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A Monet Bridge.
- Thread starter MaureenW
- Start date
Beautiful, Maureen! This must have taken tiny brushes to achieve this detail.
…. It really is the most beautiful place to wander around!
My very expensive, specialist brushes!
All of the painting was done with these tools … knife and 3/4” for b/g of indigo and sap green. The rest was done using the round 5 and my almost worn out, abused 1/4” square end, extremely cheap, well-loved ‘foliage’ brush. Because acrylics are hard on brushes, I never use my good brushes! All those b/g trees‘ foliage comes from that …. then just touches of the round to bring out some willow definition. The round was used for all the foreground leaves and grasses. I try to let the brush shape do the work, so the only ‘controlled’ shaping was done on the bridge, figure and tree trunks. Hope that makes sense!
Apologies for the state of my old Staywet palette …. I’m sure Glyn will have a fit because his work station looks pristine and organised … as did Bethany’s studio!
PS …. That palette knife has been with me since 1958!
All of the painting was done with these tools … knife and 3/4” for b/g of indigo and sap green. The rest was done using the round 5 and my almost worn out, abused 1/4” square end, extremely cheap, well-loved ‘foliage’ brush. Because acrylics are hard on brushes, I never use my good brushes! All those b/g trees‘ foliage comes from that …. then just touches of the round to bring out some willow definition. The round was used for all the foreground leaves and grasses. I try to let the brush shape do the work, so the only ‘controlled’ shaping was done on the bridge, figure and tree trunks. Hope that makes sense!
Apologies for the state of my old Staywet palette …. I’m sure Glyn will have a fit because his work station looks pristine and organised … as did Bethany’s studio!
PS …. That palette knife has been with me since 1958!
Gluggy
Active member
I do the same Maureen. I always thought Acrylics needed plastic bristles so keep my natural hair brushes for oils. I'm sure I'm wrong but it seems I must have read that somewhere (that plastic works better for acrylics) and it stuck with me. I'm also re-evaluating my using cheaper acrylic paint brands as I'm finding the coverage is at best patchy. I've seen YT info on better quality (more expensive) paints carry more pigment which I guess means better coverage. I may relook at my sources for best brushes for acrylics to ease my mind now Mareeen has thrown me into turmoil.
Thanks for that extra info, Maureen! Whatever tool works, I say! My brushes are expensive and I look after them. Neef (synthetic) long flats are my go-to with some tiny cheap rounds for fine details (they don't last)
As for the tidy studio- I must have shown photos of a tidy day. The only reason I keep most of my studio tidy is because I have students coming in. I clean my glass palette after every session and my paints are organised so that it is easy to start painting. I am so lucky to have space for different areas. One is my painting easel/desk for computer monitor and I have a table for printmaking set up that I am teaching to a student.
I have too much stuff that I don't use- need a big clean out!
As for the tidy studio- I must have shown photos of a tidy day. The only reason I keep most of my studio tidy is because I have students coming in. I clean my glass palette after every session and my paints are organised so that it is easy to start painting. I am so lucky to have space for different areas. One is my painting easel/desk for computer monitor and I have a table for printmaking set up that I am teaching to a student.
I have too much stuff that I don't use- need a big clean out!
Glyn, synthetics are better gir acrylics, definitely … but the medium is hard on brushes. I find the Royals pretty good. Bristles are not good because they absorb water … mine are strictly for oils. The better paints, artist quality, usually have stronger pigment load but remember also, there are different fluidities in acrylics … from heavy body to fluids and inks. I use both heavy body and inks .. just not usually together! I like W&N Artist paints, use quite a lot of Liquitex but also like D&R System 3 ….. don’t like their Cryla …
Bethany, I like the stay wet palette rather than glass because I actually use very little paint , so that palette keeps it workable for a while. I also, these days, tend yo work sitting, with board resting on easel ledge …. so smaller work and shorter brushes mostly!
Enjoy your day both of you … I’m off yo bed … it’s late!
Bethany, I like the stay wet palette rather than glass because I actually use very little paint , so that palette keeps it workable for a while. I also, these days, tend yo work sitting, with board resting on easel ledge …. so smaller work and shorter brushes mostly!
Enjoy your day both of you … I’m off yo bed … it’s late!
Did I say that this is my set-up for oils?
For other mediums like acrylic/gouache or watercolour I use a ceramic palette with wells.
I really only use acrylics for works on paper like special occasion cards or life drawing sessions. I do have a set of open acrylics that stay workable for longer. I find acrylics frustrating because of the colour change and the fast drying (I know that this can be manipulated with slow-drying mediums) I have taklon brushes (cheap) for that.
I am teaching a student printmaking with geli plate and lino cutting. Acrylics are perfect for that!
For other mediums like acrylic/gouache or watercolour I use a ceramic palette with wells.
I really only use acrylics for works on paper like special occasion cards or life drawing sessions. I do have a set of open acrylics that stay workable for longer. I find acrylics frustrating because of the colour change and the fast drying (I know that this can be manipulated with slow-drying mediums) I have taklon brushes (cheap) for that.
I am teaching a student printmaking with geli plate and lino cutting. Acrylics are perfect for that!
