Red paint everywhere
I wrote before about my genius for getting oil paint on my clothing–much to the chagrin of my long-suffering wife. It’s almost always red paint, usually cadmiums–heavy metal paint. I arrange my palette with the warm colors, reds and yellows, nearest to me. So when I drag a shirt sleeve through the paint, as I
Bad easel
I whined about my previously-praised easel earlier this month. I’ve had the Utrecht-branded easel less than a year, and I complained about having to replace one of its casters. The way the casters are attached is poorly implemented; once one detaches, it’s impossible to reattach. While I was replacing the caster, the support brace split. #@!**@#!!! I glued
In the studio 3/8/15
Yesterday’s painting session was the 4th for Taking Note. The underapinting is finished, which is fast (for me) considering it’s large size–42″ x 56″. But it’s only a single figure and the design is simple and straightforward. In the background on the floor is the new Sunday Parade, which is also 42″ x 56″. After several
New stretchers
My large order of heavy-duty stretcher strips arrived from Jerry’s on Thursday. Enough stretchers and cross braces for 12 paintings: 6 @ 36″ x 48″; 6 @ 40″ x 50″. I am preparing three at a time–three of one size and then three of the other and so forth. Buying in bulk saves money plus I
RGH paints fail
I’ve whined before about the jars RGH uses for its paint. They’re useless–worse than useless. They don’t seal properly so unless you use the paint straightaway, it’s wasted. I lost one half of a 250ml jar this way. Even spraying water over the paint failed to preserve it. The jars nullify an otherwise brilliant strategy. RGH
Gamblin oils
I corrected the Gamblin entry in my oil paint brands reference. I erroneously provided the price of a 150ml tube of cerulean blue ($71. 21) instead of the 37ml tube, which is $26.21–a significant difference.
Broken easel
I gushed about my new easel last spring. It was my first new easel in a very long time. My other two easels are old and broken down. I’m always fighting them. The new easel–Utrecht Artist’s Convertible Easel, Vertical/Horizontal (51772-1001)–can support canvases up to 97″ high. It’s rugged but still mobile. I haven’t tested its limits, but
Mountain Retreat
The beautiful painting Clouds Visiting a Mountain Retreat is currently on view at the Cleveland Art Museum. The museum regularly rotates its vast Asian collection, and new works (new to me) are frequently to be found. The cloud-swathed mountain dominates the landscape; the travellers in the lower-left are easily overlooked. It’s early morning or early