Green Artist Tip: Cleaning Paint Brushes

Keep Paint Out of Drains and Ground Water!

• Save paint to palette for reuse, if possible. (or to paint can or paint bucket).
• Wipe as much paint off of brush onto cloth rag or paper towel before using any water or solvent.  
• Use smallest amount of water or other solvent needed to wipe off additional paint to rag. If you put this in a recycled disposable container, and keep dipping, you keep even more paint out of the drain. 
• ~ In the case of water, you can then let it evaporate from container and wipe out loose paint. This container is then ready to clean brushes again. 
• ~ In the case of turpentine, you can then let paint settle and pour off clean fluid to a clean jar. The paint sediment can be wiped out of dirty jar with a rag. 
• Allow the rag or paper to dry completely before putting it in the trash.

Do you have a tip to share? Do you want to comment or add to this tip?  Please click 'comments' below.

The Fuchsia Aisle Finally Got To Her: My Painting Process

I don't know if you will consider this a trick or a treat today for Halloween.  I tried to find my most frightening piece to post, and it was a toss-up between two of them.  I chose the one that was easiest to photograph.  OK, I have slides of them, but that does not help today.

 

"The Fuchsia Aisle Finally Got To Her"

40x42"

Oil on Arches RKB paper

'The Fucshia Aisle' refers to the toy shopping aisle that is overwhelmingingly this color.  If you are not familiar with this aisle because 1) you do not have a daughter or granddaughter or 2) you live outside of the US commercial market, I will explain it to you.  In toy stores or department stores like Target or Kmart in the United States, the row of toys that are marketed to girls looks pink or fucshia.  Most of the boxes and packaging in this aisle of toys is this bright, screaming pink color. 

The term 'fucshia aisle' in the title has not only this literal meaning, but also has a figurative meaning.  Figuratively it represents the 'ideal female body' in my society's media, advertising and entertainment.

This group of paintings had the female body image as a central theme.

The detail at the left from the above painting is of a doll I found in a child's room in that state.  If you click on the image you will see a larger view.  The doll is standing on her hands with her neck dangling down.   She has one leg straight up in the air and is missing the other leg. Her head is where her foot should be.  She has been given (or gave herself?) a very interesting haircut. Oh, and she has no clothes on.  Also of note, is that this doll is not a "Barbie." Or is a non-Barbie  (The Barbies in the room had their heads missing.  Those are in other paintings). 
 
In reality, the razor blade would be much smaller than the doll.  But here we see an enormous pink blade with the sharp edge up.  The opposite color from pink in terms of gender identity in the US is blue.  This is the color that not only the doll is surrounded by, but also is the background of the entire piece.  If you look closely, the underpainting that shows through is pink, but it is virtually covered up.  It is as if all of her decisions, options, choices are colored by this dominant sea of blue.  Other than the huge razor blade, there is nothing else in the frame.
 
Well, this seems like a peculiar place to stop.  Though it is Halloween. 
 
In my next post I will get back to the painting "Be Mine."

 
To post a question or comment, Click 'comments' below.

Frugal Artist Tip: Clothespins for Drying Paint Brushes? Yes, Clothes Pins

After washing and reshaping paint brushes, (See: Cleaning Oil Paint Brushes)

• Clip each to a clothes pin.
• Set on edge of a counter or table with the bristles toward the ground.
• Allow to drip dry.

Water drips out of metal ferrule . This keeps water from collecting inside ferrule which helps prevent bristle damage.
On a beveled countertop you will need to anchor clothespins with something: a piece of wood works well  or clip a 2nd clothes pin onto the one holding the brush.

I have found wooden clothespins at a small local hardware store or for an even better price at a dollar store. 

Do you have a great art tip to share?  Post below- just click 'comments.'

My Painting Process- Current Work 4

Over the past month, I have been sharing with you how I go about creating a painting from beginning to end.  This is the 4th post in this series. 

The piece I have been showing you has now been definitively named "Be Mine."  I sat with this title throughout, and it is the right one.  At this point, the details of the chain, key and heart are to be painted in.  The painting has come together as you see below.

"Be Mine"

 Oil on Canvas

30x40''

Additionally, the collar is to be detailed as shown in the studies below.

(Click on an Image to Enlarge)

Ring Studies (and Detail of Ring Studies)

16x20"

Acrylic Gesso on Canvas

These studies were done using  both black gesso and white gesso, instead of paint.  I found it interesting to work with such a thick and unforgiving medium in this way compared to the oil paint that I am used to.  I will use this ring as the collar on the figure in "Be Mine."

As I look at the painting so far there is something that does not sit right.  I am satisfied with the treatment of the paint, itself, though I am not pleased with the positioning of the figure.  I have some changes in mind that I will share with you this coming week. 

I am also finishing up another painting in this series that I will introduce to you soon, as well. 

Featured Artist Of The Month

From time to time I will feature a living, working artist in these pages.  If you have a suggestion for a future featured artist, please send your nomination by clicking 'comments' below.  This comment will not be posted on the blog, so please include your name and contact information (email) in the comment form and then click "Post Comment."  After you enter a verification code, click "Post Comment," again.
Stay tuned for a featured artist in November. I have found a wonderful series by a painter from Serbia that you really must see!

Frugal Artist Tip: Cleaning Oil Paint Brushes

Ten Easy Steps to Cleaning Oil Paint Brushes

1. Remove excess paint onto palette (if there is a lot) or onto paper or rag. 
2. Dip or swish in very small amount of solvent- I like weber odorless turpenoid. 
3. Wipe on clean part of rag until relatively clean.  Repeat until no color shows on rag. 
4. Now get all the paint out:  Moisten brush with cool or warm water and scrub on a bar of ivory soap    (that's right, "the soap that floats"). 
5. Now scrub the brush around on the palm of your hand, working soap all the way up to the metal ferrule.  You might wear glove or plastic bag to protect from potential paint toxins.
6. Wipe off excess lather on cloth or rag.
7. Rinse with warm water.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until lather no longer shows color.
9. Shake out water and reshape bristles with fingertips.  I've also used a rubber band or plastic twisty-tie to reshape resistant brushes.  Just wrap twistie-tie around bristles when wet- remove when dry.  
10. Let dry on side or in a container bristles up/ handles down. Or hang bristles down.  See Best Way to Dry Brushes here. 

Look at BJ's or other bulk store for the 24-pack of ivory bars.  You will save money on cleaning supplies and keep your brushes in great shape for many years.

If you have a tip to share, please click 'comments' below.

My Painting Process- Current Work 3

The piece of work I have been showing you seemed to be coming along well to this point.  As I mentioned before, all of the elements were, most likely, not yet revealed.  That is, the painting seems to write its own story.  I 'hear' or perceive this narrative as it unfolds and then paint it onto the canvas.  Since I last showed you this, there have been some additions.

(click on image to enlarge)

As you see above, the woman is now wearing a collar that is attached to a chain.  This chain disappears from the scene and reappears.  It then hangs down, drapes over her form, has its length amassed in a pile,  and extends forward under her arm.  At the end of this chain is a key.   We also see that a shadowy figure has arrived and is standing out side of the bars.  Perhaps all of the elements are in place and we have before us the basic structure for this painting. 

I have continued to build upon the color theme by applying more layers.  Also the figure's form is being developed as I tone down the initial underpainting of the flesh. For the flesh tones I found a really nice palette on Matthew Innis' blog: 'Underpaintings; Mattelson Palette'.   In other works in this series, the figure in the painting was placed in a way that I drew from my simple palette for the flesh (prussian blue, cobalt violet, cadmium yellow lemon and titanium white).  In this piece I added a dab of alizarin crimson for the spot of red.  From here I will work out any obvious issues, paint all the pieces in, and add detail and texture.

Stay tuned to see this piece come to completion.

Comments? Click 'comments' below to post.