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Category: Shop Talk

Written by May 27, 2013

Study: Making the Painting ‘The Call’

Bio . Shop Talk . Studio Corner . Uncategorized . Vermilion, OH Article

I thought it would be interesting to follow a painting from start to finish. The subject is a woman making a call on her cell phone, hence the title–The Call. 1. Mechanics The 36″ x 48″ painting is on cotton canvas. I primed it (I nearly always prime my own canvases) with three layers of

Written by April 5, 2013

Lost Secrets of the Masters Part I

Shop Talk . Tips and Studies . Uncategorized Article

We are in the midst of a surging revival of interest in historical painting methods. More is written on the topic each day. Many authors point to received experts (Eastlake and Doerner to name just two—my own threadbare copies are much-thumbed) and claim to have rediscovered or reinvented long-lost methods. The pursuit of the ‘lost

Written by April 2, 2013

Update to Oil Paint Brands

Shop Talk . Uncategorized Article

I’ve updated the Oil Paint Brands material to reflect the recent quality decline of several brands: LeFranc, Rembrandt, and Daniel Smith. All three have fallen from the ‘mid-range, good value’ category to student grade. Avoid except for sketches or grounds. One consequence is that Windsor-Newton has tightened its grip on the all-important mid-range category. The others

Written by February 21, 2013

Tips for Using a Grid

Shop Talk . Tips and Studies Article

I frequently use a grid to enlarge designs for paintings. It’s my preferred method for transferring designs from one medium into another (except watercolors). What do I use to create a grid? Good question. The grid should be visible enough to see—doh!—and not  easily rub away, but not so visible that it appears in the

Written by February 21, 2013

Transferring Designs to Canvas

Shop Talk . Tips and Studies . Uncategorized Article

I routinely transfer designs as I rework subjects in various mediums. There are several standard methods for transferring designs to a target surface. One long-used method was to prepare a cartoon to the exact dimensions of the target wall or canvas. Once the design was fixed, it would be transferred by one of the following methods: Covering

Written by February 20, 2013

Turpentine Tip

Shop Talk . Tips and Studies Article

Put some Venice turpentine  into your everyday turpentine (10:1 turpentine to Venice turpentine). You could substitute larch turpentine or Canada balsam for Venice turpentine, both of which are easy to obtain. The admixture of Venice turpentine firms the turpentine without overpowering it. I sometimes use the mix to thin paints, and as an additive in

Written by February 19, 2013

Spray Varnish

Cleveland . Shop Talk . Tips and Studies Article

Varnish is a sore subject. I’ve nearly spoiled some of my own paintings with poor varnish, and I’ve had so-called ‘professionals’ ruin paintings (one frame shop owner in Trenton, NJ left brush hairs in the varnish coat then obliterated the painting’s surface trying to get them off—grrr). Any artist that draws with smudge-able material, such

Written by January 15, 2013

Love Everything About It

Bio . Shop Talk . Tips and Studies . Uncategorized Article

I love everything about art making.   This has always been the case for me, but when I was young I was more impatient.  I also had an elevated view about the role of artistes.  As a consequence, I was sometimes careless with my equipment.  Brushes could remain brush-down in turpentine for days–horror!–until I got around

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