RGH vs Utrecht
A reader asks wether I prefer Utrecht flake white or RGH's. To answer the question directly: I prefer Utrecht (barely). Utrecht covers better and has more body. To demonstrate this, I share a simple side-by-side…
Category: Shop Talk
Glowing lights
I have several themes in mind for today's post. One theme is about varnish--intermediate varnish. An intermediate varnish is used to seal the surface and prevent subsequent paint layers from sinking into the earlier layers.…
Those who live in glass houses…
...or use glass palettes. I get a lot of questions about my homemade palette. I've been using this palette for several years and by now it's pretty beat-up. In fact, I attempted to replace it…
Painting in the time of pandemic
We painters are lucky. We already self-isolate when we paint, so when the pandemic s**t hits the fan, we can continue painting and just carry-on as usual. Last week I ordered some oils from RGH,…
Not all synthetic brushes are awful
I heap abuse on synthetic brushes. But some synthetics are not too bad--for oils. I haven't found any synthetics that can replace sables for watercolor painting. Not even close. These synthetic rounds from Winsor and…
Maulsticks
When my daughter was very young, with a very serious face she asked, "Daddy, why do you hold a big stick in your studio?" To a child, the most question-provoking thing about the studio was…
Bristle brushes
Even though I sometimes disparage bristle brushes, I use them all the time. I use them for medium or broad passages--not for finer areas. Like most students, I was taught that real painters used bristles…