Brushes

My brush of choice is Robert Simmons Titanium.  I have some experience with Robert Simmons brushes as I've used their Sapphire brushes for watercolor painting.  I found the RS brushes have a lot of spring and keep their shape.

When I started out using WMOs paints, I used inexpensive brushes that I found in the clearance section of my local AC Moore store.  Majority of them were $1 each.  It was a "temporary fix" to figure out if I could paint with oils.

One of the key points that I learned early on from my watercolor mentor:  in order to paint well, you have to use good brushes and paints.  I've done plenty of research on the Internet and came across some recommended sable and mongoose synthetic brands as well as the RS Titanium brushes.  I wanted a good synthetic type brush that had some spring to it, not too stiff, and held up well when soaked with water (e.g. washing with soap and water).  The RS Titanium became my first choice.

My local Michael's store carries the RS Titanium brushes.  I used my coupons to purchase the first two basic brushes (filbert and flat) and I gave them a try.  I was hooked.  I bought a set from Jerry's when they had a weekend brush sale back in December.  Since then, I've slowly added to my collection by using Michael's & AC Moore's 50% coupons (Yes! I can use competitor's coupons between Michael's and AC Moore...what a deal!) and also checking Jerry's site for a brush sales.

A few of my RS brushes from my collection

My favorite type of brushes to use are filberts.  It produces great coverage when I need it and I find I have greater control with this brush type when I need to paint edges.  For more paint coverage, my next favorite is a flat or wash type brush.  I am still undecided about the round type brushes.  While that was my predominant brush of choice for watercolors, I don't find them useful with my current painting style.  I'm sure when I branch out to landscape paintings they will be useful.

Painting a Still Life Video from YouTube

This artist is phenomenal.  It's interesting to see different approaches to painting.  Grab a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy this video:

Mixing Paint Technique Video from YouTube

I was searching the Internet for information on creating underpaintings.  I came across this interesting video on YouTube.  I was more intrigued with the technique he uses for mixing colors with a palette knife.  Check it out:    

I prefer to mix my own black from the primary colors that I use in a painting.  I can see how useful and easy it is to have a tube of black handy for a quick mix.

My New Glass Palette and Multiple Post Day

After feeling refreshed from an early afternoon nap, I started to paint.  I used my glass palette for the first time.  It was a joy to use!  Now, I could kick myself for not using it sooner.

I bought a 12"x16" Masterson's Artist Palette Seal from my local AC Moore (50% coupon).  This palette container has a blue rubber-like cover that snaps shut.  Literally, the cover is a tight fit.  I have to run my palms around the edges to lock the cover in place.  When I'm ready to open and remove the cover, it's hard to pull the cover off.  Other than that, I do like this palette container.  It's huge!

My painting cart with my supplies including my glass palette

I found a piece of glass at my local Home Depot.  It's called Clear Replacement Glass.  It's 3/32" thick and the dimensions are 12"x16".  It fits in my container without any problems.  I just have to be careful of the sharp edges of the glass when I'm handling it.  

Here I've mixed my green values using my stainless steel palette knife:  

My glass palette sitting in a Masterson's Air-Tight Palette Seal

When I finished painting after several hours, I just scraped the paint off and gave the glass a good wipe down with a paper towel:  

Easy clean up!  No fuss, no mess

You've probably noticed that the glass looks gray.  I've placed a piece of gray palette paper underneath the glass.  In my research, I have found that it's easier to see and mix true (correct) colors when the background is gray.  You won't see me using a wood palette or white plastic palette when I'm painting.  

Masterson's Artist Palette Seal and Grey Matters Paper Palette

This 50-sheet pad of gray palette paper will last a long time as I probably won't have to change it out while it sits under my glass palette.  

Spiderwort Painting and Lukas Berlin WMOs

For the last week or so, I've been looking for a subject to paint.  Mostly, I've been wanting to try out my new easel.  I looked through my photos and photo albums and finally came up with something floral...a Spiderwort picture I took several years ago.

I wanted to give my Lukas Berlin WMO paints another try.  Give it a real good test.  I also wanted to try a different painting technique.  Paint the background first and the subject last.

Here is the results of my three hours of painting:

The Lukas Berlin WMO paints are lovely to mix and paint with.  It's creamy right out of the tube.  I used Ultramarine Blue and Lemon Yellow to create the green values (dark, medium, and light).  I did notice that the Lukas colors appear to be brighter than the other paints I've used so far.  

Once the colors were mixed, I did notice that the mixture was still creamy, but slightly thick.  When I applied the paint to the canvas paper, I could tell the consistency was different than the more expensive Holbiens I used in my previous painting.  The Holbien paint mixture glides over the canvas paper without too much effort.  When I used the Lukas, I have to load a bit more paint on the brush to get that "glide" feel over the canvas paper.  There's definitely a difference in the feel of the paint.  Personally, I don't consider to be an issue.  I'm just happy that I'm not working with stiff paints.  

In this first painting session, I did not use any mediums (e.g. linseed oil or thinner).  This gives you an idea of how good this paint really is to work with.  

My green values

Painted the dark value first

Painted in the light value next

Painted in the medium value and then blended the colors

For the next painting session, I will start painting the flower.  I plan on using a Magenta Red color mixed with white to create the Pink values.  

A Science Project

I had some leftover mixed paint from my painting session today.  I could have thrown them away and mixed a new batch later in the week.  I decided on a science project.  I scraped the paints off my palette:

I placed each color on it's own piece of aluminum foil.  I folded over the foil to create a pocket and then sealed up the sides:

I placed the foil packets in a freezer zip-lock bag and placed the bag in my freezer:  

I will post back the results later this week.  

What Do I Use to Clean My Brushes?

I use synthetic brushes with my WMOs.  I never thought that I would need to preserve them.  After some extensive research, I found something fabulous to use.  Master's Brush Cleaner and Preserver.  I bought a huge tub at my local Michael's store (50% coupon).  I really don't buy things in large quantities without trying it.  There were so many reviews and praises...I figured it was a good thing to use.  It's actually a great product!

When I'm finished painting for the day, I take a clean paper towel and remove the wet paint off my brushes.  I use Palmolive to do the initial cleaning of the brushes to remove the majority of the paint.  After a good rinse, I then take each brush and run it over the Master's brush cleaner cake.  I rub my fingers over the brush to work it in between the bristles.  I rinse the brushes until the water comes out clear.  There are times when I see some remnants of paint.  I will continue to run the brush over the cake and rinse until the paint is removed.  

Palmolive dish detergent and Master's Brush Cleaner and Preserver tub

The Master's brush cleaner has a lemony scent.  It really works!

A New Year, Another Painting Area and a Daylight Lamp

To start off the new year with a fresh start, I decided to do some cleaning and reorganizing.  My new easel needed a place to call home.  I found a corner on the main level and had to move around some furniture to make things fit and make things functional for me.  I'm all about comfort and function.  I like this corner because it's between two windows.  Here's my second painting area:

Daylight Lamp:

I found a daylight artist lamp at my local AC Moore store.  I had a 50% off coupon and got a incredible deal.  The Internet could not match this price and when you include shipping costs....  Purchasing this local made more sense.  This daylight lamp is awesome and works great.  It's a bit heavy.  I do have a warning.  It's not that easy to bend even though it says so on the box.  I carefully twisted and turned this...it took 3 tries.  The lamp comes with two bases:  one to clamp onto a desk and one that hangs off an easel (see above picture)

Storing and Drying My Paintings

I've been looking for a drying rack to store my paintings.  I was appalled at the prices I was seeing at my local art shop and over the Internet.  Something so simple, yet so expensive!

I knew there was an alternative.  I went to my local Staples and look what I found:

My new drying rack and only $12!

It's a file sorter.  Eleven slots to be exact.  It looks so nice on my table.  It's also functional!  Notice something funning at the base?  Yes, that is a folded paper towel.  The file sorter needs to be propped up.  Still a great find at a great price!

A New Easel and a New Painting (WIP)

I started another pear study.  This time in brown.  I'm still using the Holbien paints.  I'm getting spoiled.  I don't think I can go back to the W&Ns.  I didn't get to finish this study in one sitting as we ended up opening our presents and then had to get ready to go over to my sis-in-law's house for dinner.   

I ended up placing my mixed palette and my brushes in a Masterson Air-Tight Palette Seal.  I snapped the blue cover all around and I'm hoping the paints and brushes will remain moist until I'm ready to paint again...hopefully in the next two days or so.   I will report back the results later.  

I think I'm going to call this painting 'Chocolate Pears'.  My palette looks like a range of dark chocolate to milk chocolate.  Yummy!

Chocolate Pears on my new easel

My hubby bought me a floor standing easel for Christmas!  While I was painting upstairs, he was downstairs putting it together.  There was an included leaflet that contained diagrams of the easel, but no instructions.  He mentioned it was a bit tricky.  He did a great job!

Now, I have two places to paint.  Here in the main level, there is plenty of daylight I would like to take advantage of.  So, I think I'll paint here during the weekends (in the corner between two windows).  I'll be able to use my large glass palette (pre-cut glass from Home Depot) for the larger canvas.  

My new Mabef H-frame easel!

I'm looking forward to another long weekend to paint!