Painting Outdoors or In the Studio

My experience with painting happened when I first visited my uncle's graphic arts studio, where I took contact with the tempers and brushes as well as other materials used in that activity. I remember that the jars of tempera came from Germany and Holland. The tempera is a material that is diluted with water, and using a brush is transferred to the paper. It is a painting that covers, contrasting with watercolor that is transparent, or the ink that could be. The oil is a material that covers as well, but offers a different texture and its use is more for paintings over canvases.

The use of the tempura was destined for commercial work. Additionally, to my experience with tempera in mostly commercial works, I also got experience with oil painting. Indeed, when I was in high school, I had the opportunity to attend an oil painting course, taught by a professor at the School of Fine Arts in Lima, during the school holidays. In there I learned a lot from the technique of oil painting, and specially the painting of still life and models that took place in the school halls. After these initial experiences, which were as painting in the studio, I could say that my first experience of painting outdoors was when I attended school painting contests. In such contests participated all high school's students of the city.

The organizers carried us to some interesting square, where generally one of the buildings was a church or the municipality local. The material that we used was oil painting on a rigid cardboard base. Some participants used shoe polish as a paint. The winners of the contest got prizes and diplomas. At one time I rented a room in my aunt's house and there I remember working many oil paintings. I had learned to prepare the canvases and that made my work easier and more economical. Few years ago I became more interested in watercolor painting. I already had experience with such material, but I think that after seeing the works of watercolor artists in the art salons that were organized in my city, I felt a desire to learn more about this technique and began to paint with it. I decided to do some watercolors outdoors and for that I looked for scenery outside the city. Scenery with fields, trees, rivers and blue sky.

Furthermore it's important a sunny climate, because in order to paint outdoors is advisable a sunny day, as there are lights and shadows that contrast the painting. The best time to paint outdoors is to do it before or afternoon because in those hours the shadows are much better appreciated. Actually, painting outdoors is really a very pleasant experience and it's more when you achieve a good painting, as it's the same as winning a challenge. It's advisable to take an easel and a folding chair, although in the field you can find somewhere to sit. The easel must be supported with a weight, which can be a stone that hangs from it.

This is done so that no unwanted wind will pull it down. The paper must be previously glued to a wooden base, but you can also use watercolor blocks whose sides are glued. Furthermore, you need to consider that painting an outdoor watercolor is a process that must be executed quickly, as the sunlight changes rapidly and there may be variation in colors, although not so much informs, except when you are painting animals like cattle, horses or birds.

Finally, you must overcome the situation of being seen by the people or someone who comes and makes comments. Generally, there are few who stop to observe when one paints, and if it happens you should remain concentrated in your painting. Enrique Bracamonte is became graduated as Graphic Designer at the Bergische Universit�t Wuppertal in Germany. He likes to share his experience as a watercolor painter. 

How to Keep Your Oil Painting Brushes in Great Shape

Better quality artist's brushes will last a long time if cared for properly. This article discusses some of the best ways to care for your good oil painting brushes. Caring for acrylic and watercolor brushes is a simpler process. You just rinse thoroughly with clean water, apply a mild soap (Dawn liquid will do), and rinse again. Conditioning with Master's Brush Cleaner is always a nice finish. Oil painting brush care is a bit more complicated, but certainly worth the extra effort to extend the life of your brushes. I'm going to share a few different ways to clean your brushes and let you decide what works best for you.

Timing is a key element in cleaning your oil painting brushes. If you plan to continue painting the next day, then you can simply wipe the paint out with a paper towel or clean cloth, swish in your mineral spirits or odorless thinner like Gamsol, wipe again, then set them aside. You can also wipe out excess paint, dip the brush in a light oil with a few drops of clove oil, and lay horizontally and somewhat elevated to use the next day. Just be sure to work again the next day! One simple strategy to clean your brushes is to wipe away the excess paint, do a light wash with oil (linseed is okay, but Safflower or Poppy Seed oils are lighter and work a bit better), then wash the brushes with warm water and a mild soap.

You have to try these methods to see which you prefer. Much depends on your quality of brush, whether they are natural or synthetic fibers, etc. A somewhat altered method of the above strategies is to wipe off excess paint, then swish in paint thinner until all color is removed. Use a cleaning jar (Lion Silicoils are better since they have a rust proof metal coil in the bottom rather than a screen, which can be rough on brushes) half filled with thinner and rub the brushes across the coil until paint is removed. Then wash the brushes in a good quality conditioning brush cleaner like Master's Brush Soap. Using Master's is a good idea on all of your brushes once they are cleaned no matter the medium since the conditioner is so good for brush longevity.

One final thought on cleaning is to use Murphy's Original Oil Soap. This stuff is so good that it will usually remove dried oil paint if you soak your brush in it full strength for a couple of hours. Just make sure you rinse thoroughly. Lastly, drying your brushes is very important. Never dry your brushes standing them vertically with the hairs up. Over time this can loosen the hairs and they will fall out. It's best to dry them horizontally or leave them horizontal if you are not cleaning and then plan to paint the next day.

They can be stored vertically hairs down, but do not rest them on the hairs. This quickly misshapen the brush. After cleaning and removing most of the moisture, reshape the hairs before you set them aside to dry. Any of these methods work well to keep your oil painting brushes in top shape for a long time. Renaissance Fine Art Supplies in Hamilton, Ohio is a better quality art supply store. Rick Jones owns the store with his wife, Chris, and son, Brandt. They are located in downtown Hamilton at 218 High Street in the Artspace Hamilton Lofts building at the intersection of High and Second. They offer paints, mediums, brushes, canvas, papers, pads, pencils, graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, markers, inks, dyes, pens, easels, more, and custom framing 

8 Oil Painting Tips for Beginners

Oil paints are high quality and versatile. Plus, they are available in tons of colors. That's the reason they are used by artists all over the world. Although it's easy to get started with oil painting, there are a few things to learn. If you are into painting, you may have your favorite brand, mediums, palettes and brushes, but there are some general tips for you. Let's read them.

Start small If you start with small paintings, it will give you a better idea of the techniques, and you won't invest too much time or stuff in the process. So, it's a good idea to go for small canvas boards or canvases. You can try on paper as well. Get Organized It's a good idea to choose a place that is well-ventilated and spacious enough so that you can put all of your stuff near you. Moreover, it will make the process a lot easier for you, and you will be able to paint more often.

Buy Quality Brushes If possible, you should invest in professional standard paints instead of the student grade. In the same way, when it comes to buying brushes, opt for high quality ones. If you are just getting started, buying three different sizes is a good idea. You can opt for synthetic brushes, but there is a host of natural hairbrushes as well. Generally, painters make use of bristle brushes. Prepare your painting surface As far as choosing the painting surface is concerned, know that you can choose from paper, wood or canvas.

No matter which one you opt for, it's important to use a primer known as gesso on the surface. This will keep the paint from getting into the surface. As an alternative, you can choose a good quality pre-primed board and apply another coat for making the surface even smoother. Color mixing It's important to note that the primary colors don't fall under the category of "pure". Actually, they lean towards blue or yellow. So, it's important that you know how to mix them. Painting palette If you think you have to use all the colors when you are just getting started, you need to think again. At first, you may want to do a monochrome painting. In this case, you will use just one hue, its shades, and tints.

Based on what you want, you can go for either of the two. Oil sketch An oil sketch is a thin sketch of color and turpentine. Know that it will dry pretty quickly. Next, you can add layers of paint without waiting too long. Clean your brushes After you are done with a painting, don't forget to clean your brushes using water and soap. You may want to use rags and paper towels for wiping the excess turpentine and paint from your brushes. So, these are a few basic tips that may help you get started with oil painted if you are a beginner. Hopefully, you will be able to get the hang of it.

5 Useful Oil Painting Tips for Beginners

Oil paints are appreciated for their color options, quality and versatility. However, for the complete beginner, there is a short learning curve to overcome because of the long drying time and having to work with toxic solvents. Let's take a look at a few things to consider for those looking to get started with oil paints: Start with a small canvas A great way to get started is with small paintings, such as the canvas boards or canvases at 8 x 10 inch. Alternatively, it is possible to start out by painting on paper.

The use of a small area is great to experiment and try out different paint techniques. Also, it will avoid spending too much money on material if this doesn't turn out to be a long-term hobby. Create the right setting The preferred space for painting with oil paints is well-ventilated and in an out-of-the-way area that makes it possible to leave the supplies and palettes out so they may be used as necessary. If your paintings are kept out in the open you have the opportunity to see and think about the paintings. Also, with your supplies kept out, you are more likely to get involved with your painting activity and rapidly improve your skills. Use high-quality brushes Start with brushes in at least three different sizes.

They should be the highest quality that you can afford. Once you start to get more skilled with your oil paints, you can look to invest in a more varied selection that includes different shapes. Also, it is important to buy brushes designed to use with oil, which can include natural hair and synthetic brushes. One of the most popular types is the bristle brushes. Professional paints Invest in the professional rated paints that have the highest amount of pigment.

 Try to avoid using student grade paints because they are at a much lower quality. Additionally, it will benefit to keep the painting palette to a minimum when first starting out. A great place to start with oil paints is with monochrome painting. Later with experience, it is possible to add in more wide-ranging color choices to create the warm or cool painting. Maintain the work area Many of the oil supplies can be toxic if they get absorbed in the skin or ingested. For this reason, it helps to maintain the work area and keep disposable palettes, paper towels, rags, paints, etc. away from small children and pets.