Everyone has their own favorite paints. Many artists even mix their own paints. I prefer to use Windsor and Newton oils, and Golden acrylics.
I have recently taken up oil painting! The paints have much less odor than in the past. The solvents and oils are also less toxic and more user friendly than ever before.
Windsor and Newton are my favorite oil paints, but I also use artist quality paints from Van Gogh, and Grumbacker.. I try to buy the best quality materials I am able to afford, even if that means buying fewer products.
I suggest buying a small palette of paints to begin with.
Titanium white, Ivory black, Yellow ochre, Ultramarine blue and Alizarin crimson red. Thalo or Prussian blue is also useful for that awesome Caribbean sea colour. To begin use any quality of yellow, blue, and red, with black and white, as a very basic palette. Some artists prefer to mix all of their own colour from these colours- instead of buying greens and purples and browns etc.
It is well worth your learning time to make your very own colour wheels to really understand, warm colours such as yellow and reds, and cool colours such as blues and greens, tints, hues and values and complimentary colours!
My brushes are artist quality from Curry’s art store. The staff can recommend what name brands of brushes to buy, but I do like the Curry’s brand, Windsor and Newton, and many others.
Learn oil painting from many sources, and as often as you can. Watch u-tube videos and practice free tutorials on line in your choice of medium.
Your own painting can take you to a place of relaxation and a carefree zone where you accomplish a style of your own and a work that becomes a part of who you are.
Enjoy the process!
I have recently taken up oil painting! The paints have much less odor than in the past. The solvents and oils are also less toxic and more user friendly than ever before.
Windsor and Newton are my favorite oil paints, but I also use artist quality paints from Van Gogh, and Grumbacker.. I try to buy the best quality materials I am able to afford, even if that means buying fewer products.
I suggest buying a small palette of paints to begin with.
Titanium white, Ivory black, Yellow ochre, Ultramarine blue and Alizarin crimson red. Thalo or Prussian blue is also useful for that awesome Caribbean sea colour. To begin use any quality of yellow, blue, and red, with black and white, as a very basic palette. Some artists prefer to mix all of their own colour from these colours- instead of buying greens and purples and browns etc.
It is well worth your learning time to make your very own colour wheels to really understand, warm colours such as yellow and reds, and cool colours such as blues and greens, tints, hues and values and complimentary colours!
My brushes are artist quality from Curry’s art store. The staff can recommend what name brands of brushes to buy, but I do like the Curry’s brand, Windsor and Newton, and many others.
Learn oil painting from many sources, and as often as you can. Watch u-tube videos and practice free tutorials on line in your choice of medium.
Your own painting can take you to a place of relaxation and a carefree zone where you accomplish a style of your own and a work that becomes a part of who you are.
Enjoy the process!
Water colour painting- 101
Paper for water colour painting
1) Terra skin paper is a personal favorite plastic-type surface/ paper. It is similar to Yupo but has a thicker weight.
or
2) Arches Paper - 140 lb is excellent for water colour paintings
or
3) Curry`s brand paper - 200 lb paper.is also great for water colour painting but is not as white as Arches.
Water Colour Paint
'Yarka' water colour pan paints- sets of 8 or 12
OR
'Windsor and Newton' tube water colour paints- artist quality.
OR
Purchase three primary colours of tube paints.
I recommend Quinacridone Gold, Ultramarine blue, and Alizarin Crimson, or any yellow, red, or blue.
Brushes
Artist quality :Curry`s, Escoda, Simmons, and Sceptre Gold II
Suggested materials for water colour painting:
Masking tape
Board to tape your paper onto.
Soft pencil 4B, or 6B
Gomme eraser.
A painting palette.
Kleenex/paper towel
Water containers
1) Terra skin paper is a personal favorite plastic-type surface/ paper. It is similar to Yupo but has a thicker weight.
or
2) Arches Paper - 140 lb is excellent for water colour paintings
or
3) Curry`s brand paper - 200 lb paper.is also great for water colour painting but is not as white as Arches.
Water Colour Paint
'Yarka' water colour pan paints- sets of 8 or 12
OR
'Windsor and Newton' tube water colour paints- artist quality.
OR
Purchase three primary colours of tube paints.
I recommend Quinacridone Gold, Ultramarine blue, and Alizarin Crimson, or any yellow, red, or blue.
Brushes
Artist quality :Curry`s, Escoda, Simmons, and Sceptre Gold II
Suggested materials for water colour painting:
Masking tape
Board to tape your paper onto.
Soft pencil 4B, or 6B
Gomme eraser.
A painting palette.
Kleenex/paper towel
Water containers
Mixing water colour paints.
The three primary colours are red, blue and yellow. Using one colour straight from the tube creates a crisp clear pigment in your work. Using mixed colours adds more depth to a painting.
Mixed colours are called secondary colours. For example yellow and blue make green which is a secondary colour. Cool colours are- blues, and warm colours are yellows/reds.
It is helpful to use a colour wheel. To create shadows use the opposite colour on the wheel. It is called a complementary colour. For example on a yellow flower we can use violet to add contrast.
Paint can be mixed on your palette before you apply it to your paper, or colours can be mixed on wet paper as you are painting. It is a great idea to have a scrap piece of paper to test your colour before you paint on your work.
orange = red + yellow
green = blue + yellow
purple = blue + red
brown = red + yellow + blue
Mixed colours are called secondary colours. For example yellow and blue make green which is a secondary colour. Cool colours are- blues, and warm colours are yellows/reds.
It is helpful to use a colour wheel. To create shadows use the opposite colour on the wheel. It is called a complementary colour. For example on a yellow flower we can use violet to add contrast.
Paint can be mixed on your palette before you apply it to your paper, or colours can be mixed on wet paper as you are painting. It is a great idea to have a scrap piece of paper to test your colour before you paint on your work.
orange = red + yellow
green = blue + yellow
purple = blue + red
brown = red + yellow + blue
Water colour paintings are painted often using transparent paints. This type of paint allows layers of colours to be applied on top of a dry light base coat of paint.
Opague water colour paints will cover the underneath wash totally. This can be useful to cover a mistake on the base coat of paint.
Opague water colour paints will cover the underneath wash totally. This can be useful to cover a mistake on the base coat of paint.
Use very clean water at all times when painting.
Good lighting. Natural light from a window is great.
When the paper is taped onto the board tilt the board an inch or two toward you by placing something under the top of the board that will lift and tilt the board slightly.
Water colour paintings should not be hung in direct sunlight. Good paper is acid free and an acid free backing from your framer should support the back of your work.
Water colour paintings look better when they are matted and placed in a frame under glass. A small portion of your work may make a greeting card.
Happy Painting!!
Good lighting. Natural light from a window is great.
When the paper is taped onto the board tilt the board an inch or two toward you by placing something under the top of the board that will lift and tilt the board slightly.
Water colour paintings should not be hung in direct sunlight. Good paper is acid free and an acid free backing from your framer should support the back of your work.
Water colour paintings look better when they are matted and placed in a frame under glass. A small portion of your work may make a greeting card.
Happy Painting!!
