5 Best Gifts for Oil Painters

5 Best Gifts for Artists

Richeson Kolinsky Sable
Oil Brushes are handmade
 with gold ferrules
 and walnut handles

1. Palette Knife Set- Best Painting Knives; Made in Italy:

Set of 12 available at ItalianArtStore.com

Richeson Set of 6 available only at CheapJoes.com

2. Paint, Professional Grade Oil Paint

RGH, Gamblin,Williamsburg, Old Holland, Rembrandt

3. Brushes- High Quality

Hog Bristle-  available at Blick Art Materials

Hand-made Richeson Kolinsky Sable Brushes at RexArt.com

4. Art Marketing Book- I'd rather be in the studio!

5. Painting Supports- High Quality 

Art Panels available at JohnAnnesley.com

Oil Primed Linen (Canvas) available at Utrecht's Double Oil Primed Linen Clearance!

Artist Gift Shopping Deals

See my next post for Art Coupon Codes

One Of A Kind Holiday Gift

Unique Holiday Gift

Are you looking for special gift for this holiday season?  I stumbled upon this cool site where you can have a photo book made to order.  Starting at $29 for 40 pages you can create a meaningful gift at Kolo.com



Best Photo Book of 2012*



Why choose KOLO?

Quality Photo Book

Acid Free Archival Paper

High Quality Images

Covers: Thick and Rigid Linen or Merino Wool

(soil- and water-resistant) 

Expandable Photo Book

Excellent Customer Service

Customer Support

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed 

Great Reputation

Over 14 Years In Business
Voted "TOPS" in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

Awarded Best Photo Book of 2012*
*by TopConsumerReviews.com.

Easy To Create

Upload from PC, Mac, Facebook,
Flickr, or Photobucket

KOLO often has Coupons and Shipping Deals

Fattest White Paint For Scumbling

Final Paint Layers
The top most layers of an oil painting should be the fattest of all and dry the most slowly. That is the paint should contain the most oil and least amount of dryers. When it comes to white paint, zinc white dries the most slowly, followed by titanium white and then lead white.

Scumbling White 

White Oil Paint Tinting Strength

Since zinc white is the slowest drying white it will increase the drying time of paints it is mixed with.  For scumbling with a mixture, zinc white works well to make a subtle hue without greatly lessening the chroma.


If more hiding or covering is desired, then mixing in a bit of titanium white with the zinc white will help. The more titanium white that is mixed in the more the chroma and brightness will be knocked down as well- so keep this in mind. If one prefers to use titanium white on the scumbling, simply ensure that the previous layer is dry in order to prevent cracking.



Drying Times of White Paint

Lead White Fastest

Lead White + Titanium Fast

Titanium White Moderate

Titanium + Zinc Slow

Zinc White Slowest

Premixed white paint mixtures are available. White paint ingredients by brand vary significantly. Since safflower oil is said to yellow less, lately I've been using it with the whites as a medium rather than linseed oil. Experiment and find your favorite technique; and to prevent cracking just remember Fat over Lean.


Please contribute your thoughts by clicking 'posts' below.

Paint Snob Says: Best Oil Paint Is...

I am a Coffee Snob, a Wine Snob and a Paint Snob
Before my tastes became "refined," I painted with any paint that was pretty. I then discovered the deliciousness of Old Holland, Williamsburg and Rembrandt Oils. But now I have a new favorite!

RGH Oil Paints Are My New Favorites
RGH oil paints are made by artist, Rolf Haerem, for artists. Pure pigments are combined with alkali-refined linseed oil and put through a three roll mill three to five times. RGH does not use extenders in their paints and guarantees their quality.

Why I love this oil paint:

• High Quality
• Hand Made in US
• Professional Grade
• High Tinting Strength
• Butttery Consistency
• Economical Pricing
• Customized Paints
  

You no longer have to compromise paint quality for price. RGH paints are available in over 100 colors made from the purest pigments and finest ingredients.

Buy 37ml, a gallon, or many quantities in between!

Browse other posts about Oil Paint.

Surrealism at Cuba! Gallery

Mysterious, multilayered and muy importante!
Freshly painted surrealist pieces are now in an exhibition at Cuba! Gallery in Melbourne Florida. Alicia de la Campa Pak, artist and Cuba resident, is featured in this two person show. Paintings from her current series, "Jardín Secreto" (Secret Garden), contain complex narratives that are at once beautiful and evocative. This is an exhibit you don't want to miss!

Look for de la Campa Pak in an upcoming Featured Artist post.

Until then: Go See this Show! You have through November 25th.


More Information:
Cuba! Gallery of Fine Art
1900 S. Harbor City Blvd. Suite 124-A
Melbourne FL 32901
(321) 729-8800

Oil Paint : Student Grade or Professional Grade?

Oil Paint Quality
Student Grade oil paints are usually less expensive and of a poorer quality than Professional Grade oil paints.  They are appropriate to use if:

• You do not consider yourself to be a professional artist (now or in the future).
• You really, really want your paintings to deteriorate more rapidly over time.
• You have to choose between eating and buying high quality paint.

Comparison of Oil Painting Changes Over Time
Student Grade Oil Paints over Professional Grade Acrylic Gesso on Canvas:  

BEFORE

AFTER

Observations of a Painting Stored in the Dark for Over 10 Years; Why I don't use student grade paints:

• Background pigment faded and patchy
• Cast shadows have taken on violet hue versus original neutral
• Highlights have dulled
• Edges of objects in shadow have taken on a hard, sharp line 
• Forms have lost 3-dimensionality and appear flattened and without structure

Due to my experience with various types of paint, I can only recommend the highest quality at any stage of your career.  Professional Artists Oil colors are even appropriate for doing studies, in my opinion.  Studies sometimes become an important point of reference in later years.  Furthermore, a study can take on a life of its own and become a painting in its own right.

Please Post Your Comment or Suggestion by Clicking 'Comments," Below.

Business Cards: √ (check)

Business Cards Cheap

9 bucks shipped- no frills, but does the job!

Business Cards Fast

It took less than a week!

• Tuesday, 4:30 pm: I uploaded the completed design for premium business cards to Vistaprint and chose slowest shipping method (21 days).
• Thursday, 1:43 am : Vistaprint email informs my order is shipping early.
• Friday: Order shipped
• Monday: Order received

Image Uploaded for Printing

I had to play around with and re-uploaded my images to get graphics inside the "Vistaprint safe zone" denoted by a dotted line on uploaded image.  This was after I had already prepared document to specifications of  1062x615 pixels and a cut size of 1028x579 pixels.  Other than this inconsistency, the process was easy. 

Business Cards Cost
250 cards is about $25 shipped.
1000 cards is about $36 shipped.

This included these "extras":
Upload of own design (2)
Glossy color on front side
Full color back side

250 cards can be had for about $9 including shipping, without the extras above. 
250 cards (free option) is less than $6 If you allow the vistaprint branding on the back side.

Vistaprint Card Ordering Tips:
Chose slow shipping for savings- it was really pretty quick.
Received a coupon enclosed in my order for 25% off next order plus free uploads.
Continually receive free offers by email- it pays to get on their mailing list.
Vistaprint prints postcards and tons of other stuff too.