My tools are a batch of abused brushes, sponges, spatulas, rags,
and empty lean cuisine trays. I buy whatever suits me as I'm wandering
through my art supply store. I tend to stick to really basic plain
paint brushes, large, medium, small, tiny, fans, and liners, usually by
Grumbacher. I use my fingers alot to smudge things for effect..or to
eliminate errors. I use cadmium red, cadmium yellow, cobalt blue, mars
black, burnt umber and siennas, and white acrylics, as well as a clear acrylic
in matte or satin. I also like to keep some fun products on hand like
patinas, crackles, antiquing gels, gold in various forms, neons and metallics.
Many of my 'techniques' are trial and error..with plenty of emphasis on
error. I don't hesitate to use wrong chemistry together, if I think it's
going to give me the effect that I want. I seldom, if ever, prepare my
'surface'. One thing that I do love is to seal, seal, and seal my work.
When you touch my work, it's as if it's sealed to last until the next
millenium, and the surfaces are rock hard. I do coat after coat of clear
acrylic, allowing for total curing between coats. Using 7 coats or so, applied
at least 72 hours apart is my typical pattern. All of my paints are the
best artist's acrylic that I can find, which I purchase in quart sized
cans. I buy only the 3 primary colors, as well as my black, brown and
white, because I love playing with the paint, and coming up with subtly
different hues as I go. 'Sky' consists of a tray with lots of white, and
a puddle of cobalt blue nearby it. In a corner, there might be a glob of
red and some yellow...just a smidgen, in case I need some sun rays.
'Shadow' is what I use to create all of the forms on my murals. It seems
as though it's actually darker than black..it has more depth somehow.
I make up a nice batch of shadow in a butter tub, making plenty.
After doing a satisfactory sky, I load a nice leaf brush usually, with
shadow, and begin a shape. I paint the shape of the item as if it was the
item's shadow. The technique is the same, whether it's a tree or a child.
Doing it this way gives me instant gratification, and keeps my interest.
Once I get a satisfactory shape, I then go on to the next one, until I
feel like using some color. At that time, I pick up my second tray, which
has a generous puddle of all 6 colors. Each color has a regular space on
the tray, in order to pull one color into the next as I go along. Some-
times I need a certain color in an amount too large for the tray, so I
either get another tray or make up a tub. For example, I may have a tray
of 'blackberry'...which would have all of the colors needed to make a
blackberry bush. I love these special trays. I learn so much about the
item I'm painting once this tray is at it's peak of use. I might also
have a tub of 'caboose' or 'skin', if there's a need to keep a consistent
tone for some item in the mural. If you should decide to take on a mural,
my advice would be to use great quality mediums, basic brushes, in a
variety of sizes...remember you're painting walls. They will get worn
down fast, so don't spend a fortune, but don't get cheapos that will
shed into your murals either. Remember that walls are easily repainted.
Murals can be painted, and erased before anyone knows it's been there,
so don't be timid. Entire areas can be gone over, changed, altered.
Nothing about muraling is a commitment. Murals can be entire walls, or
they can be a simple vine with a few daisies on them. Have a kid paint
the daisies if you're scared. Keep a whimsical outlook! Start in the
garage if you're scared! Don't forget fences, laundry rooms, sheds,
and the baby's room. Those are good places to start. Have fun!
Oh! I almost forgot one essential tool..water. I use two large deep tubs
and a nice misty spray bottle. One of the tubs is for standing brushes in
until I clean them. The other one is for dipping into at my whim. Tubs
are changed as often as needed. I like to start each session with a nice
fresh batch of tubs. The spray bottle is used ALOT. This is used to mist
over the trays or the edges of messy containers to keep the paints moist.
Acrylics dry fast, and you want your trays to stay fresh and moist. Before
putting your brushes away for the day, mist over your trays and tubs of
paint. Cover your trays with a nice sheet of heavy aluminum foil, trying
to avoid it dipping into your colors as much as possible. Cover your other
paints with their own covers, plastic or foil.
Lisa
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