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ORDERING SUPPLIES
It is important to use the best quality of art supplies that the artist can afford, but when starting to paint, a limited number of paints and brushes can be chosen. As the artist progresses and begins to develop his own painting style, he will add more colors and more sizes of the brushes that he prefers to use and expand his basic art supplies to more personal selections.
Brushes
Flat synthetic brushes are a good choice. Brights are short, flat bristle brushes. Filbert brushes have oval-shaped points. For Rigger or Liner Brushes, sable brushes are preferred by many artists, using Size 1 or smaller for fine line work and larger sizes for tree branches, etc. Clean brushes after each session. If using acrylic paint, do not let the paint dry in the brushes. Wash acrylic paint from brushes with soap and water.
Palette knives
Palette knives are used for mixing paint on the palette. Trowel-shaped painting knives are also used for removing paint from palette or canvas.
Palettes
When using oil paints, a wooden palette is preferred. Clean off the palette at the end of each session. For acrylics, use a plastic surface or paper palettes.
About Acrylics
Acrylics date back to the 1950's. They dry very quickly so they can be painted over without picking up pigment from previous layers of paint, maintaining clean color. Acrylics are water based and are thinned with water and the brushes are cleaned by washing in soap and water. Because acrylics dry so quickly, a retarder, which can be added on the palette, will prolong the drying time for a short period allowing for blending and otherwise manipulating the paint.
Choosing Your Painting Surface
Canvas boards are less expensive than stretched canvas, they are lightweight and take up very little space. As you progress, you may prefer the resiliency of stretched canvas.
Easels
When using either a tabletop or floor easel, the canvas or canvas board should be tilted to avoid light reflections on the painting surface.
Oil Paints
Oil paints have been used by artists for centuries. They can be used with much versatility, thinly or thickly, and applied with brushes or painting knives. They dry slowly, allowing time for working the paint on the canvas and even scraping the paint off and starting over again.
Special Mediums
When using oil paint, special mediums are required for thinning the paint, for using the paint in special ways such as glazing, and in cleaning the brushes.
Article by A Lundy
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