Palette

An artist palette is very important and personal. And everyone has there own way of setting it up. When asked about it, I am make sure that I convey the fact that this is the way that works for ME! Take my suggestions and use them as you can to better your painting.

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Palette Surface:

you have so many choices,

wood

glass

tear away wax paper

enamel trays

and many more, but I use glass

    Glass has many pluses, easy to clean and mix on, long lasting and you’re able to place it on any coloured backing paper. Some people place it on a medium grey to help with mixing your colors accurately. I use white paper. This lets me see the colours as I mix them. I can see there transparency better on a white surface.

 

Palete knife:

here you have two choices;

flat or angled

Here I use a flat palette knife. It really is the best for mixing your paints thoroughly. I only use my knife for mixing, never for painting.

 

Paints

    I use Winsor  & Newton Artist oil colours. I always have. When I was first taught about oil paints, this is the brand that my instructor insisted that we use. Once I had it drilled into my head that they were the best, I couldn’t use another. Some time later I was given some other brand of paints. Being a student artist, I of course used them. I hate to admit this, but my very first instructor was right! Winsor & Newton are the best. Oil paints and there watercolours are by far better quality.

 

Medium:

    I use a turpentine substitute for mixing and cleaning my palette and brushes. They are so many choices for a medium;

Linseed oil

Liquine

Dammar Varnish

Poppy and walnut oils

Branded painting mediums

and many more

My choice is a classic mix of ⅓ each of Cold-pressed linseed oil, Dammar varnish and turpentine.

 

Colours and placement:

Here it is, my choices of basic palette,

Titanium white

Cadmium Yellow – Y

mix of Y+O for – YO

Cadmium Orange – O

  mix of O+R for -RO         

Cadmium Red – R

Alizarin Crimson – RV

mix of RV+B for – V

Ultramarine Blue – BV

Cobalt Blue – B

mix of B+G for -BG

Permanent Green – G

 

Yellow Ocher

Burnt Sienna

 

Sometimes I use cerulean blue or prussian blue if I need an intense pigment. My palette changes for each painting I do. I don’t always lay out all the colors if I know that they will not be used. Limiting your colours in your palette can help you focus on the subject matter and force you to mix smart.

 

I enjoy mixing colours, finding that exact one you want if quite rewarding!

 

First Blog Ever!

 

 

 

I have recently moved my studio and it has changed everything! Space is so important, weather it is around you or in the art you create. Changing the space around you can have a drastic effect on the art you produce.

My first studio space was in my parents basement, having one very small window. Needless to say the light was not great. But I created very free and colorful paintings. This seemed to become a theme for my studio spaces. They were always in a corner of a room or garage spaces. It was great to have the space, but it was very hard to take your painting seriously when you are do it in the back of a garage with no windows! Making a space for yourself that is all yours is the first step to achieving your goal in your art.
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Next step is to create!!!