The saying is "an artisan is only as good as his tools" and that is SO TRUE of painters.
You need to buy good quality PROFESSIONAL art equipment and look after it.
EASELS
An easel is the place you put your SUPPORT (canvas, wood etc).
Always good to paint standing up and facing your canvas. Some artists paint on the floor or table but it is quite difficult to 'assess' the work when it is lying 'flat'
In our opinion and 30 years experience the 'H' frame is the most stable and sensible easel. Has a good leg framework which you don't trip over. Also very stable and solid.
Make sure you buy an easel LARGE enough to take large canvases. (There are some small ones around)
A Table easel will be small and suitable to place on a table top.
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BRUSHES
DaVinci are one of the best makers
There are four TYPES of brush
Flat - Great brush, versatile. Flat bristle edge, good body.
Round - round ferrule (the bit that holds the bristles onto the handle) - rounded bristles.
Filbert - Has a flat ferrule and a flat head but with a rounded top.
Fan or Blender - good for oils and watercolour.
But lots of different sizes.
IMPORTANT YOU BUY Synthetic bristle for oils and acrylic
Real Hair - Kolinsky Sable for watercolour
WATERCOLOUR BRUSHES have lots of different brushes - see watercolourtuition |
PAINTS
IMPORTANT you buy 'Professional' paints.
'Student' paints contain a filler (usually talcum powder or chalk) - so the paint dries up 'chalky' and the pigment colour may not be quite so lightfast as it should be.
There is no mystery about 'paint'
Paint is a pigment mixed with a binder.
Best Acrylic paints are: Golden, Liquitex, Ara and Amsterdam
Best oil paints are Michael Harding
Best watercolour paints are Maimeri Blu |
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SUPPORTS - or the materials you paint on.
Canvas is a support for oils and acrylic paint. Ready made canvases are fine to start with but eventually you will want to make your own canvases - click for demonstration
Wood is good for oils and acrylics. If you use MDF - MAKE SURE you prime with MDF primer - MDF has chemicals holding the fibres together - so prime well.
Paper. Use a heavyweight paper for watercolour.
Metals, plastic etc - EXPERIMENT!! |
