With Art Academy, the Nintendo DS becomes your very own easel, as you are taught various painting and drawing techniques via step-by-step instructions. Of course, there's the option to just scribble around and create your own Van Gogh masterpiece as well, and the real meat of Art Academy lies in its extensive range of art options. Three different grades of pencil lead are available: 2B; HB and 2H, and you can draw in soft or hard lines as you please. Paint behaves like acrylic, and there are three round or flat brushes to take advantage of here too. Different kinds of tricks and techniques can be taught to you via the tutorial mode in the game, and you can utilise the palette in various ways to replicate these same effects. You get a ten set of paint tubes as a basic palette, with the ability to mix 20 different colours. Controlling the amount of paint on your brush gives different effects, as does the wetness of the brush. If you're ever stuck on anything, Vince is at hand to offer