Synthetic brushes
I wrote about my antipathy toward synthetic brushes. This photo illustrates the point I made in the linked post. The four synthetic brushes on the left are old and misshapen. In my experience, synthetics quickly lose their…
Category: materials
In the studio 12/23/15
What better time to work on a summer-themed painting than in the middle of winter. Keith and Jane Aboard the Betty Jane is going slowly because I'm taking my time with the water. There is a…
About mastic-based mediums
Recently, I wrote about my experience with maroger--a mastic-based medium. Maroger was my standard medium for a period, although I haven't used it in a number of years. I stopped using it because details are…
In the studio 12/6/15
I spent most of my time recently working on new paintings that are still too raw to show. I am also working on a new cycle of pieces that are still in the drawing stage. I…
In the studio 11/1/15
The ground on this painting, Three Women (VW Bug), is wonderful. It's a traditional oil ground applied over acrylic gesso. A traditional oil ground is essentially white oil paint with the addition of chalk. The chalk makes…
Transferring designs to canvas–update
I've written before about the various methods used to transfer designs to canvas or other surfaces. There are three ways to do it: projector, grid, or cartoon. Typically, I use grids. Grids can handle any scale and I like…
In the studio 10/11/15
I finished Keith Standing in Front of a Painting of Himself quickly this morning and grew excited. I thought I'd also be able to finish The Girl in the Purple Boots today (you can see the…
Old painting medium revisited
I've written before about my oil medium. I wasn't exaggerating when I wrote that my medium, one I've used for years, is the result of many, many trials. I haven't used every possible medium, of course,…