Keeping in touch!

Hi all, I seem to be getting very lazy posting on my blog. I worked so hard coming up to Christmas with alterations and crafts,selling at markets etc. Maybe I needed the break! But I have been busy in my workshop lots of alterations including altering a lovely vintage wedding dress and also (for a different customer) a pretty flower girls dress. Obviously I cannot show you the photos yet but I will in the coming weeks! By the way I would love to see some of your work!
Bye for now.

Beginners Art,Canvas

When I began painting I used acrylic paper (which you see here on the left).After a few months I began using canvas board ,8x10ins was the size I started with and slowly I drifted on to a larger size and found it easier to paint my picture,you will understand this in time.

I then progressed to stretched canvas,and I was hooked,the paint seemed to glide on ,now I was an "artist".Well in my mind I was!

Keeping the paint workable!

I was then introduced to a "wet pallet".To describe it ,I would say it is similar to an oblong plastic container lined with a layer of "blotting paper"(named as such in Ireland),over that is placed a layer of "greaseproof paper" .This is wet with a small amount of water. This prevents your paint from drying up too quickly.

Place the lid on your container when finished working and your paint should be workable for a few days.

Beginners Art,Brushes

As you can see these are some of my (well worn) brushes,my favourites!


When I give my Art Classes I advise to use good brushes.


Sizes I recommend to start with are ,

1ins Flat, 1/2ins Flat, no. 1 or no.2 Round

also a "rigger"brush is great for the likes of tree branches and grass.








Cheap brushes are fine to practice with, but as you progress you will find the hair is coarse and leaves brush strokes on your painting and you will find it hard to get definition . Samples of these brushes are in the photo below.

As you see here, you can pick up sets quite cheaply and good value in your art shop.
I prefer Daler Rowney acrylic brushes but that's just my choice.

Keeping Acrylics Wet.

Stay-Wet pallets are great for this.They come similar to a plastic container with a sheet of blotting paper on the base and a sheet of greaseproof paper on top,you wet this and it keeps your paints very use able for a week or more and it means you don't waist any paint.

I hope this has been helpful to you,if you have any questions please get in touch.

Art

Yes, I also have a passion for Art.I have been painting for the past 15yrs or more.

Anyone can paint,did you ever hear that and think "no way" well it's true.

What do you think of this painting done by a lady in my Beginners class ? Did'nt she do well. Her daughter has it hanging in her house, proudly!

Why not try,get some paints, Acrylics are great as they dry quickly, good for beginners.

Oil's take a lot longer to dry but the colours are more vibrant.

You can start painting on almost anything, a piece of board, paper, canvas. You can buy some Acrylic paper from art shops which is good to start with. Some brushes and away you go, let your imagination go wild, after all no one is looking.

Let me know what you think or if you would like some more advice on painting.