HOT

Category: Tips and Studies

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

Written by January 4, 2013

White Paint–in Praise of Lead

Shop Talk . Tips and Studies . Uncategorized Article

The most important color–by far–is white.  White oil paint comes in three flavors: Zinc white (zinc oxide, PW4, usually called Chinese White when used in watercolors).  Although known from ancient times, its common usage is relatively modern, dating from the 18th century when it was developed as a replacement for lead white, which was long known to be

Written by October 26, 2012

Smooth Move—Smooth Painting Surfaces

Shop Talk . Tips and Studies Article

All artists are self-taught today. It doesn’t matter if you have a masters degree or never set foot in an art school–everyone is on their own. The most important piece of painting gear my last professor had was a pair of fishing boots. His technique was to cover the studio floor with huge canvases, and pour

1 … 10 11 12