Archive for the 'Art Materials' Category

Feb 17 2008

Using Max Grumbacher Oil Paints

Published by barbaraburns under Art Materials

Today was experiment with the Grumbacher MAX Oil Colors day. I had not used these paints before - I bought them awhile back but just had not had the time to work with them. My grandson came over today so I got them out and we used them to paint on stretched canvas.

I did not have any larger oil paint brushes that I am used to using - I threw all my old ones out last September when I moved because they were so worn out and I had not used them for a couple years. I planned to buy new ones but I had not done it yet. I was sorry during painting that I only had the small brushes that are for oils or acrylics - I am used to using bigger brushes for painting with oils.

They thinned very nicely with water and they had the same soft buttery feeling as the oil paints I have used. We created the beginning under-painting for a seascape - I was teaching my grandson about using oil paints, primed pre-stretched canvas as well as about how I start a seascape painting. The canvas is drying now and I will use the paints probably next week-end to put in some more color and to paint at the horizon line.

Clean up: The paint came off my hands and palette quite easily using Dawn dish soap with water.

If you are wondering how I got paint on my hands, it was from trying to get the paint out of the brushes. I wiped the excess paint off the brushes with a paper towel. I found it impossible to get all the paint out of the brushes even using dish soap - I did not let them soak in soapy water for a couple hours or so being natural bristle brushes - that was the only thing I did not try. I finally gave up and threw the brushes away. I am thinking I need to get some actual real Brush Soap to use to see if that will work to get the paint out of the brushes for me. I had dish soap in the house and it never even occurred to me to consider that I might need special brush soap to get the paint out of the brushes.

I will not be buying expensive brushes to use with these paints yet anyway until I figure out if I can get the paint out of them … so it will be the cheapest house painting brushes I can find … at least with cheap brushes that shed with oil paints … any shed brush hairs will probably come off the canvas much easier than they did using watercolor paints on watercolor canvas IF these paints behave similarly to regular oil paints, which they appear to do so far with the exception of getting paint out of the brushes.

The great news was that we had a good time painting with them.

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Fredrix Red Label Pre-Stretched Canvas

Fredrix Red Label Pre-Stretched Canvas

$11.60

Max Grumbacher Artists' Oil Colors Gift Sets

Max Grumbacher Artists’ Oil Colors Gift Sets

$23.92

Pink Soap Artist Brush Cleaner

Pink Soap Artist Brush Cleaner

$5.99

Studio Products Ugly Dog Brush Soap

Studio Products Ugly Dog Brush Soap

$16.99

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Jan 26 2008

Perils of Using Cheap Brushes on Watercolor Canvas Sheets

Published by barbaraburns under Art Materials

I am experimenting with watercolor canvas sheets and after this morning’s scrubbing off color experiment, I decided to create my seascape using my watercolor crayons (by Staedtler) on one.

I laid in color just as if I were coloring on a sheet of paper - they are fun - it reminds me of when I was a kid and everyone was always upset with me because I ALWAYS colored outside the lines - it was fun then and still is :) I then used a cheap brush - mop if you are interested - to spread water all over the sheet.

A Cheap Brush at Barbara Burns Studio

I’m sure we all have them in our studio for one reason or another … this particular one is from a set packaged in with something else I bought … I expected it to shed and shred with any kind of use but I wanted to find out if it would leave patterns in the watercolor on the canvas sheets. What I found out is that some of those shed hairs appear to be embedded and are not coming off … easily if they will at all. It is not quite completely dry yet but even with trying to pry one off while damp - it did not budge.

I may have found a reason to have to throw away a watercolor canvas sheet if:
1. I cannot get the hair off
2. I ruin it trying to force it off
3. I do not like the look if permanently attached.

I’ll see later after it is completely dry and try to remove the few that are stuck.

My best advice, don’t use cheap brushes … the good ones will shed a bit every once in awhile but not like this - this brush shed more (and faster) than my fuzzy furry dog!

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Fredrix Archival Pre-Stretched Watercolor Canvas

Fredrix Archival Pre-Stretched Watercolor Canvas

Fredrix Archival Watercolor Canvas Boards

Fredrix Archival Watercolor Canvas Boards

Fredrix Archival Watercolor Canvas Pads

Fredrix Archival Watercolor Canvas Pads

Fredrix Archival Watercolor Canvas Rolls

Fredrix Archival Watercolor Canvas Rolls

Ampersand Aquabord

Ampersand Aquabord

Blick Brush Facts Poster

Blick Brush Facts Poster

Faber-Castell Watercolor Crayons

Faber-Castell Watercolor Crayons

Pentel Aquash Watercolor Crayon Set

Pentel Aquash Watercolor Crayon Set

Acquerello Portofino Watercolor Blocks

Acquerello Portofino Watercolor Blocks

Holbein Watercolor Atomizer Bottle

Holbein Watercolor Atomizer Bottle

Royal Soft Grip Golden Taklon Brush Sets

Royal Soft Grip Golden Taklon Brush Sets

Martin Universal Design Just Stow-It Messenger Bag

Martin Universal Design Just Stow-It Messenger Bag

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