Tools of my Trade

I recently put a post up on my Instagram account (see link below to see my recent work) about a very brief insight into the tools I use in my art. So I thought I would just hop in here to write a but more of an in-depth blog in case anyone out there was interested.

http://www.instagram.com/jofrancesarts

Depending on what I’m painting and what I’m feeling on the day depends on what paint and paint brushes I use.

I still have a lot of my Nan’s, Frances’s, paint brushes and water colours, they have got mixed up in amongst all my brushes, but when I’m painting pets I tend to use the following.

Akoya synthetic by Jackson’s number 5 – I use this when I’m painting with acrylic because it’s a fairly stiff and hard brush, and I use it to put a base down or to add looser fur.

Then I use a mix of Galleria (by Windsor and newton) round size S, Pro Arte series 100 2/0, Pro Arte 10/0 miniature painting for detailed areas like eyes, nose, highlights.

One brush I love is Silver Black Velvet number 8 which is generally used for watercolour painting and I use this for a wash when doing the base layers of colour, but it’s also great for details as it has a great point.

I then sometimes use a medium Pro Arte sword for when I’m painting larger portraits these are fab for fur and whiskers, as you can wet it into a point.

I also have some very cheap but amazing paintbrushes from IKEA I love them they are great for washes and detail as they keep their point really well. I love the way the handle too. Just goes to show you don’t need to spend a fortune on materials.

Then last but not least I sometimes use a Terry Harrison blender brush for, well blending some areas of colour when needed.

Paint: like I said before I use my nans watercolour pallet by Windsor and Newton or a travel water colour pallet set that I brought from Instagram and cannot find a name for it. I have found one on Amazon though.

Acrylic paint I tend to use a mix, I’m still trying to get through my cheaper paints and then I plan to replace them with Golden Open slow drying acrylic paint. It’s quite expensive but it’s an amazing paint. And as the name suggests it slow drying, acrylic is known for drying quickly and sometimes you need to slow down. It really helps with mixing and blending when on the canvas.

I use a mix of Galeria by Windsor and Newton, Daler Rowney System 3, Pebeo studio acrylics, Windsor and Newton Designer Gouache, Golden Open Slow Drying Acrylics, Liquitex Basics and Sennelier abstract acrylic.

I buy some materials from www.jacksonsart.com, www.Cassatt.co.uk, and some of my older supplies I brought when I worked in a local art shop called Brackendale Arts. It was small but like an Aladdin’s cave of art goodness. Sadly it closed down but it was a joy to work there, we were more like a family and still keep in contact.

Obviously I cannot write this post without talking about canvases, there’s so many to choose from and a variety of quality and finishes. I’m lucky that I still have some old canvases from working in Brackendale Arts, which are of very high quality, but I also have some cheaper ones from Hobbycraft, Amazon, Cowling and Wilcox is my go to now for canvas but I eventually want to stretch my own. I often use a Gesso primer to achieve the finish I want.

Caran D Ache and Manley pastels and a stretched canvas

I will sometimes use pastels like ones above to plot and plan out my painting on a canvas or or add a bit of texture and depth depending on how I am feeling and what the paintings is.

I also paint on paper and this can be System 3 acrylic paint pad or Windsor and Newton water colour paper.

You really don’t have to spend a lot when you first start out, I’m 40 this year and I have such a mix of different quality paints etc. It’s taken me a long time to find my preferred paint, brushes, canvas etc. But it’s been a joy playing and figuring out what I like.

And I cannot end this blog post without a shout out to these furries who keep me company while I paint.