Canvas Paper/Pads

I've found a fabulous oil painting support to practice on.  It's canvas paper/pads.  I have quite a bit of experience with the Canson Canva-Paper as this has been my primary support for several small studies.  I've purchased the 12x16 pad size and cut the sheets down to size:  5x7s and 8x10s.  I can actually use a cutting board to cleanly cut the sheets of paper.  Any odd-sized shape scraps are used for documenting colors used in a painting so I can re-create the colors at a later time.  I also use them to paint test colors I mix before committing them to the real painting.


This Canson Canva-Paper is fairly stiff (136 lb paper) and has "the look and feel" of cotton canvas imprinted on the paper.  I like using this paper because of the stiffness and once I've completed a painting I can leave it on a display easel without the paper sagging or curling.

Before I start to paint, I mount the Canva-Paper on a hardboard.  Any firm/stiff board can be used for the backing.  To keep the paper from moving around, I tape the paper down using blue painter's tape.  This tape also helps where I can freely paint to the edges and not get any paint on the hardboard backing.  As you can see, I've used this painter's tape before on another painting project.  I just turned the tape around so the clean side is touching the new project.  

After a few days and when the painting is dry to touch, I gently peel off the blue tape.  I can then leave the painting on a display easel to dry further.  

Another "canvas pad" that I've purchased, but not have used yet is Fredrix.  I can't call this paper as it actually feels like true cotton canvas.  When I lifted the first sheet on the pad, it felt like cloth.  The sheets are not stiff, but flexible.  I guess I should not have been that surprised as the word "paper" is not mentioned/advertised on the pad.  Instead, it reads "genuine artist canvas".  I purchased a huge 16x20 pad at my local Michael's (w/coupon) and had to literally hand cut a canvas sheet down to four 8x10s.  Sharp scissors worked nicely.  

I'm undecided how I'm going to mount this canvas before I start to paint on it.  I've heard other artists use a hardboard (e.g. 8x10) and glue the canvas to the board.  I may have to try that.  This Fredrix Canvas Pad will be a good alternative to use after I graduate from using the canvas paper.

Here's paper cutter similar to the one I use to cut my Canson Canva-Paper:  

Learning to Look at Other Paintings

While I feel comfortable with painting my objects, I do feel a bit uncomfortable painting the backgrounds.  Most likely from lack of experience.  When I used to paint with water colors, I never learned to paint backgrounds.  The focus was to paint the objects.  When I do sketches and drawings, again, I'm drawing objects.

While visiting local art galleries and perusing through paintings on the Internet, I've been making mental notes of backgrounds.  What makes sense (highlights, colors, values, etc) and what doesn't to me.

Before I start my future paintings, I need to start planning and visualizing in my mind how the object and the background will play together.  What colors will I be using and will there be any highlights and shadows.  After I paint/sketch my rough outlines, I need to start painting the background first and then paint my objects.  Mental notes I need to remind myself to do.


Note:  I did receive my supplies from Jerry's and it arrived around lunch time!  Sweet!

Ordered Lots of Supplies

Jerry's Artarama was having a special this past weekend.  I took advantage of the additional discounts on paint supplies and ordered brushes, oil paints, and tools.  The savings was close to 50-60% off retail.  I couldn't resist.  It wasn't too hard to meet the minimum $ requirement for free shipping.  My cart filled up quickly.

As far as brushes, my favorite to use with the WMO paints is Robert Simmons Titanium.  The brushes have a lot of spring and keeps it shape/point.  I ended up getting some filberts, flats, flat shaders, rounds, and a glaze and a broad brush.  My favorite brush type to paint with are filberts and my least favorites are rounds.  To me, the filbert is a cross between a round and a flat brush.  Best of both worlds.

I ordered another brand of WMO called Lukas Berlins.  Their prices are really reasonable and I've heard their pigments are pretty good and somewhat creamy right out the tube.  I couldn't beat the under $3 a tube (37ml) price.  I ordered some colors that I didn't already have.  As with the other brands, I have also purchased the Lukas WMO Linseed Oil medium to complement the new oils I ordered.  Lukas was having a special.  Purchase four Lukas Berlin WMO paints and receive a free tube of White Titanium.  Jerry's is sending me three free tubes of White Titanium!

I ordered a paint crate to use as a backup as well as to use in another painting area of my house.

I also threw in two stainless steel palette knives to use with my glass palette for future use.  I also ordered a package of gray plastic palette knives to use with my acrylic palette.  Looking forward to trying them out.

I placed the order on Sunday afternoon.  I just received a notice from Jerry's that they shipped my package today and UPS will be delivering my supplies late tomorrow.  Not bad for free shipping!  I'm sure I would have received my package sooner if my order didn't include 34 items!  Yikes!

Happy Painting!

Painted Tonight...Christmas Candles

I did a quick painting tonight.  I ended up using 8 brushes to paint this small painting.

Yellow Ochre wash sketch

Painted in the dark value

Decided to paint the candles next

The finished painting...Christmas Candles

My palette.  The only color I did not use was the blue...which turned out blah!

Another Painting in Progress...My Second Rose

I'm glad I took a short break from painting.  I was having a problem getting inspired.  My quick sketches and drawings kept me in practice (e.g. learning to look).  I was able to get some rest over this long weekend.  After I dropped my brother off at the airport, I came home to paint.  I thought I was going to paint one of my sketches, but decided at the last minute to paint another rose from one of my photographs. 

So, here is my work in progress: 

Quick sketch in Yellow Ochre thinned wash

Painted the dark value

Painted the mid value and started the light value

Values completed

Painted a bit more details and blended the values

Still a work in progress

I have to laugh at myself.  At one point during my painting session, I had three brushes and my palette in my left hand.  I ended up getting paint everywhere.  You can see on my canvas paper some mistakes where my brush and my hand got in the way.   Here's the result after 1-1/2 hours of painting:

Another Pencil Sketch...a Rose

I've been trying to do something creative when I have a moment.  Lately, I've been very tired and so attempting to paint is out of the question.  I created "mud" with the last painting as I didn't have any creative juices.  I won't be posting a picture of that any time soon.

Instead of sulking on wasted time, paint, and paper...I've decided to spend some quality time doing sketches.  This trains me to see the different "values" of the subject I'm drawing.  This will definitely help me when I'm painting.  I seem to be struggling with "values" when I'm painting with different colors.

So, this evening I had an hour and drew this ingle stem rose:

A Pencil Sketch...Spiderwort Flowers

This evening I had some time to do a quick pencil sketch.  This will eventually be used as a future reference for a painting.

Spiderwort sketch

Not a Rose-y Day

I've been trying to paint at least 2-3 hours a week...if I'm lucky.  If the week nights are busy, I wait to do the 2-3 hours on the weekend.  That's the goal I've set to become proficient at this new hobby.

Today, I allocated some hours to paint after I was done with teaching a knitting class.  I thought the class would take 2 to 2-1/2 hours the most.  It went for 4 hours.  I was one tired puppy.

It took an hour to put away all the knitting stuff and then collect myself in front of my canvas and arrange the paints, palette knives, and miscellaneous art stuff.  This blank canvas stared back at me:

I've been collecting pictures of stuff to paint (e.g. flowers, blueberries, our beloved beagle, some buildings, etc).  I pulled out a picture of a pink rose and thought it would be an interesting challenge for me.  So, here's my sketch in a thinned yellow ochre wash:  

I have to tell you, my heart was not in the mood to paint.  I could tell as I was mixing the colors for the pink rose and then for the green foilage (or lack of) and background, I just wasn't happy with the colors.  So, I trudged along and applied the paint to the canvas panel and this was the so-so results of my efforts:  

I decided not to touch the painting anymore and let it sit and dry for the next few days.  Was I trying to tackle a subject that was way over my head?  Not really.  I've done several pencil sketches of roses and other flowers...it's not a new subject for me.  Was it because I was using a cheap canvas panel?  That may have something to do with it...it was from Walmart.  Was I too tired to paint?  Yes!

Lessons learned:  (1) not to use cheap art materials.  I'm using good paint and great brushes.  What was that?  You get what you paid for?  I know, I know.  No more cheapie canvas panels.  (2) Not to attempt too many hobbies in one day.  (3) Stay on target and focus on the hobby (e.g. painting) that I want to work on.

Back to the drawing board....

Three Applies Painting

This evening,  I got a chance to sit and paint for a few hours.  I went ahead and finished my apples painting by adding in the shadows and then painting the white paper towel underneath.

Three Apples (close up)

Rough sketch on the left and the final painting

I'm going to leave the painting as is and call it "done".  I've been learning that the more I touch something, the more I overwork it.  Simple and less is better.

Now, I'm off to look for a photo to paint from.  I've got thousands to look at.  Sigh!

Three Apples - WIP

In less than two weeks, I'm on my fifth oil painting which is an apple study.  I used titanium white, lemon yellow, alizarin crimson, cerulean blue and yellow ochre.  The three primary colors represent cool colors.

My palette of mixed colors

Used yellow ochre mixed with thinner to create a light wash for my outline

Still a work in progress...to be completed later this week