A Written Art Lesson: Part 3
A Written Art Lesson: Part 3
In our last lesson, we discussed preparing our palette with paint. During this installment of a Written Art Lesson, let’s begin to discuss the supplies you will need to complete your painting.
You need something to paint on. Artists call this a “substrate.” I use both fabric and metal substrates. Most beginners choose to paint on canvas. You can buy canvas glued to wooden or cardboard to make a flat substrate. These are easy to transport, store, and harder to damage. Many also choose canvas that has been stretched around wooden supports. These bounce a little while you apply the paint. They must be moved and stored with caution to avoid puncturing the canvas. If the wooden “bars” are thick and the canvas wraps all the way to the back, then we describe this as a “gallery-wrapped” canvas. It doesn’t need a frame. Obtain at least 11 x 14-inch substrates. Beginners have an easier time with larger substrates. You may also want to consider purchasing substrates that will fit into standard frame sizes to avoid the cost of custom frames.
Once you decide on your substrate, of course you need brushes. I recommend synthetic hog hair, long-handled brushes. I like the synthetic hog brushes found at Hobby Lobby. Their Master’s Touch line is durable and a good value. Flats or brights (not filberts) are the best for our purposes. However, any synthetic hog will do. Please don’t purchase sable or real hog bristle brushes. Sable is too soft, and real hog will shed bristles. For beginners, I recommend Master’s Touch Synthetic Hog long-handled “flats” #2, #5, and #8, and “Brights” #4, #10, #12, and #16. Long-handled brushes allow you to stand back from your painting while working. They are also best for painting outdoors and providing the opportunity to flex and move your hand and arm while creating your brushstrokes.
I recommend Winton Oil Colours for beginners. Learners usually waste a lot of paint. It’s a good quality product at a reasonable price. You will only need the seven colors we discussed in A Written Art Lesson: Part Two
You will also need a trowel type palette knife. You will use this to move and mix your paint on the palette. You may also use it to apply paint to the substrate if you like. You may purchase inexpensive plastic knives until you are sure you wish to continue painting in the long term. But the metal knives are easier to use in my opinion.
My students use disposable palette paper in classes. It comes in pads of two different sizes. I find students need more room; so, buy the 12 x 16-inch size. It will also fit nicely into a paint storage box. The easiest box to find is by Masterson.
If you’d like to browse some of the items I’m discussing, visit my teacher’s page at Jerry’s Artarama Supply List.
After you paint, you need to clean up. I’ll continue this discussion in the next installment of A Written Art Lesson.
You may enjoy subscribing to my new channel SEH Studios Art on YouTube for short video clip demonstrations that will help you as we move on to the actual application of paint to the substrate.
As always, I’d be delighted if you shared this newsletter or any of my social media posts. Word of mouth is still the best way to grow a business.
