A few years ago, I tried Ampersand Gessobord as the surface for my oil paintings. I had only ever used canvas up until that point, but I wanted a more sturdy alternative that wouldn’t get damaged by my sometimes rough strokes. Gessobord has since become my go-to surface for most paintings. This is my detailed … Read more
Rosemary and Co brushes are my preferred brush providers. This review relates to their Ultimate Bristle line of oil paint brushes. Manufacturer A note from Rosemary and Co’s founder: “I’ve been making brushes for 38 years and supplying artists by mail order. I’m fortunate that my trade has allowed me to travel the world both … Read more
Since my last post on simplifying a complex scene, I have had several readers ask about my plein air painting setup. So, in case anyone else is curious, I have put together this post about what I have in my setup and why I have it. I cover: Requirements of the Plein Air Setup I … Read more
The artist palette is an essential piece of equipment for holding and mixing your paint. There are many different types of artist palettes you can choose from, such as the classic wooden palette, or more contemporary options like glass or disposable palettes. In this post, I will run through some of the different options so … Read more
Setting up lighting for your art studio has to be one of the most frustrating aspects of being an artist. I only recently got my studio lighting to a point where I am generally satisfied. Before that it was either too dim, bright, cool, warm or glary. It has been no easy task getting to … Read more
This post will guide you through some of the different types of canvas you can paint on so that you can decide what canvas to use for your next painting. Canvas is one of the most popular supports for painting for the following reasons: Paint binds well to the canvas weave. It is archival, depending on … Read more
This is a buyer’s guide for the best drawing pencils for artists. But before I get into it, you should note that none of these pencils will make you a better artist. You may find some pencils more comfortable to use, but they all do essentially the same thing and they are all capable of … Read more
Your paintbrush should feel like an extension of your arm. But, all the different kinds of artist brushes which are available can sometimes only add confusion to the painting process, rather than making it easier. In this post, I discuss the different kinds of artist paint brushes that are available for you to use. Anatomy … Read more
It is no secret that painting is hard! So here are some painting accessories to make your painting journey just a bit easier. These accessories are not essential by any means, but you may find them useful depending on how you like to paint. If you use any other painting accessories which are not included … Read more
Colored pencils are a fantastic medium – they are easy to use, the cleanup time is minimal and you get exposure to the wonderful world of color. But with so many great brands of colored pencils available, it can be confusing to determine which colored pencils you should go with. In this post, I will … Read more