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Can I Use Pre-Stretched Canvas Straight Away?
If a pre-stretched canvas says it's been primed for acrylics, you don't need to do anything to it, you can start painting on it straight away.
If you don't feel it's not got a good enough surface as it is, you can paint on another layer of white (acrylic gesso or some other primer, or simply some white acrylic). But that's optional. I've never personally found a need to do so with any pre-stretched canvas I've bought, not even the cheap ones
Tip: Be sure to check it's a canvas that's been primed for acrylics, not for oil paints only. Most commercially prepared canvases are usually primed for both.
How Thick Should the Paint Be?
Acrylic paint can be applied as thick or thin as you like. You can use it very thin and 'watery', in transparent layers (glazes) like watercolours. Or thick and buttery, full of texture and showing brush marks (impasto). I love both; it depends what mood I'm in and the subject of the painting.
When thinning acrylics, the rule of thumb is not to thin it with more than 50 per cent water otherwise you risk it losing its adhesion properties (ability to stick to the canvas). Use some glazing medium as well as water.
Like so many aspects of painting, there is no "right" or "wrong" answer to the question of how thickly you should apply acrylic paint to a canvas. It's a matter of personal preference.
How To Fix Broken Pastels
What do you do when a pastel breaks or with small pieces of broken pastel? Don't throw them away, it's simple to fix a broken pastel. You can also use this method to make some new pastel sticks.
Here's How:
1. Remove all bits of label that may still be sticking to the pastel pieces
2. Sort the bits by colour or mix following the rules of colour theory if you want to create a new colour.
3. Break or grind the pastel pieces up as much as you can.
4. Add one or two teaspoons of distilled water to the broken pastel.
5. Don’t use straight tap water as this may contain chlorine which will bleach the pastel pigment or other chemicals or minerals that may interact with it.
6. Mix into a thick paste with a palette knife or your fingers.
7. Roll the paste up into a pastel shape using your fingers.
8. If it’s too wet, remove some of the excess moisture with a piece of absorbent paper, such as paper towel.
9. Leave to dry at room temperature for at least 24 hours.
How To Set Up A Still Life For Drawing
Tired of drawing a flat-looking, a dull old bowl of fruit? Draw a still life worth your effort with these helpful tips.
Here's How:
1. Choose your location: light source is the key to a strong painting. A strong lamp or bright window is perfect.
2. If room lighting is diffuse, use a board to shade part of your subject.
3. Architectural features such as a window frame or door can add direction to a composition. A tone that contrasts with the subject is useful. Avoid cliche drapery.
4. A woodgrain table can look great, but a beginner might be better using a tablecloth - choose a plain one if you don't want any extra detail, or a broad check to add color and pattern.
5. Choose your objects: Beginners should avoid oddly shaped objects that might look 'wrong' even when you've got it 'right'. Machine-made objects demand an accurate rendering of form and perspective
6. For a traditional feel, choose homely fruit, veg and crockery, or find some old wares at a thrift store. Wine bottles are an old favourite.
7. Be a little daring - try a spare arrangement of simple stainless steel or gaudy plastic objects. Look at the colors designers use for a contemporary feel.
8. Arrange the group. When arranging, consider compositional elements, avoiding bland central postitioning and symmetry.
9. Avoid piling fruit in a bowl - let it spill from a bag, or be half-eaten on a plate.Give flowers a history - tucked in a hat, strewn in the gutter, or by a headstone.
10. View your arrangement through an empty slide frame (make one out of card) to assess the composition and consider its placement on the paper.
Tips: If using natural light, take photos to refer to once the light starts to change.
1. Transparent and reflective objects, such as bottles and metal objects, can be challenging but are an excellent exercise in detailed observation.
2. Fruit is a great start, as the natural shapes are a little more forgiving, and give you interesting textures to work with.
3. Take photographs if using perishables, especially flowers, or where your work may be disturbed.
What You Need: paper, graphite, pencil, lamp
Storing Pastel Paintings Flat
Safely storing pastels paintings that are layered on a shelf or in a large drawer can be a problem, when you need to go back through the stack to find a certain piece. A tab with the name, size and other pertinent information can help locate a work without having to sort through every piece. The tab can be either a pH-balanced piece of paper laid over the glassine and allowed to protrude or a tab can be attached to one edge of the glassine for each painting much like you would do with a school notebook. Using the thinnest version of pH-balanced foamcore board or other non-acid or archival board in the layering process, along with glassine, helps keep the weight of unevenlystacked or slightly different-sized papers more evenly distributed. Use interleaving boards that are all the same size and at least slightly larger than the largest painting paper you are storing. Interleave each piece with glassine and board or use the board every 2, 3 or 4 pieces.
(glassine paper is a translucent paper with neutral pH Suitable for the protection of documents and original drawings - pastel, charcoal and pencil - or interleaving in portfolios, photo albums etc it’s Non-electrostatic)
Composition Basics:
Create lines that link one area to another leading the eye through the picture. Create patterns of light & shade or shape. Contrast large with small, regular with irregular, light against dark, warm against cool, clean colour with dull or dirty. Don’t try to use all contrasts together…… the aim is to draw the eye to the major interest point.Good composition should be balanced without stiffness or the boredom of equal balance. It is much preferred to achieve visual weights and create asymmetrical balance.Remember: limited use of colour creates harmony [a limited palette] - Avoid symmetry—Don’t place point of interest in the centre of the canvas, place on the “thirds” - Keep strong contrasts away from the edge of the canvas — Use the best quality paint you can
f you you need more information, please email us wadasociety@yahoo.com.au and we will endeavour to answer your questions
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