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| Tips of the Trade! Hosted by: GooginsGallery.com Tips and techniques for beginners and artists by artists. Add your tips, suggestions or inspirational thoughts to fellow artists to be "Artist of the Month"! |
Don't throw away those mis-shaped paint brushes.
If you're an acrylic or water color artist like me, you may
sometimes leave your brushes in the water for too long, or let
them dry in the wrong shape, causing the bristles/hair to be bent.
Don't worry, there's an easy fix! Place a few cups of water in a
sauce pan and bring almost to a boil, then dip the brush hairs
only in the water for just a few seconds. Lay the brushes on a
paper towel and when cool use your fingers to shape the bristles
in the original shape, lay the brushes back on the paper towel to
dry. Like hair in a curling iron they will stay that way which leaves
you more money for new art supplies! (Natural hair bristles work
best with this technique, when using synthetic brushes, dip brush
for less time.)
Submitted by: Jennifer Googins
GooginsArt@yahoo.com
If you're an acrylic or water color artist like me, you may
sometimes leave your brushes in the water for too long, or let
them dry in the wrong shape, causing the bristles/hair to be bent.
Don't worry, there's an easy fix! Place a few cups of water in a
sauce pan and bring almost to a boil, then dip the brush hairs
only in the water for just a few seconds. Lay the brushes on a
paper towel and when cool use your fingers to shape the bristles
in the original shape, lay the brushes back on the paper towel to
dry. Like hair in a curling iron they will stay that way which leaves
you more money for new art supplies! (Natural hair bristles work
best with this technique, when using synthetic brushes, dip brush
for less time.)
Submitted by: Jennifer Googins
GooginsArt@yahoo.com
When cleaning brushes remember to:
* Use cool water (hot water can make the bristles fall out over time.)
* Squeeze bristles dry instead of pulling.
* Rinse the brush in turpentine or oil if you've been using oils or
lukewarm water if you've been using a water-based medium.
* Use a mild soap or brush cleaner instead of dish detergent. Rub
gently in your palm and rinse until all paint is removed.
* After rinsing brushes, wrap and squeeze with a paper towel to
remove excess water, reform the bristles and lay flat on a cloth or
paper towel so they will keep their shape.
* Immediately clean & store your brushes after using, never leave in
water.
For new brushes: always dip in water before beginning to paint
to prevent bristle staining. (use clean oil for painting w/oil paint.)
Moisturize your hands well with hand lotion before beginning
to paint so the paint is easy to remove if you get it on your skin.
Acrylics Dry Fast:
* Keep a spray bottle with a fine mist handy to spray your pallet in
case you started with too much paint and it begins to dry.
* Use a gel medium to extend drying time on the canvas for detailed
painting or blending.
* When painting remember to place your brushes immediately in
water after each use. Acrylic paint dries water resistant.
Submitted by: Jennifer Googins
Googinsart@yahoo.com
* Use cool water (hot water can make the bristles fall out over time.)
* Squeeze bristles dry instead of pulling.
* Rinse the brush in turpentine or oil if you've been using oils or
lukewarm water if you've been using a water-based medium.
* Use a mild soap or brush cleaner instead of dish detergent. Rub
gently in your palm and rinse until all paint is removed.
* After rinsing brushes, wrap and squeeze with a paper towel to
remove excess water, reform the bristles and lay flat on a cloth or
paper towel so they will keep their shape.
* Immediately clean & store your brushes after using, never leave in
water.
For new brushes: always dip in water before beginning to paint
to prevent bristle staining. (use clean oil for painting w/oil paint.)
Moisturize your hands well with hand lotion before beginning
to paint so the paint is easy to remove if you get it on your skin.
Acrylics Dry Fast:
* Keep a spray bottle with a fine mist handy to spray your pallet in
case you started with too much paint and it begins to dry.
* Use a gel medium to extend drying time on the canvas for detailed
painting or blending.
* When painting remember to place your brushes immediately in
water after each use. Acrylic paint dries water resistant.
Submitted by: Jennifer Googins
Googinsart@yahoo.com
| Acrylic painting & brush cleaning tips |
| Clay sculpting tips for beginners |
Choosing your clay: There are
many different types of sculpting
clay. I suggest Mexican clay (Terra
cotta colored). It's consistency
makes it easy to mold in to shape,
but also holds details very well.
This clay is versatile it can be left to
air-dry or fire in a kiln. (Firing
creates a more durable finish.
Check our art resource page for
places to find this clay.
Starting your sculpture: Gather
all your supplies needed to begin:
bowl of water, sponge, tin foil or
densely balled paper, sculpting
tools and place mat, hand lotion
and a hand towel.
Sculpting tools: I use store
bought tools and also make my own
using household items: tooth picks,
wire, knives, pretty much anything
to create the detail I need.
many different types of sculpting
clay. I suggest Mexican clay (Terra
cotta colored). It's consistency
makes it easy to mold in to shape,
but also holds details very well.
This clay is versatile it can be left to
air-dry or fire in a kiln. (Firing
creates a more durable finish.
Check our art resource page for
places to find this clay.
Starting your sculpture: Gather
all your supplies needed to begin:
bowl of water, sponge, tin foil or
densely balled paper, sculpting
tools and place mat, hand lotion
and a hand towel.
Sculpting tools: I use store
bought tools and also make my own
using household items: tooth picks,
wire, knives, pretty much anything
to create the detail I need.
Hand Lotion: Moisturize your hands
with any type of moisturizer before
beginning to prevent staining of your
skin and to make clean up easier.
Tin foil/Paper: Any clay will crack as
it dries & shrinks whether it's air dried
or kiln fired with out a hollow inner
space. Create an appropriate shape
for your sculpture from the tin foil
(about 1/3 the size of the total size of
your sculpture.) Form the clay around
your foil form, so the foil is completely
covered,
(Good way to recycled old foil or
scrap paper)
Water/ sponge: Depending on the
length of your project, use water to
dip hour hands in often to keep the
clay from drying too fast or use a wet
sponge on your sculpture, which is
also a perfect tool to smooth,shape
and add texture to the clay.
with any type of moisturizer before
beginning to prevent staining of your
skin and to make clean up easier.
Tin foil/Paper: Any clay will crack as
it dries & shrinks whether it's air dried
or kiln fired with out a hollow inner
space. Create an appropriate shape
for your sculpture from the tin foil
(about 1/3 the size of the total size of
your sculpture.) Form the clay around
your foil form, so the foil is completely
covered,
(Good way to recycled old foil or
scrap paper)
Water/ sponge: Depending on the
length of your project, use water to
dip hour hands in often to keep the
clay from drying too fast or use a wet
sponge on your sculpture, which is
also a perfect tool to smooth,shape
and add texture to the clay.
Place mat: Cover your work area
completely. Plastic or smooth surfaces are
not a good idea to set your sculpture on to
work. They will stick to the surface. In art
class we use scrap paper to set under our
sculptures on as we work. And it's a great
way to recycle your scraps.
Storage: When storing your clay or
sculpture to work on later, make sure it is in
an air tight container or plastic bag tied tight.
I usually drop in a wet napkin also to keep the
air moist in the container. Have fun!
Submitted by Jennifer Googins
completely. Plastic or smooth surfaces are
not a good idea to set your sculpture on to
work. They will stick to the surface. In art
class we use scrap paper to set under our
sculptures on as we work. And it's a great
way to recycle your scraps.
Storage: When storing your clay or
sculpture to work on later, make sure it is in
an air tight container or plastic bag tied tight.
I usually drop in a wet napkin also to keep the
air moist in the container. Have fun!
Submitted by Jennifer Googins
| Photography tips for beginners |
Photography is to "Know your equipment".
Read your manual, over and over, with the camera there by you so you can see where
all the buttons and switches are. The more you know about your equipment the more
you will know what you can do with it and what you can not do with it. Talk to other
photographers who use the same type of equipment you use. They just might tell you
something that you don't know and wish you had the last time you were out shooting.
Don't be afraid to experiment with a new idea or technique. Now go SHOOT! Submitted
by Rich Kopp Gpt. MS richkoppphotography.com
Read your manual, over and over, with the camera there by you so you can see where
all the buttons and switches are. The more you know about your equipment the more
you will know what you can do with it and what you can not do with it. Talk to other
photographers who use the same type of equipment you use. They just might tell you
something that you don't know and wish you had the last time you were out shooting.
Don't be afraid to experiment with a new idea or technique. Now go SHOOT! Submitted
by Rich Kopp Gpt. MS richkoppphotography.com
| Oil Painting tips for beginners |
I consider myself a beginner in oil painting, but it has been a wonderful experience and the more I
have learned, the more I realize I need to learn.
The most wonderful thing about oils is that they stay the same color after they dry. Where water color
lightens and acrylics darken, oils stay the same beautiful color.
I was so confused when I first started oils because I was used to just painting whatever in mixed media,
I wasn't sure what to dip my brush in first. You need to use mediums with oils in order to give them
different textures and other oil medium liquids, help the oils dry faster. That is very important because
the hardest part of oil painting is that it takes a while for them to dry and it is easy to become impatient
and stay enthusiastic about your subject. I found it best for me to have two or three going at the same
time. The depth and glazing of oils is what makes it so rich, so it is well worth trying. I know it was for
me.
Submitted by Jeri Hardy Pascagoula MS
have learned, the more I realize I need to learn.
The most wonderful thing about oils is that they stay the same color after they dry. Where water color
lightens and acrylics darken, oils stay the same beautiful color.
I was so confused when I first started oils because I was used to just painting whatever in mixed media,
I wasn't sure what to dip my brush in first. You need to use mediums with oils in order to give them
different textures and other oil medium liquids, help the oils dry faster. That is very important because
the hardest part of oil painting is that it takes a while for them to dry and it is easy to become impatient
and stay enthusiastic about your subject. I found it best for me to have two or three going at the same
time. The depth and glazing of oils is what makes it so rich, so it is well worth trying. I know it was for
me.
Submitted by Jeri Hardy Pascagoula MS
I sculpted this piece, "The
End of the Season", with air
dry clay and used recycled
paper for the inner air
pocket. I formed the base
from melted and crushed
recyclable. I chose to layer
my sculpture with a mixed
media layering process that
included attaching the
base, rather than having it
fired.-
Jennifer Googins
End of the Season", with air
dry clay and used recycled
paper for the inner air
pocket. I formed the base
from melted and crushed
recyclable. I chose to layer
my sculpture with a mixed
media layering process that
included attaching the
base, rather than having it
fired.-
Jennifer Googins
I painted "The Dragonfly
dance" with acrylics, I find the
best way to create detail with
acrylics is through a layering
process. I sealed it with
multi-sheen layering also.
-Jennifer Googins
dance" with acrylics, I find the
best way to create detail with
acrylics is through a layering
process. I sealed it with
multi-sheen layering also.
-Jennifer Googins
"On the way to
Pompeii",
bought by
Jefferson
Davis College
for permanent
collection.
Oil by Jeri
Hardy.
Pompeii",
bought by
Jefferson
Davis College
for permanent
collection.
Oil by Jeri
Hardy.
"Jefferson Davis"
By: Rich Kopp
By: Rich Kopp
| Thank you so much for visiting Googins Gallery. This web site is designed & maintained by J. Googins All images copyright Googins Gallery -online 2009, Please ask for permission before duplicating/using any image on this site. |
Framing tips
There are a lot of routes you can take when it comes to framing
your paintings.
Professional framing: I do believe that the frame is definitely a
large part of the art itself. It's the finishing touch that can change
the outcome of the feel of your art work.
Professional framers will take the time to help find the perfect
frame for your art and generally have a large selection to choose
from. Depending on your budget and time restraints, (custom
framing sometimes takes 1 -5 weeks) getting a pro to help
especially for beginners is a good pick.
There are a lot of routes you can take when it comes to framing
your paintings.
Professional framing: I do believe that the frame is definitely a
large part of the art itself. It's the finishing touch that can change
the outcome of the feel of your art work.
Professional framers will take the time to help find the perfect
frame for your art and generally have a large selection to choose
from. Depending on your budget and time restraints, (custom
framing sometimes takes 1 -5 weeks) getting a pro to help
especially for beginners is a good pick.
Stretched Canvas: Stores like Michael's crafts & Hobby Lobby
have the best selection of frames for stretched canvas already
made. You can bring your painting in when you purchase the frame
and have the framing department mount it in the frame for you. I
believe it's a free service if you buy the frame there.
Canvas boards: Painting with canvas boards is perfect for
beginners and established artists. They are about 1/3 the price of
stretched canvas and you can easily frame them your self. Buy any
photo frame, remove the glass (with gloves) and replace with your
canvas board painting. Submitted by: Jennifer Googins
have the best selection of frames for stretched canvas already
made. You can bring your painting in when you purchase the frame
and have the framing department mount it in the frame for you. I
believe it's a free service if you buy the frame there.
Canvas boards: Painting with canvas boards is perfect for
beginners and established artists. They are about 1/3 the price of
stretched canvas and you can easily frame them your self. Buy any
photo frame, remove the glass (with gloves) and replace with your
canvas board painting. Submitted by: Jennifer Googins
| Watercolor painting tips for beginners |
For beginning watercolor students: When painting large areas or large paintings pre mix your colors
in advance (puddles) and instead of using a palette use a regular kitchen muffin tin. That way your
colors are available and when you need them and you won’t get blooms, caused when the paint on
the paper is still quite damp, and a drop of water or pigment that is very wet, is dropped on the
surface. The excess water makes the pigment float to the edge of the puddle, creating a dark, jagged
line around it. Sometimes this is good! Usually it is an accident.
By Barbara Brodtmann Bay St. Louis, MS
in advance (puddles) and instead of using a palette use a regular kitchen muffin tin. That way your
colors are available and when you need them and you won’t get blooms, caused when the paint on
the paper is still quite damp, and a drop of water or pigment that is very wet, is dropped on the
surface. The excess water makes the pigment float to the edge of the puddle, creating a dark, jagged
line around it. Sometimes this is good! Usually it is an accident.
By Barbara Brodtmann Bay St. Louis, MS
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