1) I have never painted before, what materials do I need?
Firstly you should decide what paint you want to
use.
The 3 most popular types of paint are Acrylic, Oil and
Watercolour paints.
a)Acrylic is
the most versatile and easy to use, of the three types. It can
be used to like oil paint i.e. thick impasto brushwork or like
watercolour i.e. thin transparent washes. Acrylic is fast drying
and can be diluted with water. It comes with a wide range of
mediums which can be added into the paint to create many
different effects. Most people choose a synthetic brush for this
product. You can use acrylic on any thick paper to paint on as
well as canvas & canvas board.
b)Oil Paint is
a popular paint with a distinctive finish that can be used
either thinly or thickly. It is slow drying so that work can be
completed over longer period of time. You will also need white
spirit/ turpentine and an oil medium like refined linseed oil to
dilute the oil paints with. Traditionally a Hog hair brush is
used with oils as it is more resistant to the corrosive effects
of oils.
c)Watercolours are
very transparent paints that are often built up in light washes.
It dries relatively quickly so that paintings can be completed
in a single session. Sets are available in a compact format
because it is very popular for outdoor work. There are many
types of brushes available including synthetic and sable, all of
which are of a soft air type.
Watercolours work best on watercolour paper but will work on
most types of cartridge paper.
Although it is said that Acrylic paint behaves in a similar way
to oil, it is much faster drying and less toxic.
Oil Paint requires the use of toxic dilutants like Turpentine
and linseed oils whereas Acrylic only needs water to thin it.
Perhaps for this reason Acrylic is more popular with beginners.
It also comes with a wide range of interesting mediums to create
special effects.
For those who like to work into paintings over several sessions
while the paint is still wet, oil paint is the preferred choice
because it is very slow drying.
Pigmentation and resonance also seems to be much deeper in good
makes of oil paint.
3) I would like to buy an easel, which
one should I choose?
There are three main types of easel to choose from and you
should select one that suits your needs.
a)
Studio Easels
are heavyduty easels designed for indoor use. They will
accommodate larger format canvasses and are much sturdier than
other styles of easel.
b)
Sketching Easels are portable easels
that fold away and are designed for outdoor as well as indoor
use. Small to medium format canvasses can be used with this type
of easel.
c)
Table Easels
are small easels that are designed for the desk and/or display
purposes. They usually can be positioned at different angles and
some have a built in storage box.
4) What types of paint can be used on readyprimed
stretched canvas/canvas board?
Stretched canvas and canvas board are coated with a ‘universal’
primer which is acrylic based. Both oil and acrylic paints are
ideal for these canvasses. Although other types of paint like
watercolour and gouache will take to universal canvas they may
crack or peel in the long term.
5) Does the material of the brush make a difference in
painting?
It is important to choose the correct brush
depending on the type of paint you are using.
a)
Oil Paints
are very corrosive and it is recommended that you use Hog hair
as it will last longer than ordinary brushes. However sometimes
artists require softer brush than Hog so there are synthetic
brushes available. These brushes are also suitable for Acrylics.
b)
Acrylic Paints,
like oils, are quite corrosive and there is a special range of
synthetic brushes available for acrylics. Hog hair brushes can
also be used if a stiffer brush is required.
c)
Watercolours
come with a wide range of brushes specifically made for this
paint. From expensive sable brushes to cheaper watercolour
synthetics and sable/synthetic in the mid-range price section.
6) What is the difference between soft pastel and
oil pastel?
a)
Soft pastels are chalk based pastels
which can be used in combination with a charcoal or graphite. They need to be fixed
with an aerosol fixative once the artwork is finished. They are
popular for their blending techniques.
b)
Oil based pastels are wax based pastels. Once on the paper they
can be thinned with white spirit if desired. Oil pastels can
also be manipulated with heat (i.e. hair dryer) a bit like
encaustic paint. These pastels also are popular for the style of
blending techniques they offer.
c)
Both Oil and Soft pastels are opaque mediums and perform
best on paper with some degree of texture. Pads of paper
specifically for use with pastels are available, but any
textured paper (like watercolour paper) can be used.
7) What is the difference between White Spirit Rectified and
Turpentine?
White Spirit and Turpentine are used for thinning oil paints and
cleaning brushes. White Spirit is cheaper than Turpentine but
Turpentine has much better wetting properties than White Spirit,
and some artists prefer the smell. Both products are toxic.
A non toxic alternative thinner is available which is called
Zest – It. It is made from natural materials and has a
distinctive citrus smell.
8) Why is student quality paint cheaper than
artist quality paint?
a)
Artist quality paints are more expensive because they use the
very best ingredients available including high pigmentation and
the best binders. Colour and permanence are very reliable.
b)
Student quality paint is economic because the paint is made of
lower quality materials. Pigments are often synthetic and
therefore colour resonance is not so powerful. Student paints
are popular with beginners and those on a low budget.
9) What is the difference between the various
WHITE PAINT available?
a)
Titanium White is the whitest and most opaque of all the whites
therefore has the strongest mixing power which explains why it
is the most popular white.
b)
Zinc White is semi – opaque and is therefore used for more
subtle mixing. It is a bluer colder white than titanium.
c)
For oil painting there is also a Flake White
available which is
warmer that the other two whites and is a good general white.
When choosing a portfolio you need to decide if it is for
storing artwork or if you want it for display / presentation
purposes.
a)
For storage purposes choose a portfolio without rings often
called a ‘carry case’. These folios are also suitable
for bulky
formats of artwork that won’t fit into a sleeve.
b)
For display needs choose a portfolio with rings to hold
portfolio sleeves. The sleeves will accommodate 2 pieces of
artwork on each face.
c)
There are also special portfolios for professional
photographers. They come in high quality finishes and the
sleeves that can be purchased for them are acid free and static.
* Please note that all our portfolios do not come with
portfolio sleeves. Sleeves need to be purchased separately.
Gesso Primer is used to prepare raw canvas, card or paper for
painting. It seals the surface so that the paints can sit rather
than soak into the painting surface. Gesso primer has a chalky
texture and can be sanded to make it smooth. The primer is
available in black or white, as well as a clear version which
can be tinted with a colour of your choice.
a)
The classic standard paper is cartridge paper that comes in many
different weights and grains. Good cartridge paper is acid free
and should be at least 130gms for workability. Choose a heavier
weight like 220gms if you are using wet mediums like paint or
ink to avoid the paper rippling.
b)
Watercolour paper is strong paper of varying weights and
textures and is acid free. This paper is divided into 3
textures:
Hot pressed which is completely smooth.
Cold pressed which has a medium texture.
Rough.
They come in different price a range the highest of which has an
internal size and is made of 100% cotton.
There are also many types if papers available that are specific
to the medium you are using. For example Acrylic paper for oil
painting, pastel paper for pastel work.
As well as card and mountboards there are a range of technical
papers like tracing and layout papers available for the graphic
artists.
