Hi Creative Friends,
Here we are in the middle of July, Where has the summer gone?
These first few weeks of July, I always find myself wanting to declutter, throw away, and simplify. (Teacher Life- my summer) Isn’t that what the new fad is?... MINIMALIST? That mindset goes for my personal life and my biz. So of course, I had to go through my art supplies to pick and choose what has seen its last hay-day and what can stay! As I culled through mounds of paint brushes, dried up paint tubes, and half completed canvas’, I decided to make a list of my top art supplies and where I can buy them in the future. So here it is ,whether you use it on not is up to you but it is has already been a life saver for me as I order new materials!
Here goes… ALL MY ART TOOL SECRETS ARE BEING AIRED:
#1 White Paint
I love the paint brand Dick Blick. First, because it is so cheap. But most importantly, it is GREAT quality paint. I get the Studio Acrylic 8oz tube. Pro tip: I buy White Blick paint in bulk and mix it with other colors because mixing a dab of white almost always gives cheaper paint a more creamy texture.
#2 Colored Paint
Colored Paint is, in my opinion, artist choice (well, artist all make their own choices but you get the point). It totally depends on if you mix your own colors or not. I usually end up buying pre-made colors that I love. One thing I am finding important is to keep your colors on brand. The colors an artist uses over and over, give them the reputation they will have as an artist… dark and moody, earthy, colorful and bright, etc.. I want to do a better job at keeping my colors consistent and THEN picking out my color pallet.
My favorite brand for pre-made colors is Golden, Winsor & Newton, or Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic (again, I love the creamy textures but dislike the waiting game of oils so Heavy Body is perfect for me).
#3 Canvas
I use many different surfaces to paint on (driftwood, pressed wood, cold pressed paper), but my favorite is canvas. I love it because it can be hung on the wall with no frame and have a beautiful, yet casual look! The key to hanging unframed canvas’ is to paint on a canvas with a one and a half inch (or larger) frame. I love Blick Premier Brand canvas for its price and quality. If you buy 3 or more, the price is lower. They ship in just a few days (even over the holidays).
#4 Brushes
Okay, I must confess… I don’t use high quality brushes very often! I have a bad habit of grabbing a cheap package of multi-use brushes from Hobby Lobby or Michaels every time I make a run to grab something. This picture of of my favorite and most used brushes, most are from Hobby Lobby. BUT if I wasn’t such a spontaneous brush buyer, I would order my brushes from Blick too. As a matter of fact, they are in my cart to order now. I also (normally) sign my work with a paint pen.
#5 Varnish
YA’LL! This is my favorite part of the process! I love the whole process but this is when it comes together and the colors just seem to melt together! My favorite brand of varnish is Liquitex SATIN Varnish! I love looking at a painting that shines when the light hits it just right! *Artist choice to use Satin, Heavy Gloss, Gloss, or Matte Varnish.
#6 Texture
Texture is something that has been a huge factor in most of my artwork, especially my driftwood art. It allows me to paint on surfaces that normally soak up the paint and makes my work 3D (for lack of a better word). I use Liquitex Flexible Modeling Paste. It take about 24 hours to completely dry on the surface so that I can paint on top of the paste.
#7 Pallet Knife
These pallet knives are from Hobby Lobby. I use them to spread a layer of modeling paste on my driftwood, canvas, or pressed wood to get a nice texture. I can also use these pallet knives for mixing paint!
#8 Air Brush Medium
Okay, so this is an odd medium but I have found that when using acrylics, I need something that will slow the drying process a bit. I mix in airbrush medium with my paint to spread a thin layer on the canvas or to allow time for mixing colors. I have found that it is better than thinning my paint with water because when paint and too much water mix together, the water will not allow the molecules to stick to the canvas changing the way the pigment is supposed to look! It is a game changer!
#9 Glass Jar
A glass jar: self explanatory. Every great artist needs a water jar. I prefer a glass jar so I can reuse it over and over again. It is coated in paint just the way I like it. Pro tip: Rinse it out every time you get done painting (it will smell if it sits up too long). I fill it back up with fresh water right then so I am ready for the next day of painting.
#10 Space Smiler
Obviously, this is not a necessity to run my biz but everyone needs something that makes them smile in their work space. For me it is a candle (usually from Home Goods) and an anthropology cup of hot tea (or my fav. Cold tea by Honest)!
And there we have it… my top art supplies list! I hope you find this list helpful and it allows you to STAY CREATIVE!
Xx,
Jessica
