What Is Acrylic Paint and How Can It Best Suit My Artistic Style?

Oil paints and watercolours have been used as an art medium for centuries now, while acrylic paint being invented in the 20th century is a fairly new medium. It only became available on a commercial basis in the 1950's after a gentleman named Otto Rohm; a Doctor in fact, invented acrylic resin. This acrylic resin quickly developed into the paint form we know it as today. The paint itself was very soon adapted to become water-soluble allowing for artists to explore various techniques within the medium, as the paint may be thinned using water. Once dry though it is not possible to rehydrate any washes applied. Its water-soluble nature means acrylic brushes can be washed with water before the paint has had any time to dry. This helps in keeping the costs low, as no cleaning fluids, for instance turpentine, need to be used.

Acrylic paint can also be diluted as much or as little as preferred, for a budding artist this is perfect in keeping material costs low as the dilution means you are using less paint. If you dilute the paint a considerable amount it can be used much like watercolour paint, again this is great practise for a beginner exploring the versatility of art mediums. It is also handy to note that acrylic paint dries very rapidly indeed, normally in around 20 minutes or so, given the surrounding environment. So the medium itself is not for everyone especially those who like to take considerable amounts of time over their work. On the other hand the drying time is favourable when building up paint layers and is also great if you enjoy working quickly. Another important factor to bear in mind when actually utilising acrylic paint is that it does darken upon drying so it is important to consider this when mixing colours.

In general most surfaces will suffice when it comes to using acrylic paint. Although it does adhere well to surfaces with a hint of texture and for best results artists usually prefer to stick to this method. Hardboard, canvas and textured paper are considered good options and there are many variations available for amateur and professional painters. Obviously another item to consider is the brush you will use to create your work of art. Brushes are available specific to acrylic paint and it is usually advisable to choose these options when working with that medium. Acrylic brushes are typically firmer in comparison to say watercolour brushes, and they tend to be made up of synthetic fibres rather than horse hair. It is recommended to have a general brush and a fine detail brush when you initially delve into the world of acrylic paint as this will give the best results.

iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality acrylic paint and other art materials.

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The Paint Is Cracking on My Painting!

"What causes the cracking in oil paints that is often seen in antique paintings?" is one of the most common questions that I am asked.

This phenomena of small cracks within the oil paint is known as crazing and is usually caused by drying times and the environmental conditions that the art has been subjected to.

It's only been in the 20th Century with our current heat and air conditioning methods that have allowed us to live within a fairly consistent indoor temperature and humidity. Prior to this, fireplaces were the most common method of heating a home and an open window was the way to cool it. This fluctuation in the environment puts stress on a work of art. The oil paint and supports, whether it is canvas or wood, actually expands and contracts.

Another factor is that artists usually create oil paintings by layering the colors. This layering process means that the paint has different drying times. Also, it was not until 1841 that paints were available to artist in metal tubes. Prior to this, the artists had to grind the pigments and mix them in the oil which meant that the oil to pigment ratio was not necessarily consistent from one color to the next which also affected the drying times.

Now, think about these different layers as similar to the tectonic plates of the earth. These plates are always expanding and contracting depending on the stress that it encounters. This shifting over the centuries have caused mountains to be formed and earthquakes to wreck havoc. This is what happens to the layers of paint, but instead of a "paint quake" you see a maze of cracks within the painting. These cracks might appear over the entire painting or just within a localized area. It is just a natural process of antique paintings.

The value of the art is not impacted by crazing unless it is very severe, with large cracks and paint loss. Restoration can usually remedy a severe problem. Most of the time, crazing stabilizes when the art is in a modern home or business.

If the area of cracked paint has a center and expands out similar to a spider web, then the canvas has experienced trauma such as being hit or poked. The canvas many not have been punctured, but over a time period the stress of the changing environment will expose the hidden damage. A good restorer can help to stabilize and support this area.

Enjoy your antique painting and the history that it represents!

Melanie Smith is one of the owners of Seaside Art Gallery which has been established since 1961. She is an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers with a specialty in fine art and animation art.

Seaside Art Gallery specializes in original works of art. You can visit them in Nags Head, NC or on their website at http://www.seasideart.com/.

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What to Consider When Buying Fabric Paint

Fabric or textile paint is becoming more widely used as more people become interested in customisation and personalisation of items. These kinds of paints are also becoming more popular given our current economic times; people are seeking other ways to turn something old into something fresh and new. There are plenty of options available when using fabric paints. You could decorate items of clothing or create designs for t-shirts or customise linen items such as bags or items like tablecloths. Fabric paint can be useful if you want to be creative with these items and can bring colour and vibrancy to suit your personal tastes.

Usually fabric paints available from art suppliers are water-based paints that's are generally suited to be applied on washed linen, cotton and mixed fibres. The colours available span the whole colour spectrum giving you the opportunity to utilise colours that you are particularly fond of. Most modern paints offer the option of washing your fabric even after the paint is applied, and even with frequent washing they will still maintain vivacious and fresh colours. This is handy if you are personalise items of clothing and such. After applying fabric paint to a surface and allowing it to dry you can fix the image with an iron making it permanent.

One thing to consider is what fabric paint to actually purchase. There are plenty of brands to choose from and any good art supplier will stock and advise upon the best fabric paint available. Ideally you want to invest in a brand that has a good reputation in the arts world and that offers paint which is not too thick or too thin. Thin paints could potentially seep out into the weave of the fabric, obviously blemishing or spoiling hard work and thicker paints may not be suitable for large areas. You don't want to buy anything that will become stiff once it has dried. Art is always about experimentation so the key to finding out what suits you personally is to try out the paint before you buy larger quantities.

Other elements to think about when becoming creating with fabric painting is to implement other art materials like stencils for instance. You can make your own if you wish to use a personal design but they are also available to purchase. The use of stencils is common for duvet covers, curtains and other items like t-shirts. Preparing the fabric is also vital, prior to actually painting on it. It is important to clean the fabric without using any fabric softeners. It is also advisable to iron the fabric before applying any design to allow for a flat clean working surface. Then you are free to let your creative juices flow and paint on your chosen designs.

iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality fabric paint and other art materials.

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Finding Out How to Paint With Oils Easily

Imaginative natural talent isn't automatically a feature which everybody is born with, and may indeed be learned and above all improved. In determining to pursue oil painting as well as know about painting techniques, you will have without a doubt taken the initial step in achieving this particular hidden natural talent.

As with every activity or past time, it genuinely comes down to whether you are keen about your theme or task. Coupled with this sort of readiness and aim will be the choice to spend your excess energy into getting to grips with and also building the abilities that will be necessary for your art painting abilities.

Ponder for just one minute about the proficient sportsman or golf enthusiast; the time they had placed in their interest because of rehearsing, doing exercises and improving their experience is just what establishes them away from the ordinary player. Likewise in oil painting, you will practice these skills in which boost your objectives in achieving your abilities.

You might have other sorts of obligations and duties, and hence struggle to commit you to ultimately achieving your skills in a full time basis. In that particular event, you should prepare a step by step method in addition to aims for your self to realize these art painting aims.

The virtue of patience ought to be implemented, as a few of the oil painting abilities you will likely study require a large amount of training to perfect it. While you perfect your skills, you will observe the steps relating to growth. This routine of determination, perseverance and patience will all result in a much more self-assured and master artist within you.

It really is imperative that you take time to get your foundation connected with painting skills as well as similar concerns right from the very beginning steps - simply because this will definitely enable you to commence on a reliable foundation and move on after that. Despite the fact that there's a chance you're enticed to attempt elaborate pictures, or self-portraits, doing this could lead to you getting disappointed because you are not ready yet.

Your complete art painting expertise learning process really should be considered as the 'understand how to walk before you run' saying. It is such a viewpoint that will allow a solid groundwork you'll be able to build on.

Summing up, start out with a far more simple topic and method. Review as much painting skillsets along with associated subject material as is possible, whilst getting to know the principles and practices utilized from this amazing past time. As time passes on, you will certainly find that getting a past-time in art can help you live a happy life and boost your creative imagination levels.

Want to learn oil painting for beginners? Get award winning Learn And Master Paining DVD course for professional instructions on videos and drawing lessons for beginners...

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Choosing A Subject To Paint

In learning to paint, what kind of subject one might choose to paint depends on a number of factors: the kind of medium to be used, the degree of complexity one can reasonably handle, the size and kind of support one has in mind, and so forth. Clearly, subject matter which will appeal to one person may not do so to another.

That seems obvious, but we do need to progress in our art, and the development of skills and insight will not be furthered by restricting oneself to a limited range of subjects. For example, while there is an infinite variety of still life forms, always painting still life subjects will have a relatively limited effect on our development to the extent that a wider range of matter will not.

So it is useful, on at least some occasions, to discipline one's self to attempt other forms of subject matter, which might not immediately be attractive. It is also instructive to ask oneself why this or that kind of subject is not attractive. Very often the answer will revolve around certain kinds of difficulties we have. If we always avoid such problems, these things are always going to form constraints of greater or less severity on our artistic capabilities. In some cases, even if there is a subject, which does attract us, we may be put off because it involves one of those areas which we have difficulty with.

One way round this kind of problem is, of course, to force oneself to do exercises on those subjects, so that a whole painting, and perhaps much time and effort, does not depend on its outcome.

SIMPLIFYING COMPLEXITY
A major problem can center on the complexity of a subject. This obviously depends to some degree on what kind of approach you take to painting and the extent to which, say, a realistic representation matters. Inevitably, even in the latter case, the majority of paintings, for example, leave something out. At least in the early stages, it is advisable to omit some parts of a potential image. For instance, a group of flowers may look very attractive, but when one gets down to the detail of recording individual flowers, their stalks and leaves, the picture can become incredibly complex.

So start with just one or two flowers and their leaves, etc. very effective paintings can be produced in that way and it is by no means necessary to have masses of things in a picture. Similarly, flowers in a vase will be easier to reproduce if the latter is a simple vessel rather than, say cut glass or one with complex curves. Outdoors, focus on just a single flower, whether a plant or part of a bush. And don't worry about detailing the background; use one or two colours to merge together in a kind of out-of-focus way.

EXCLUSIONS
Certainly, in a quite complex subject one can choose to leave certain things out and simplify others. There is a good deal of skill and judgment involved in selecting what to include and exclude. Make the wrong choices and the painting may look unbalanced or unconvincing. Do not be worried if you make mistakes in this respect - we probable learn more from paintings we throw away than those we keep! So again, it is better to start with a simple composition and even exclude elements of that before trying to reduce complexity in an intricate subject.

Take a landscape for example. It may be advantageous at first not to include details of trees, bushes, fields, etc. Instead, start by drawing a line for the horizon. The try to represent a cloudy sky: include some blue but then clouds of varying degrees of darkness. When that looks something like, try to produce an area of land which is no more than grass or heath. Do not divide the picture exactly in two. Some really excellent paintings have been accomplished where there is almost nothing but sky.

One of the easier aspects in which to reduce complexity is in the background. Photographers often do this by selecting speeds and aperture values, at which to shoot which will sharpen the focal area of a picture while blurring the background - sometimes to a degree where it is impossible to see what the background consists of. In a painting, the same is accomplished by selecting colours and tones for a particular background, which enhance the subject matter we are really interested in. Thus colour and tone may be all the background consists of, nothing actual. A white flower, for example, may be placed against a very dark background of deep reds and/or browns, according to ones choice. Complexity in itself is not a necessary condition for a quality painting, so start by keeping everything simple.

AUTHOR: A K Whitehead
WEB SITE: http://www.paintingsinoil.co.uk/
This article is copyright but may be reproduced providing that all this information is included.

A K Whitehead paints in a traditional manner, making especial use of glazing and impasto techniques. His work covers landscapes, waterscapes, snowscapes and seascapes. Original images are for sale at realistic prices which include frames and delivery.

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Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is a relatively new art material, having only become commercially available in the 1950's following Dr. Otto Rohm's development of acrylic resin, which formed the basis for the paint. Despite being only used at first as a house paint for interior decorating, acrylic paint was very soon adapted to become water-soluble and started becoming widely used by artists.

The beauty of this art material is that it is water-soluble and can therefore be mixed with water and reduced down to something similar almost to watercolour paints. Equally it can also be used in its standard form and applied very thickly to the canvas or medium for a very intense, rich effect. Acrylic paint will blend well whilst wet, allowing the artist to manipulate their work, correcting mistakes or simply layering the paint. When dry however, it becomes water-resistant and will not bleed or change easily. Thanks to developments in technology and manufacturing, acrylic paint also now benefits from very high levels of viscosity, giving it a great solid texture when used in artwork.

Acrylic paint also possesses the characteristic of being able to bond well to a wide variety of surfaces. This means that it's a more flexible art material, allowing the artist a greater range of applications and ways to express themselves. This paint is commonly on a variety of other mediums other than canvas and paper, which includes natural materials such as stone and wood. Due to its density, it can also be used literally as a solid material when dry. By layering the paint up to create relief features and textures, an artist's creation can quite literally extend beyond the surface of the canvas, reaching out to the viewer and becoming a three-dimensional sculpture.

In addition to being versatile enough to be applied to range of surfaces, acrylic paint can also be used very successfully with other art materials such as pencil, chalk, pastel, charcoal and may more. Following this, derivatives of acrylic paint have been developed for all types of application including face painting, fabric painting, screen printing, and airbrushing to name a few.

The use of this paint requires somewhat different techniques than those used with watercolour and oil paints due to its unique physical properties, and can include the following:

Flat painting - the process of layering paint without tonal distinctions, resulting in a very two-dimensional aesthetic

Spattering and spraying - flicking and spraying paint onto the canvas or medium to help add atmosphere and mood to the work. It can also help with suggesting more complex textures.

Scraping and rubbing - using flat, blunt objects such as plastic cards, rulers or an artist's spatula, you can scrape paint across the canvas resulting in some truly beautiful and unique 'distressed' and broken textures.

iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality acrylic paint and art materials.

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Learning How To Paint - Acrylic Painting Techniques and Materials

Everybody knows what painting is, which is the practice of applying paint to a medium. However, there are different painting techniques that one has to master doing on different materials in order to become proficient as a painter. It is important to realize that it is one thing to play around with paints and another to become a real artist. Although there are people who would claim that being an artist is an inborn talent, you can actually become one if you will only set your mind to it. Bear in mind that every person is an artist in his or her own way and you only have to learn how to express your potential through learning painting techniques.

Learning the various painting techniques is a lifetime effort. The process would be challenging but a very rewarding one. You can be a skillful painter in a reasonable amount of time but aim to start with the fundamentals, as it is the foundation where every skill and knowledge you will acquire later would be built on. Without a strong basic knowledge on the techniques, you will produce amateurish paintings even if you have a great talent. Thus, you must be able to understand perspective, lighting, composition toning, color combinations, color theory and other techniques that are essential in developing your artistic potential. In addition, you should also learn how to care for the materials you use, mix your paint on your palette, set up your studio, and effectively use your paintbrushes.

One of the most common kinds of paint used in painting is acrylic although it was first used only in the fifties. It became popular fast because it is versatile, very adaptable and you can create effects that are similar to watercolors or oil paints. Acrylic is water-soluble and water base but if you want to learn painting techniques for acrylic, you have to keep in mind that acrylic dries quickly so you must be able to paint fast, especially if you have to blend different colors.

The fast drying characteristic of acrylic can be a disadvantage or an advantage depending on the project you are working on. However, what is great about trying different painting techniques with acrylic is that you do not have to worry about allergies or bad odors, which you have to deal with when doing an oil painting. In addition, because acrylic is quick drying, you do not have to wait for almost an hour for your painting to dry. Once the paint is dry, it becomes resistant to water and you could paint over the first layer without color disturbance. You can find out more about acrylic painting online through specialized sites.

If you like to practice painting techniques by doing graffiti, you could make use of paint pens by Sharpie for lettering. The pens are available in various points, which range from extra fine to extra broad, both perfect for writing short messages with your paintings. You can find out more about the paint pens by searching online.

Michael Dierson is an accomplished author, business promoter, and an early stage investor, writing about a variety of diverse topics such as acrylic painting techniques and sharpie paint pens for a variety of different industries.

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Choosing Paint for Shoes

Paint for shoes? Many people don't even know such a thing exists. Well doesn't the shoe come from the factory already printed? Uh, yes in many cases. But for the millions of people who would like to add their personal touch to their footwear there are numerous brands of shoe paints available on the market.

Now not just any old paint will do for your absolutely amazing new painted shoes. Did you know that the best paint is one made specifically for the type of fabric your shoe is made from? For instance, if your shoe is leather, then you need to check the paint label to see if your paint is suited for the material. There are some paint pens on the market that are developed specifically for leather while others are designed for use on fabric or canvas type shoes.

Some folks also choose to use fabric dyes, especially for uniformity when coloring shoes for a group function like a bridal party. But even this can get real jazzy if you want to take your shoe to another level of design by adding other paints to the design.

There are also some artists who experiment with different types of paint on a variety of surfaces but if you are new to the art of shoe painting then it is safer to stick to the paints that were specifically designed for shoes. These paints can be flat and smooth to touch or raised for a multi-dimensional look. They are also available in opaque or translucent finishes. In any event, fabulous designs can be created with either style paint.

In addition to the texture, the shoe paint which is essentially fabric paint, comes in a broad range of colors, shades and finishes. If you love soft colors, look for the pastel selection. There's also glossy for the vibrant in your face, bold designs; pearlized, glitter and even metallic for the little zing you want to add to your shoe.

These paints can be applied with just about any creative instrument you may have on hand. A sponge, a paint brush, sprayed, your fingers or even squeezed directly from the container. The effects are also numerous. What you do with your paint for shoes is limited only by your creativity or sense of adventure.

When painting on shoes keep in mind that it's only paint and if you don't like it, then when it dries paint over it again. Each time you paint you will learn something new and improve your techniques. If you are a little timid, that's okay too. Practice painting on a similar piece of fabric to your shoe.

Buy a bunch of inexpensive sneakers or paint or your old ones. Whatever ones you choose to paint on though, you should ensure that it is clean first. Not all paint completely covers stains or dirt. But in the event that you do need to cover a few unattractive spots, use an opaque white primer as a base coat for your design. Then paint your designs on top of that when it has completely dried.

Teri M. Bethel specializes in creating painted fabrics for designers as well as teaching do-it-yourselfers how to paint fabrics with texture. She is the designer of Teri Monique Handbags, a line of custom made art purses for ladies.

Visit us at: http://www.paintwithtexture.com/paint-on-shoes-paint-for-shoes/

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Essential Materials To Have Before Starting To Paint

Before embarking on any art mission, it is significant that you have all the painting necessities, such as, painting easels, brushes and all of the paints you are going to need before you begin. Additionally, you will want a definite vision of what course your painting is heading, and what style it'll be in, especially if you are a beginner artist.

You could find painting necessities in a wide range of arts and crafts shops. For extra special tools, it's possible you'll need to order online. It is well worth investing in a very good set of brushes if you begin painting, as you'll get a lot better result. Additionally, you won't have to replace them on such an everyday basis. One great brand of paintbrush is the Kolonok brand, created from Kolinsky tail hair. All the time, ensure that you clear your brushes thoroughly and make sure that all paint is removed and that the paint brushes are dried appropriately after each use to avoid ruining your prime quality handmade brushes.

If you are lacking inspiration, you might want to research the work of some popular artists online to be able to get a few tips you want to take in to your paintings. One example you might want to check out are Kandinsky paintings which are based mostly in music and spirituality, making use of geometric shapes to assemble unique pieces.

It is very important have a superb quality painting easel to use in your work, to make sure balance and to protect your painting from damage in the duration of making it. The use of art easels is also common among moms and dads trying to get their children into art work as they assist in forestalling a lot of mess related to the children's work.

It is especially necessary for almost all paintings utilizing oil as a base coat to have an excellent painting easel to forestall the accumulation of particles throughout the painting piece. While acrylic paints might not require an artistic easel, it is still a perfect merchandise to buy as the painting easel sets the artwork in position.

As touched on above, the type of gear you will want to have is largely dictated by the design you might be planning to make use of, for instance, watercolor would require a completely different set of brushes compared to acrylics or oil based paints. At all times be sure to know precisely what you will to do before you order your artistic materials. Additionally, never take the risk ruining your equipment by making use of the improper kind of paint.

In sum, when going forward with an artistic challenge, you will need to think ahead and to organize your things in order to forestall accidents afterwards, like when you don't have the paints you need on hand.

Justin Cooke is an author, business investor, and social media promoter. In addition to running TryBPO, a company in the Philippines primarily focused on back-end SEO and Operational support to medium sized businesses, he also creates niche sites about diverse topics like painting easels and Kandinsky paintings.

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How to Paint Leaves

Flowers and leaves have been liked by many artists, and they form a major part of nature drawing. Inspiration for these paintings can be easily got from pictures and photographs of flowers and landscape scenes, and from nature itself. Though a flower painting is mostly admired by all and has universal appeal, leaves also form an important part of any painting. This article will guide you how to achieve the best results for painting leaves.

The first part will include drawing or tracing of a leaf. A new artist will always use a real life leaf as reference, while an experienced artist observes nature closely and has learnt all the shades of green by heart. Visualisation of the green helps to make the correct shade. Drawing the leaf and then colouring it is the most commonly used method for painting leaves, though some artists also do direct painting and proceed by using colours directly in the painting of leaves. Outlines are never seen in nature and the biggest mistake while painting leaves is that many artists colour the outline of leaves using black. One can use a darker shade of green for defining the outline and other parts of the leaf.

Let us now discuss the colour of leaves. When we think of leaves we usually think of the colour green. Many beginners try to paint using dark or light green for leaves. The result is never realistic; hence it is better to use a real leaf for reference while painting leaves. There are many shades of green in different mediums. Pencil colours, water colours, chalk and pastels and oil paints have slight difference in shades. Right from viridian green to lime green colour, one has all shades and hues available. Sap green, chrome green, lime green and viridian green are the most commonly used for making green of leaves. For the correct combination and realistic leaf colour one has to mix different colours and shades of green. Usually for darker green one can add little black and for lighter shade one can touch up with white. Care has to be taken to add minute quantities of white or black as very often slight increase in these colours will result in a muddy colour.

Even after mixing right proportions many times artists do not get the bright look in their paintings of leaves. To get this is the most difficult part and this will show the artist's hard work and learning. Mostly a little part of chrome yellow and slight lemon yellow can be used to the green already made to get the fresh and bright green colour in leaves. Light and shadow are the other aspects which have to be considered while painting leaves. One has to observe the direction of light and paint that section brighter than the other part for getting a realistic painting of leaf.

There is no general procedure for filling colour in leaves. One can start painting from the centre and then paint the outer corners, or, paint the edges of leaves first and then go on filling colour in the centre of the leaf. The original edge of the leaf has to be observed before proceeding to paint if one is painting still life and wants the exact replica of the original leaf in the painting. The joining of leaves to the flower stem is another part which needs care during painting leaves. This can be done by observing the connecting part of the leaf to the flower and getting the exact shade and using a darker colour for the slight lump near the connection. The ridges observed in leaves can be done by using the opposite side of the brush when the colour is wet. One can also use a darker shade to make the lines or veins in the leaf.

Leaves form a major part of nature and one has to learn to paint leaves. Though looking simple painting leaves is difficult. This also forms a major part of nature drawing and one has to focus on this aspect while learning nature drawing. How often when we see a still life painting of flowers and leaves and are moved, and when we notice the most attractive part are the leaves, that have been painted realistically and look fresh! Here we appreciate the skill of painting leaves, just like the very famous painting of "The Last Leaf."

Rizwana A. Mundewadi is a freelance Healing Artist and writer. Using her experience in the last decade she has been writing articles related to art, art investment, feng shui, symbolism, prosperity and good luck and has also added to this list her practical experiences with banking, loans and investments. Simple knowledge on art can be found at http://razarts.blogspot.com/

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Clothes Paint for Extraordinary Art Wear

A well made garment whether it's plain or elaborately designed can really sizzle on or off the racks. Add a touch of clothes paint to the mix and you have a walking work of art...second to none. Wearable artists know that the proper fabric for painting is almost as important to a textile artist as water is to fish.

Art wear has been around for centuries and still remain today. Many cultures display their unique national dress with such brilliance, imagination and colors. Regardless of your style preference, one can not help to admire the beautifully outstanding designs that are displayed in the eastern cultures. The color combinations of Indian and Pakistani fabrics are astounding just to name a few.

The jewels and beading on these and other intricately made art wear fabrics are brilliantly put together. This style, as beautiful as it is does not have to be limited to the official fabrics of the east but the concepts can be applied to your wearable art designs. Although in many cases these fabrics are manufactured by machinery, anyone can learn to create their own vibrantly painted and beaded fabrics without the help of machines or stitching.

In short, that's the miracle of clothes paint and creativity coupled with the right fabric for painting. Aside from your fabric or ready-made garment, you will need to have the appropriate fabric or clothes paint, flat back beads or stones, rim settings, fabric glue and any other embellishments you may wish to add such as sequins. The only other missing ingredient that should top off a unique design is you. So once you're in gear simply shift and go.

Teri M. Bethel specializes in creating painted fabrics for designers as well as teaching do-it-yourselfers how to paint fabrics with texture. Teri has been involved in manufacturing painted garments, handbags and fashion accessories for over two decades. She is the designer of Teri Monique Handbags, a line of custom made art purses for ladies.

Sign up for Teri's free "Designing Fabrics With Dimensional Paints Mini-Course" today.

Vist us at: http://www.paintwithtexture.com/

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Take Care of Paint Brush Art Supplies

Having to clean up after painting can take the fun out of art supplies but learning how to protect your brushes is essential.

Unfortunately, the days of having a teacher or parent wash your brush as soon as you completed your creation are over so as an accomplished artist it is vital to understand how to effectively care for your art supplies.

If you are serious about taking care of your art supplies then you must properly understand what type of paint brush you use as different mediums require different types of brush.

People who are more likely to create a detailed and intricate work such as watercolour paintings will need a paint brush as this will enable them as an artist to spread the paints more easily.

Painters that want to mimic Van Gogh's technique of creating brush marks in the paint will need to use brushes with hard bristles as this will allow them to manipulate thick paint in a convenient fashion.

In my opinion brushes with natural hair from animals such as sables, squirrels and ponies are better to those that contain synthetic fibre because the organic materials are stronger and more flexible.

Some artists that I know are uncomfortable using animal hairs as they can feel squeamish or they object to the idea of using hair from living beings in their art work so they prefer synthetic brushes.

Now you know what type of brush you are using, you will be able to clean it properly and you must always remember to use gloves to protect your skin as some art materials can be toxic.

I normally use some tissue and turpentine to clean my brushes and mild soap also works but first you will require tepid water and an area to dry your brushes before you commence cleaning.

Lukewarm water is best for cleaning brushes as hot water can result in the loss of brush hairs and always remember to use turpentine if you are using water-based paint products.

After painting, rinse your brush in clean water and repeat this process until the brush is paint-free and the water runs clear before shaking off any extra water that has attached to the body and bristles.

Once the brushes are clean, you will need to dry them while they are still wet so use tissues or toilet paper to wrap the bristles as this will help them maintain their correct shape.

Buy the best art materials and art supplies from Turnham Arts & Craft. Click on the links to discover what products we offer!

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What Do You Need Besides Oil Paint When Painting in Oils?

Painting in oils requires more than just oil paints. How much more? Well, that depends on what you want to achieve, what you are satisfied with and even how patient you are. Lets start with the last first.

PATIENCE
Compared to other mediums, such as acrylics and watercolours, oil paint generally takes much longer to dry. How much longer depends on such factors as how thickly the paint has been applies. The nature of the pigment is also important because some colours dry faster than others. Titanium White, for example, is a fast dryer. But for any colour, the more thickly one applies the paint the longer it will take to dry. And one is storing up trouble for the future by adding more paint when that underneath is not fully dry. An initial layer of paint must be thoroughly dry before adding more if subsequent sagging and cracking is to be avoided.

That said, there are ways to accelerate the drying process. One way is to buy Winsor & Newton's Griffin Alkyd oil paint. Alkyd resin and solvent is used in the suspension of the oil pigment, which reduces drying time. The paint will dry in a day or a couple of days depending on atmospheric conditions. and it can be possible to complete an oil painting in one session.

There are also fast drying mediums available which one mixes with the oil paint to shorten drying time. An example is Artisan Fast Drying Medium. Liquin Original not only improves the flow of paint but also cuts drying time by approximately half. Linseed oil is often used by artists to thin out oil paint, especially when additional coats of paint are being applied to prevent subsequent cracking, but Drying Linseed Oil will also accelerate drying time. Liquin Oleopasto is a medium, which is fast drying and does not yellow with time. Most suppliers of artist's materials carry a range of drying accelerants and their catalogues (often available through the internet) describe their individual characteristics and uses.

MEDIUMS
There is a wide range of other mediums available which, when mixed with oil paints, modify the characteristics of the latter. For example, Winsor & Newton's Artists Painting medium improves the flow of oil paint by thinning it out, which may (or may not) be desirable, depending on one's individual style and the immediate objective in a picture or part of an image. Liquin Impasto Medium retains brush strokes and allows more time for blending different areas of shade or colour.

Oil based mediums are made by combining oil and solvents and are a traditional approach. On the other hand, alkyd mediums employ alkyd resins and solvents and can be used with oil paints because they work in a similar way to linseed oil. This type, as indicated above, reduces the drying time of oil paints.

EASELS
These come in all shapes and sizes, some in metal, some in wood. Some are for painting, some for drawing. Some stand on the floor, some on a tabletop. So one of the prime determinants is how much space you have available - and the amount of money, because their prices vary enormously.

ARTIST'S PALETTE
A pallet is for holding and mixing the paint. The traditional type is kidney shaped with a thumbhole cut out for an easy grip. There are also the watercolour types with a number of wells or compartments. These can also be useful for the painter in oils, especially if paint is being mixed very thinly.

AND OTHER STUFF
This includes pencils (lead, graphite, charcoal), rubbers and, perhaps, an apron or old clothes just used for painting in, since it can become a messy business! You will also need thinners or white spirit and at least a few pallet knives for mixing (and possibly) applying paint.

You will also need some supports - the things you paint on. Canvass stretched and fastened to a frame is traditional and easily available. But wood and boards are also used.

Having gathered all this stuff together, you are ready to begin developing a few (or even more!) masterpieces.

AUTHOR: A K Whitehead
This article is copyright but may be reproduced providing that all this information is included.
Web site: http://www.paintingsinoil.co.uk/ where quality paintings are available with free frames and free delivery in the UK. At the oil paintings gallery at http://www.paintingsinoil.co.uk/gallery.html full information is available.

A K Whitehead paints in a traditional manner, making especial use of glazing and impasto techniques. His work covers landscapes, waterscapes, snowscapes and seascapes. He is a member of the Association of All Artists. Original images are for sale at realistic prices that include frames and delivery.

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What Is Essential Before Starting To Paint Pictures?

Painting is a very attractive pastime -- even employment. It is quite satisfying and gives enormous pleasure. Even the initial attraction can be very great, so great that we give in to the temptation to "jump straight in" and get started right away.

Why not? Well, we can, but that would be a mistake. There are two really important precursors that we should see to first. And, in fact, both can be very enjoyable themselves: sketching and understanding colour.

SKETCHING
Painting a picture means painting shapes of one kind or another. So we need to consider where these shapes are going to come from. Unless we are happy buying a colouring book, they can only come from one's self. Hence, before we can paint we need to be able to draw.

Some people throw the possibility of the whole process into the rubbish bin by saying "I can't even draw a straight line". Freehand, it is extremely difficult even for a professional artist to draw a straight line -- but there is always a rule that can be used!

Most people can draw to some degree, but certainly some learning will always be necessary to progress to a better level. This probably means either attending art classes or buying a book. If the first is an option and we have both the time and money, no more need be said. If we don't have one or both, buying an instruction book is potentially very attractive.

SELECTING BOOKS
The market is full of "how to draw" books, although some are better than others. Buying from somewhere like Amazon is often useful because there are frequently assessments from previous readers. But wherever you buy from, don't be tempted to start with specialised books like "How To Draw Water" or "...Trees", or"...People", etc. Buy a general one, for two reasons. First, you will get a reasonably comprehensive introduction across a wide range of topics and images. Secondly, you will find out you are better at drawing some things than others. The "other" must not be ignored, but the information about your self is important.

So which general introductory book? You can pay from next to nothing to a considerable price. But what you want is something appropriate. You would not begin studying, say, economics by enrolling on a degree course. So you need something at an introductory level. Even so, you tend to "get what you pay for", so it pays to shop around a little first. Buying off the Internet can bring some real bargains, but do look at readers ratings first. Alternatively, buying from an actual shop may cost more, but it does give you the chance to look inside the book to make your own assessment.

One book I would be prepared to recommend can be purchased in either way. This is "Drawing With The Right Side On The Brain" by Betty Edwards. You could go a long way before getting a better starter.

EQUIPMENT
Apart from the book or tuition, it costs little to get going in drawing. You will need a drawing pad, or a couple of different sizes, one being small enough to take out with you for drawing on the spot whenever you see something of interest. Then you will need some pencils. These are usually graded according to hardness or softness. An "HB" is a middle value, a "B" softer, a "2B" softer still. etc, while an "H" is harder than "HB" and "2H" even harder, etc.

The stuff that makes marks on the paper can be lead, or graphite or charcoal. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages depending what and how you are drawing. Try one of each. In many cases you will need to sketch out the subject matter first, though in some case this may not be necessary. Or, alternatively, it may be enough just to outline the shapes with a weak wash of paint. When using pencil of one sort or another, you will also need a rubber. Get a softish one to start with. Drawing may turn out to be much more interesting and exciting than you imagine. It can be an end in itself.

COLOUR
Once you have gained some expertise in drawing, you may consider yourself ready to begin painting - but hold on for a little while longer and a little more tuition, because it will be of great advantage to find out something about colour first.

How to use colour may seem an obvious thing: some colours go well together and some don't. What else is there to know? Well, quite a lot and it's a really good idea to get some basic information before you start painting. Again, there are many good books around and, again, Betty Edwards has an excellent introduction with "Color. A course in mastering the art of mixing color". This will give you a good grounding if you are prepared to work through all the exercises.

After that, you should be ready to go!

AUTHOR: A K Whitehead
This article is copyright but may be reproduced providing that all this information is included.
Web site: http://www.paintingsinoil.co.uk/
where quality paintings have free frames and free UK delivery.

A K Whitehead paints in a traditional manner, making especial use of glazing and impasto techniques. His work covers landscapes, waterscapes, snowscapes and seascapes. He is a member of the Association of All Artists. Original images are for sale at realistic prices that include frames and delivery.

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Painting Tips, Getting Cleaner Hues and Tones by Ordering Paint on the Palette

The palette is to an artist what the keyboard is to a musician, it is the medium through which an artist expresses himself and as such looking at the palette of an artist can tell us a great deal about how he or she works. If the paints on your palette are not ordered and neat then you run the risk of laying muddy colours on your painting, and having to waste paint which has become mixed unintentionally with others.

Please follow the guide below to avoid this. There are differing palettes for oils and watercolours. If you are using oil then an old style wooden palette with a thumb hole can be used but with watercolours or acrylics it is better to use a modern plastic palette which has recesses, these will hold watery paint and stop it from running into an adjacent colour. When you start to put paint on the paper it is wise to consider where you put the paint on the palette. With oil paint it is easier because the paint takes many hours to dry. Classical artists were trained to arrange the paint as follows. White was placed nearest the thumb hole and then following round in a circle the paints are arranged into the colours of the rainbow and finally black. This very neat arrangement allows all colours to be mixed either on the palette or on the paper or canvas. The white and black are as far away from each other to prevent the colours on the palette becoming muddy.

An example of oils on the palette following these rules would be: Flake white, Cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, raw sienna, cadmium red, burnt sienna, Umber, ultramarine, cobalt blue, viridian and ivory black.

These follow the old rhyme "richard of york gave battle in vain (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)". Exactly the same rules apply when using watercolours or acrylics. Obviously the palette you use should have sufficient recesses to hold all the seven colours plus white and black and also with both watercolour and acrylic you should regularly clean the palette completely. This is because as you experiment with colour and tone the resulting colour is "fixed". With watercolour or acrylic do not spend too much time making a dark tone light or a light tone dark, you are just wasting paint. Clean your palette and start again, always following the rules above. See if by following these tips your paintings take on cleaner brighter hues.

IF you have enjoyed or found this article helpful you may obtain further tips and guidance by visiting http://firstforart.com/

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