3 Things that Really Do Make a Difference In Your Paintings
Nov 3, 2010 Painting
If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you’ll know that I’m a huge advocate of saving money when possible. Art supplies can be expensive and there are many ways to trim extra expenses. That being said, there are a few places where a spending a little extra money really does make a difference.
If you’re new to painting, you may be wondering where you should invest and where you can cut corners. While you don’t need to buy top of the line materials, quality is definitely something you should keep in mind when purchasing the following items. You will have a more positive painting experience and your work will be more successful with better quality supplies.
Supports
Take a look at what you are painting on. If it’s thin, flimsy paper, you’re going to have a harder time. When working on paper, make sure you have something thick and heavy. There are many, many different kinds of paper available and lots are suitable for acrylic painting. You want something that resembles poster board, but with a little texture. Heavier paper with some tooth will allow you to apply many layers paint and will absorb more water without rippling.If you’re having trouble choosing, go to an art supply store and ask for help. They will be able to show you the best product for the type of painting you are doing.
If you’ve never painted on canvas, I suggest you give it a try. There’s a reason it’s been used for so many years! The great thing about canvas is that it has a nice texture for painting and because it’s gessoed (primed), it doesn’t absorb any paint or water. The paint is applied to the surface and dries there. An inexpensive alternative to canvas is canvas paper or canvassette. It’s a paper with a canvas texture and a plastic-y finish.
Brushes
This was the one complaint I heard again and again from my painting students. Many people were getting frustrated with their work and realizing that the culprit was more often than not, cheap brushes. Brushes make a huge difference, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune on them. I would recommend having three good quality brushes: one 1″ flat brush, a 1/2″ round brush, and a fine tip brush. This won’t break the bank and will offer you the most versatility in your painting, until you know what type of brushes you are drawn to. You are much better off investing in a few good brushes than buying ten or twenty cheaper brushes for the same price.
When shopping for brushes, look for ones that say they are for acrylic paint. You generally don’t want watercolour brushes, as they tend to be too soft. You want a brush that has stiff bristles that will be able to push the paint around. I also prefer smooth bristles over coarse, but that’s a personal thing.
Paints
Having very cheap paints is probably the thing that causes the most frustration with new painters. Cheap paints are not pure pigments; They are often mixed with other colours. What this means is that you will not be able to mix colours accurately. For example, many inexpensive yellows have white in them. When you try to mix orange, you won’t get a bright, saturated orange. You will get a colour closer to a peach. Then when you try to tint that peach with blue to create brown, it just turns gray. This throws off all of your mixing.
The rule of thumb is that the cheaper the paint, the less pigment (colour) is in it. Because of this, I would stay away from the kits that sell you thirty different paints for very little money. Although it’s tempting to have so many different shades, in reality you should be able to mix most of those colours yourself with a basic set of warm and cool primaries.
That being said, there is nothing wrong with starting out with student grade paints, just don’t go for the absolute cheapest. It’s a better investment to pay a bit more per tube and buy less tubes. You really don’t need all the colours that come in those kits. Over time, you can upgrade to better paints as you use the student ones.
Make a Simple Frame for Canvas Board
Jul 12, 2010 Promotion and Exhibition
When I got invited to show and sell my work at a local vineyard, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to use a few of the few small canvas boards I have laying around. My goal was to do a couple smaller, more affordable paintings that would appeal to tourists who want something that can fit in their luggage.
The challenge with canvas board is always how to hang it. A canvas panel will usually fit into a conventional frame, but considering my own budget and the fact that I wanted the works to be affordable, I needed something less expensive. I decided to make my own frames!
Some artists might sneer at the thought of a home made frame. It’s not for everyone, and it’s not for every venue. There are times when you have to spend money to make money, but there are also times when you have to work within a budget.
“DIY” kind of has a bad name and is sometimes synonymous with shoddy quality. This is not true! You can do things yourself, you just need to make a point of working slowly and carefully.
Here are the steps I used to create a simple frame for a canvas board painting.
1. Start with a length of 1×2″ wood. Make sure you find one that’s actually straight. This may take awhile!
2. Cut a notch out of the corner of the entire length of wood using a table saw. This is done by cutting twice. Set the guard at 1/4″ and set the blade at 1/4″ high. Rip the wood through, then flip it and cut again.
3. With the same settings, cut the opposite corner out as well.
4. Rip the length of wood in half.
5. Take one of the pieces you just made and using a mitre saw, cut it at 45 degrees keeping the groove on the inside. Measure against your canvas board to get the correct length, and cut the other end at 45 degrees.
6. After cutting all four sides, hold them together and make sure your painting fits inside the edge. You may need to cut the sides down to make a tighter fit. Once the painting fits snugly inside, fix the sides together using wood glue.
7. After letting the glue dry, fill any gaps with a wood filler (impasto gel works too) and sand down your frame. Now you can paint it, varnish it, and glue your painting inside.
You Have Your Paints… What do You Paint On?
Jun 13, 2010 Painting
Although paper can be used as a painting surface, canvas is the most common choice. Fortunately, there are many choices when it comes to canvas, one to suit every artist’s level and budget.
1. Canvas Paper
This is a synthetic imitation of real canvas. The paper has more of a plastic-like sheen than a feeling of fabric, but it does have the texture of woven fibres. Canvas paper is available in pads, and is great for artists new to painting and for those looking for an inexpensive surface for studies and sketches. It’s also very easy to frame.
2. Canvas Board
This is a gesso-ed piece of canvas stretched over cardboard. You can buy these or make them yourself. This is another good option for beginning painters, but they can be tricky to hang.
3. Pre-stretched Canvas
Personally, this is my favorite. These can be bought from any art-supply store in a variety of sizes, dimensions and depths.
Painting on a stretched canvas is completely unlike painting on any kind of paper or board. As one of my instructors once said, the canvas paints back. The stretched fabric has a give that can take some getting used to.
When buying pre-stretched canvas, make sure you get the ones with the staples on the back, not on the sides. Also, double check for any dents in the stretcher bars.
4. Stretching Your Own Canvas
This allows you to customize the size and dimension of your canvas to your exact specifications. It also allows you more control over the tension of the canvas. Many artists prefer using their own stretched canvas for these reasons.
There are two ways you can make your own canvas: you can buy pre-made stretcher bars, which you assemble and then stretch the canvas over, or you can build your own canvas stretcher bars.
It’s important to note that there is a definite hierarchy when it comes to these four options. Most “professional” artists will tell you that an artist should make their own stretchers. This isn’t always practical, or possible, though. If you are selling your work, or trying to get into a gallery, I would recommend that you work on stretched canvas even if they are pre-stretched. If you approach a gallery with works on canvas board, you may get sneered at!
Tags: acrylic painting, canvas, oil painting, paintings
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