ARTIZO studio blog in Bratislava. Practical advice on colour, drawing, art techniques and entrance exam prep.

If the last time you held a paintbrush was at primary school, acrylic on canvas is the most natural starting point. Acrylic paints dry within minutes, require no smelly solvents and — most importantly for a beginner — any mistake can simply be painted over with a fresh layer. That is why both our Acrylic painting evening and the opening lessons of our adult course often start with acrylics.

Watercolour appeals with its lightness and translucency, yet paradoxically it is one of the more technically demanding mediums: you don't cover highlights with white paint, but leave the paper bare in advance while controlling water flow on heavy cotton paper. Once our teacher shows you wet-on-wet washes and glazing, however, watercolour quickly becomes addictive.

Oil painting offers unrivalled tonal depth and a slow drying time that lets you blend colours seamlessly on the canvas and model light for hours. At the ARTIZO studio you don't need to buy any supplies in advance — both at your trial lesson and within the 5-lesson pack, acrylics, watercolours, oils and soft pastels are all provided, so under Alina's guidance you can try every medium and see which suits you best.

The most common mistake among applicants to art and architecture schools is relying on copying photographs from a screen. An admissions panel can immediately tell the difference between a drawing copied from a flat photo and one built by observing a real three-dimensional object in space — a still life, a plaster bust or a live model.

Academic drawing is therefore the essential foundation: understanding constructive form, linear perspective, proportion and modelling volume with light and shadow. The second pillar is your home portfolio (typically 15 to 30 pieces), which should not just be a set of identical studies, but also show your personal artistic voice, sketchbooks and colour composition.

We recommend starting preparation at least 6 to 12 months before portfolio submission deadlines (typically November to January for VŠVU and ŠUP, and spring for FAD STU). At the studio we prepare 12–15-year-olds for secondary art schools (ŠUP) as well as students aged 16+ for university entrance exams — you can start with a free trial lesson or a review of your existing work.

When HR managers or family members look for a creative team building event or gift voucher, their most common worry is: 'What if half the team aren't into painting or feel self-conscious because they can't draw?' The secret lies in choosing the right format and clear step-by-step guidance.

For groups with complete beginners or technically minded colleagues, three formats work brilliantly: (1) guided acrylic painting on canvas, where everyone chooses their own colour palette for an approachable motif, (2) candle painting and polymer clay crafting, which removes any fear of a blank canvas, or (3) a collaborative company artwork, where each person paints one section of a large multi-canvas piece for the office.

If you are choosing an experience for a couple or an individual as a gift, the safest bet is a gift voucher valid for 12 months or the Painting experience for two package (€72) — the recipients decide for themselves whether to come for candles, polymer clay, relaxing painting or an acrylic painting evening.