SO you're an artist and you struggle with
- Finding the right paint
- Keeping the paint from drying too fast
- Finding brushes that work for you
I HAVE SOLUTIONS FOR YOU!!!!
OK, So I've worked with a lot of paints in my life, starting out with the paints that my parents got me as a kid. You know, the really cheap ones in suitcases and so on. (Sorry mom and dad)
As my skills grew from using what I had, I started becoming more invested in quality paints and exploring what was out there in the market.
Specifically, acrylics. I worked with more watery acrylics and found they were not opaque enough and moved too much on my canvas. Then I worked with heavy body acrylics, and loved it! Heres a link to my favorite LIquitex heavy body acrylics to work with. Because acrylics are water-based, heavy body can be watered down to the desired consistency, but if not watered down can be used directly for a wonderful textured effect. It dries quickly, which can be a positive or a negative, but if you're impatient and ready to keep working on layering or adding the next section of your piece, its quite wonderful. To slow down the process, I use a little bottle spray filled with water to spritz on my canvas or palette (link to that bottle spray here). That gives me a bit more time to work with the paint.
I also use an amazing tool to keep my paints workable overnight with the Sta-wet Handy Pallet. Its essentially a wet towel underneath a paper in a box. Since i've bought this sta-wet pallet, i've seen other homemade versions of it using tupperwear and paper towels, so don't think you have to be a millionaire to get these hacks!
Lastly, my painting life has dramatically improved when I started investing in QUALITY brushes. I was an unbeliever for years that brushes made such a difference, determined to use the old, crispy hand-me-downs from family members, but when I bought a few of my own..... LIFE CHANGED
Yes, thats dramatic, but really, investing in quality brushes makes a difference. You'll WANT to paint more, you'll get the desired outcomes more, you'll be more likely to take good care of them and they'll last! You may end up like me, going from HUNDREDS of sad old brushes to a quiver of a few of your absolute favorites that won't let you down.
So, here's the brushes I use.
-
Zen Royal & Langnickel
- 5/0 Z93SP
- Great for Fine Detail. Its the last brush I use to add the finest of details.
- 3 Z73R
- Good for detail, can be used for broad or fine usage. Its what I use most often since most of my work is small or detailed.
- 12 Z93T
- A filbert, I use for filling in larger areas and blending
- 5/0 Z93SP
Theres plenty more out there in many sizes and shapes, but understand my message: Invest in quality stuff! You're an artist! You deserve to work with quality stuff because you MAKE quality stuff! (And visa versa, your stuff will BE more quality BECAUSE you use quality products!).
If you're reading this and you don't think you're an artist, or you're just checking out my post because you want to know more about my art style and secrets, thank you! You're now understanding that there is a science to this and products that go into it! Everything that is done to support my work is very much appreciated: Clicking the links to buy the supplies, buying my art from my website, link, comment, share, follow on socials, it all helps! I do get commission for the amazon links, so thanks for using them! :)
I appreciate you and believe in YOUR creativity. You can create because The Creator created YOU. You have a purpose and a gift to share with the world, now go out and make it happen!
<3