Currently I am working on a few new commissions, mostly Muskoka scenery paintings using Windsor and Newton oils, but also palms trees using Golden acrylics. Oil painting!
I have recently taken up oil painting again! It is a great pleasure to be learning all about what oils can do, and the unique qualities of this material. Now the paintings have much less odour than in the past. The solvents and oils are also less toxic and more user friendly than ever before.
Windsor and Newton are my favourite oil paints, but I also use artist quality paints from Van Gogh, and Grumbacker and a variety of manufacturers.
Whenever I purchase materials I try to buy the best quality I am able to afford even if that means buying fewer products. It is better to paint with the best brands there are available. Sometime less is more. You can paint your very best vibrant colours if you have the very best paints and buyers will appreciate the quality of your works.
I suggest buying a small palette of paints to begin with.
I use Titanium white, Ivory black, Yellow ochre, Ultramarine blue and Alizarin crimson red. You can use any yellow, blue, and red, with black and white, as a basic palette. Some artists prefer to mix all of their own 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! That is my next study- colour wheels!
My brushes are artist quality from Curry’s art store. The staff can recommend what name brands to buy but I do like the Curry’s brand, and Windsor and Newton oil painting brushes.
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 again! It is a great pleasure to be learning all about what oils can do, and the unique qualities of this material. Now the paintings have much less odour than in the past. The solvents and oils are also less toxic and more user friendly than ever before.
Windsor and Newton are my favourite oil paints, but I also use artist quality paints from Van Gogh, and Grumbacker and a variety of manufacturers.
Whenever I purchase materials I try to buy the best quality I am able to afford even if that means buying fewer products. It is better to paint with the best brands there are available. Sometime less is more. You can paint your very best vibrant colours if you have the very best paints and buyers will appreciate the quality of your works.
I suggest buying a small palette of paints to begin with.
I use Titanium white, Ivory black, Yellow ochre, Ultramarine blue and Alizarin crimson red. You can use any yellow, blue, and red, with black and white, as a basic palette. Some artists prefer to mix all of their own 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! That is my next study- colour wheels!
My brushes are artist quality from Curry’s art store. The staff can recommend what name brands to buy but I do like the Curry’s brand, and Windsor and Newton oil painting brushes.
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!!
