brushes - since they were originally used by artists to paint the rigging on boats in water landscape art. Just in case you cant find "liner" brushes. (I'm in the UK so it might also be a regional thing)

[@matthewbarrett5661]

Idk if anyone else has this issue but searching the internet for specific art techniques is really difficult and annoying at times. I have been looking for this exact video for months. Love you dude and love your artwork. Thank you for making this video.

[@amys3168]

I loved watching your hand shake the slightest bit (like anyone’s would,) and your line stay clean and straight. I also love how your characters personality came out as you drew the lines. Thanks for this! (I can’t wait to get my monthly shirt!)

[@novacreatio4764]

IN: novacreatio I think she should have a fluffy flat faced cat as a side kick or a sphynx. Another thought was a chicken sitting on her head like a hat (sorry I do animal portraits mostly).

[@KaLaur]

Omg, the second pass on the line work is what gets me, great to see it can be done! It’s a goal.

[@jaz_likes_bees]

I’m not a painter. Wouldn’t really call myself an artist either, but creativity is universal. I learn so much from your videos and can apply it to my life and my creative process. The amount of work that goes into some of your videos is amazing - even down to the sound. I found this little vid SO DAMN SATISFYING - bet you weren’t expecting such a big response from this comparatively small vid.

[@creativejargons]

I'd collab, I think a swarm of silly bees would be really fun! I also have an illustrative style and found watering my acrylics a little always helped with lines, and even more water for building colors through "wash" layers. But now I see why you enjoy the Golden Fluids, I didn't realize that was descriptive. 😅 Loved the tips, I could benefit from more liner brushes as well. Happy New Year to your family and crew ❤ IN: Dr.T.Neil

[@lesleygoodall-page8035]

Thanks for being so generous sharing your technique

[@BoardGameHype]

I’m not even an artist, but watching for the algorithm ❤

[@amandanorris8]

When drawing lines with paint, using long HAIR brushes (natural or synthetic) will help stabilize your lines so they won’t look wobbly.

[@hinaruto33]

I'd love to see more videos like this in the future. You were a huge inspiration to me to start painting and I'm always looking for tips.

[@andrewm5087]

Cool to see you dropping a much simpler more tutorial style video. Some helpful info! Just grabbed those brushes. Thanks!

[@aussiecrafter]

IN: AussieCrafter I imagine something 3D added to this, with clay, like a hat, crown, flowers... I just love the contrast of 2d and 3d on the same piece. Thank you for your tips, I learned a lot 😊

[@kcbrandao3802]

As perfectionist, hear someone say hey: not all lines need to be refreshed. It helps. I don't always know how to tell when and where a section has been overworked. I'll try to keep it in mind on my next piece. Ty for vid.

[@kategrossi8717]

This was awesome! As a floral watercolor artist trying to get better with acrylic, I need more of these style videos!

[@epiccas6668]

When I saw him pull out the brushes, and he grabbed the longest brush, I immediately thought "I'm terrified of that brush," and with the way he explained how to use it..... I thought I was "too slow" when I do my art, but now I'm realizing I need to slow down... Sir, Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

[@DiabolicalAngel]

This is so pretty. Brings Avatar to mind ♡

[@honesty1stn4mst]

Not an artist myself ...but my daughter is. We enjoy watching your videos together, you're an amazing person & artist. ❤

[@goblinwisdom]

Usually a more expensive brush has much denser bristles, a better ferrule ( the metal bit ) and retain their shape much longer even when your kinda abusive toward your brush. If you have splayed synthetic hairs on your brushes, boil some water, dip them in and pull them out and shape your bristles, do it as much as you need to get back to a more normal shape.

[@tenderchomps]

Oooh, I could totally see your character peeking out from a huge pile of crazy neon-colored spaghetti lol 🍝! All the noodles would make for awesome liner practice! Maybe a mysterious hand reaching in towards them from out of frame top right as well? Would love to collaborate and bring it to life! IN: tenderchomps Your lining tips are all spot-on, especially taking the time practice and focus on the process details! When I was learning, the key for me was figuring out how to properly load the brush. So clutch to have just the right amount of paint on there!

[@Joe___R]

Peter, You should try out some mack pinstriping brushes. They are the gold standard in the automotive and sign painting world. They have a ton of different styles to suit everyone's different needs and preferences. Most traditional artists don't seem to know about mack brushes since they are not carried by regular art supplie stores.

[@Paul_Lane]

I enjoy the tutorials, thanks. It had a Bob Ross vibe.

[@seanpavani8251]

The liner brushes traditional name is called a RIGGER brush. It was a made to help paint the long lines of righing ropes on paintings of ships and sails. Ta daaa 😊.😊

[@gerryf37]

i've been looking for this kind of video for months and this is the first one i watch that is just perfect for me and my art style, thankyouuuu!!!!!!!

[@crowstew]

I don't know how I got here but I am glad I did, you are outstanding. some of your stuff reminds me of my childhood in the 80s. Art from the airwalk shoe company and the famous running man art style was some of my favoritte throughout my life and I see that in your work, You are a true artist that had mastered the art of art.

[@donivanpotter2762]

I'm picky when it comes to artwork. I like your illustration / painting of the face. Love the colors. Beautiful work.

[@violetvaughn_]

Dude you're such a good teacher!! Thank you so much for this video

[@TheOneAboveAll-001]

I love the Ten Hundred art classes I've learned immensely which has helped me in my small commissions.😂

[@illustrationmaking]

Fun info: liner brushes are actually called riggers. That’s because they were used to paint the rigging on oil paintings. You’re welcome :D

[@Faabsco]

I missed this kind of videos, I’ve learned a lot from you

[@user-tb9pi6vv5l]

Sometimes I tend to hold my breath when I'm doing delicate lines or details, but my tip is that if you are doing something where you need a steady hand, or are doing a long line, breathe out slowly while you do it. I find I'm a lot steadier breathing out than in.

[@AnnieNoodle]

If you'd like to practice, I highly recommend trying brush pens. My personal favorite is the Pentel pocket brush pen. It's waterproof and comes with cartridges, so it's reusable. I don't use my IG much, but I'm Annie Noodle on there. I do have a KZbin channel where I do art stuff. I think I'd paint some protective birds in with her, since she looks like an egg. 😁

[@PeatWollaegerEYEZ]

Eye think we and a rePeating pattern and finally do a Pete and rePEat collab and will add it to the collaboration project! Eye collabed with over 100 last year creating 230+ works collectively.

[@miketech2]

It would be so cool to see you dive into a pin striping education. I dipped my toe in it and clean lines came really easy to me. I lack the creativity to draw a face free hand, but a technique like pulling a clean line was so damn fun. I believe the brushes I had were squirrel hair. Hold so much paint and you can articulate the width with insane precision. 🤙🏼

[@bcarithers22]

Thank you. I’ve been working in oils trying to get straight lines for buildings. I will try that long liner brush and practice, practice, practice!

[@bunchofoxes]

Once you get the oils thinned to the right consistency the brush will hold it for a long time and it will flow off that liner brush beautifully but it takes practice because it's different than the usual thick process. Good luck and have fun!

[@That_Luk3_Guy]

Hey ten hundred, I'm a huge fan of your channel and your art style. I own some of your shirts and I love wearing them as much as possible. They always make me feel awesome and creative. I recently found out that I have ASD and ADHD, and that has helped me understand myself better and overcome some of the challenges I face. One of them is being able to comment on your videos, which I always wanted to do but never felt confident enough. Well, today is the day I break that barrier and express my appreciation for your work. You are such an inspiration to me and many others, and I'm so excited that you are doing a collaboration with your followers. I would absolutely love to be involved, but I have no painting skills and I always thought I couldn't do anything with art. But after watching this video, you have given me the courage and the motivation to try something new and have fun with it. You make art look so easy and enjoyable, and I want to experience that too. So, thank you for being awesome and for sharing your talent and passion with us. You are the best and I can't wait to see what you come up with next. Keep up the amazing work and stay awesome!

[@TheirSavior]

I love me a classic ten hundred video. The practical stuff is always my favorite. Thanks for sharing the sauce!

[@Vmshipe]

I would love to see a video on how you do wet-blending!

[@maligsnn]

Man... you can just see how much practice is behind these brushstrokes... beautiful

[@michaelerickson5623]

Have you ever considered using a "mahl stick"? You can make one with a wooden dowel with a piece of cork or a small rubber ball on the end, which gives you a stable anchor for your hand, resting on a pivot point resting on the outside of your painting piece... It's an old sign painters tool, but I use it a lot for inking (noting that I'm not a painter and always struggle with brushes (which is why I'm viewing your video...).

[@discerninglight1998]

Thanks for the tip on the low cost supplies! The ability to make art without breaking the bank is a real challenge! I find that the dollar store can be an amazing resource for supplies too!

[@hypnagogist-art]

Swinging in a bit late, but I’d love to throw my hat in the ring for the collab piece! My work is full of intensely colorful and psychedelic designs that I think would complement TenHun’s work a lot! IN: Hypnagogist

[@allysoncipollone890]

AMAZING explanation 👏 you're helping more artists be inspired! What a gift!

[@battleaxebeaver4542]

Good video Ten Hundie!

[@IanBarnfield]

VERY useful - thank you. - good mix of info and demo... and it's always good to dispel the myth that great artists were somehow born with the ability to paint clean, crisp lines (or whatever other skill we don't have yet!) Now I have a solid understanding of the technique I guess I'll have to go practice! 😄

[@sierrafife]

Thank you TenHun for recommending these detail brushes. I paint miniatures and was looking for fine line brushes but didn't know what to get. Ordered the exact set you showed and can't wait to get started.

[@jeanberry9101]

Wow ! Unexpected and truly appreciated line art lesson.I think bright yellow hair might be interesting… just a thought.

[@Grannysadventures]

I am a retired high art teacher and loved your video. You shared all the things I would share with my students. Great job!

[@oeb3847]

I can't tell you how much I needed this video. I am painting a huge mural---and I don't really know how to paint. I am a pencil, ink, and colored pencil--person....so anything you can tell me is helpful. P.S. I'm buying those brushes.

[@ktkrogstad]

Super appreciate the level of detail of this tutorial! I feel like a lot of art videos and tutorials don't get this technical and specific. I feel like a lot of artists might just say "pick up the paint with your brush", but there were a lot of steps before and during that part that you really thoroughly explained. I have been slowly learning some of these things intuitively through my own journey as an artist with acrylic paints, but it was super helpful to watch you explain it all and go over all the reasoning behind each decision.

[@DazsdWTP]

on the topic of brushes, one thing that many award wining miniature painters do is use cheap brushes for about 80 percent of the work and then use a nice brush for non metallic metals (normal painters just call it painting metal haha) and finer details since the cheap brushes dont perform as well at small scale but for the majority of the work its fine

[@p0ggles775]

Doing my first ever mural in the next few days. Been using your videos as a guide. Thank you for all this awesome info! Also, the bit at 13:22 about starting the line in the middle and then flicking outwards instead of starting at the tip made me realize why my eyeliner always looks garbage. Lol, thank you for that too!

[@alexm5531]

This is great! Would love to see a similar video on how you do your shading, it's so beautiful 🤩

[@nanakor1r1]

Somewhere along the line I started showing my mom your videos since I've really enjoyed them. We've been watching every single video together since. We always enjoy seeing the new things you do and I'm always amazed at what ideas you have next. This video itself also helps me as an artist. I'm mostly a digital artist that dabbles in traditional, so this really helps, thank you 💜💜💜

[@t.pisani8239]

I love that you're a professional artist that doesn't feel the need to use the most expensive brushes. It makes art more approachable for viewers. Although the Golden paint you love is a bit out of my price range.

[@basicbecciboo]

So I’ve been tattooing like 13 years and it’s mostly about having the cleanest lines you can haha I was taught to practice the line with your wrist to see how far you can go in one swoop and if you can’t do the line in one adjust your hand/arm till your comfortable. I lean on my little finger to for balance when I’m painting linework x

[@fireproofart5526]

kafka pinstriping brush cost a little bit more, but they have the smoothiest lines, stop flare out, and have a short handle to take a curve and hold paint, so you wont stop a line.

[@sweaterjon]

in: sweaterjon this painting definitely deserves a nice hood, hair and assortment of critters, it would be my absolute honor to deface this wonderful painting.

[@Boltergeist117]

Awesomely clean as always my dude! Thing that anyone trying to learn should pay attention to; watch how he moves, notice how little he uses his wrist. It's much more stable to move from the elbow.

[@cynthiapucheanu34]

Love your slow and educational content!

[@DruNature]

I literally started painting again last week for the first time in 9 years and I'm buying these brushes asap! I have learned so much valuable practical techniques that I use regularly from you and your art always inspires! I am also more of an illustrator who likes to paint and although I do have a lot of abstract expressionist work (that's mainly to use up the paint on my palettes!) I mainly paint the stuff I draw with pen and Ink but larger scale. Super awesome video as always!

[@scarletimp9496]

Can't tell you how incredibly helpful and informative this was! Cheers very much👍

[@BT-be8rh]

I'm with you on brushes! I've tried buying some of the expensive ones, but found myself buying the cheaper packs again, like you said, I couldn't tell the difference!

[@LilMeYT]

I know this is pure practice and effort but who doesn't agree that it looks like dark magic hahaha. Thank you so much for the tutorial!!

[@SalsabilAlmaniya]

I dont plan to draw outlines like these anytime soon, but THIS WAS SATISFYING. Beautiful!

[@rosestardust7780]

I would love to collaborate and finish this beautiful alienesque face by adding geometric elements to the background and smaller lines and textures in my own style. I think our styles would look mad cool together! My two cents: There are definitely several factors that go into getting clean lines and edges. 1) The paint. Starting with fluid or ink consistency certainly helps. Don't start with thick paint unless you want transparent lines, as any medium to get it to the viscosity required will dilute your paint too much and don't use too much water as it will break down the binder in your paints. Also beware that you get what you pay for in terms of paint (pigment quality and quantity, consistency, lightfastness, etc.) so don't expect the same performance from student grade paint vs artist grade paint. Golden SoFlats are my absolute favourite. 2) The surface. Canvases are harder to work on for getting this illustrative look. Not impossible, but harder due to the texture and the give. I prefer to work with cradled wood panels, but those have to be prepped by sanding and applying gesso at least two layers (lightly sand each layer of gesso with 320 grit sandpaper too). There is a pricier alternative that doesn't require prepping called Gessobord by Ampersand if one can afford it. I prefer wood panels because I use the wood as a part of my painting. 3) The brushes. Synthetic liner brushes, round brushes and flat brushes are what I mostly use. Some cheap brushes perform quite well, but not all. My favourite brushes are the Grumbacher Academy watercolour brushes (I use them for acrylics too), Simply Simmonz and Heinz Jordan gold taklon liners for details. I prefer Princeton daggers and Heinz Jordan Mightlon flat brushes for bigger areas with crisp edges. I never need to use masking tape as the edges always give away that you've used masking tape. 4) Practice. Practice and get the hang of your brushes and what they do when you use them in different ways. Also warming up before going o your canvas/panel each time is a good idea too. 5) Turning your surface as you paint. I find that my hand performs better in terms of continuous lines and edges when I'm going left to right (this may be different for everyone), so when I'm painting critical details or lines, I turn my art so that my hand can easily move this way and I find it helps immensely. If you've read this far and are curious, you can see my art on Instagram, it's @brujeria_studios.

[@audradecker1437]

THANK YOU, SO MUCH for sharing this! I'm just learning to paint, so this has been VERY helpful! 😀

[@hawkhat]

Thank you, i have been having problems with my circle lines so it was timely to find you. Tutorials have been my on line school, to bring my art up another notch. Thank you for being there

[@WitchiePooCat]

Thank you so much for this video, I'm new to painting and struggle with painting lines, and never seemed to get the right consistency of paint. Your tutorial was very helpful and informative, I want to go give it a try now!

[@LaLaRunfola6195]

Intermediate artist here. Thanks for the tips! 👍 Also, on my way to Amazon to buy those brushes now.

[@PAOLINAG]

Nice Art, The information is priceless, thank you!

[@nitheartist5788]

I love the new on the old

[@sueharviel6510]

I've watched dozens of videos about painting lines and I've tried each and every "tip" they gave me. Yet, my lines still looked like rubbish. YOUR video, however, absolutely worked for me! Thank you SO much for doing this video!

[@HighSchoolCreations]

Thanks TEN HUN!!

[@bearbait7405]

Bravo, brother. Thank you.

[@teresamazotti1315]

Awesome video!! ❤😊

[@donnasalvador678]

I use acrylic ink for lining or thin details. I especially like metallic gold acrylic ink because it’s striking and beautiful when done right.

[@CIONAODMcGRATH]

Very practical video. Thank you! I feel less intimidated to PRACTICE final lines now. This is now on my painting practice routine list for 2024.

[@ArtWench]

I use airbrush medium to thin out my paints. Maintains the integrity of the acrylic paint no matter how much you thin it out.

[@fuadramsey3]

So cool - pinstripes and calligraphy artists are insanely steady.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

Very cool!

[@Brappbruhclassic]

I live in thumb of Michigan love the art and tips always been into art but just started painting about month ago I’ve done 8 paintings acrylic so much fun and relaxing

[@SophistiqueWoW]

This would even work for the model painting I do as well - absolutely love it, thanks so much TenHun!

[@Fatma-mx6cc]

I’m not an artist at all, I just like watching it, I appreciate a lot more what goes into art. Thanks!

[@ChuckLeeMBM]

Super dope bro!! Love getting any and all tips, and that painting looks super fresh. Would love to see someone add to it!!

[@carolinasancheznavarro314]

Amazing !! I LOVE your art👏👏👏

[@Smurfette1900]

This is a great tutorial video! Would be great to See more tutorial style content fo sure. I reckon at aompoint you should do team portrait in your style using things about each team member and colour pallettes to determine the characters clothes, animal hood, and intricacies, but faces should look like each team member... a mural in the new Ten Hun HQ wouls be good ❤

[@matto.827]

Been a little while since I've jumped back in to see see a TenHun video. Checking this one out, and I'm really liking the format and how you're walking/talking through and showing the process. Very good. Love it.

[@paulalymn4619]

What a great find! I've been painting for about 3 years now and I dread having to detail foliage and create good lines and this video has so many great tips too. Next on my list is a proper set of liner brushes. Thank you.

[@venom0237]

Love this. It's really cool to see and share techniques. I've done some hotrod pin striping in the passed and I think because of it, I prefer to have my forearm stable and my hand floating, which is like-polar opposite of you. It's really facinating and goes to show that you just gotta get your feet wet and start experiementing!