Welcome! Every artist is different, and I think we all find our favorite tools and techniques but here are a few of mine. I am still learning so I will update this list periodically.
When an Idea Strikes!
It is not very often that I draw my initial ideas on canvas or board to begin. Usually I sketch out my concepts on paper first, refine them to exactly what I want and then transfer them to the canvas or board using transfer paper. This avoids excessive erasing marks or muddying the paint (especially light colors with lead/charcoal) or even creating a lovely sagging canvas. *note the sarcasm ;) My favorite places I like to order from are www.dickblick.com for paint and hardboards as they have a huge selection and is usually in stock. However I am in Canada so I do make smaller orders from www.currys.com. My favorite Canadian canvas supplier for pre-stretched (custom) canvas, frames, shipping crates is www.ucsart.com. Their products are hand made and simply superior in quality. If you can't find really well made canvas's or need custom sizes you're welcome to check them out! Pencils & Sketch Papers
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Paints Paints Paints
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Surface Preparation (Canvas/Linen or Board)
Have you ever looked at a painting and could see the canvas popping through? If the paint had dried and there were little speckles of white canvas showing you have learned the hard way, like me, lol. Surface preparation is sooo important. It will let your paints glide and slip across the surface. With proper surface preparation the paint will literally go further as it wont soak into the surface. Colors will be rich and it will have a more overall good quality appearance. My favorite brand is the neutral grey Liquitex gesso, however the white works just as well. I prefer the grey though as you can pop your highlights down and see them easier so you don't paint all your lighter colors to light, leaving no room for your highlights to "pop".
*If you're prepping birch panels, I like to sand them smooth before the gesso is applied. Surface Preparation (Canvas/Linen or Board)
Have you ever looked at a painting and could see the canvas popping through? If the paint had dried and there were little speckles of white canvas showing you have learned the hard way, like me, lol. Surface preparation is sooo important. It will let your paints glide and slip across the surface. With proper surface preparation the paint will literally go further as it wont soak into the surface. Colors will be rich and it will have a more overall good quality appearance. My favorite brand is the neutral grey Liquitex gesso, however the white works just as well. I prefer the grey though as you can pop your highlights down and see them easier so you don't paint all your lighter colors to light, leaving no room for your highlights to "pop".
*If you're prepping birch panels, I like to sand them smooth before the gesso is applied. Surface Preparation (Canvas/Linen or Board)
My favorite discard-able palette pad. I like the grey as it (like the gesso) lets you see the bright whites and what it's really going to look like on the painting. Ok, I know some artists out there meticulously set up their palettes but I'm not one of them. Just make sure its getting the same lighting your painting is getting so the colors look exactly the same as they do on your palette.
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A good set of pallete knives are a must. Mix paints or even move them around your palette and peel off any dried 'skin' to reveal still usable paint on your palette.
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I highly recommend long handled brushes made for oil paints. I prefer synthetic style sable hair and am very happy with the Currys brand. Just remember to wash them after each session as dried oil paint is tough to get out and the brushes usually end up being pooched.
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