Frequently Asked Painting Questions Part 1

1) What is the best type of brush to use for painting?  There are many kinds of brushes. Each one has a certain brush stroke.  You will need to experiment with the different types of brushes.  You can choose either sable hair, hog hair, camel hair, or synthetic.
 
2) Is a synthetic brush better than a natural hair brush?  This is all a matter of preference.  Some of the newer synthetic brushes last longer than the natural hair brush.

3) How can I choose a subject?  It is best to choose a subject which inspires you. Finding something to paint is not the problem.  Finding a subject you like will show in your work.

4) Should I do landscapes or portraits?  Some artists are better at portraits than landscapes.  They have the ability to capture the personality of the people they paint.  Other artists can paint a landscape which looks as if you are looking out a window.  Try one subject and then do another.  Determine which you enjoyed more.  Also look at them both objectively and choose which one you feel it better. This will help in your decision.

5) What is a still life portrait? A still life, by definition is any inanimate object. This can be a flower, a bowl of fruit, or even a paper clip. Learn still life painting.

6) Why should I take pictures of my subjects?  By taking a picture of your subject, you can will have a better view of the subject.  You can see it from varying angles.  You will be able to use the photographs as a reference when painting.  There are times when you may be painting a portrait and the model cannot stay for the entire session.  If you have photographed the subject, then you can continue to work.  Another property the camera can offer is the lighting effects.  You can see where the light falls and where the shadows are.  You will be amazed at what the camera can pick up that the naked eye does not notice. There are times when you may feel the subject is all wrong for the painting until you view it from a camera lens.

7) Is there a special brand of paint I should use?  Each brand of paint has it's own unique properties.  You can experiment with each one to determine which ones you prefer.  There is no one brand which will offer everything.  Some have more colors than others.  Some are more able to blend.  Dry times can be different as well.  When you find one brand that works for you, then you will know it.

8) How can I store my unused paints?  Acrylics do not store well after they have been put on the palette.  They tend to dry quickly.  There is one trick that can be done but the results vary.  You can cover the palette with plastic and freeze it. There are times this will work and times it will not.  For the oils, you can cover them with plastic as well.  You can also submerge them in water for later use.

9) What are the benefits of acrylic paints?  Acrylic paints have a quick drying time.  This means you can actually start, finish, and possibly frame a painting all in one day.  With oils it can take days for the paint to dry.  Acrylics can blend and mix just as well as the oil paints.  Some artists prefer the acrylics to the oils and vice versa.  The acrylics can also be built up.  This can actually give you an almost three dimensional look on the painting canvas.

10) Does it matter how thick I put the paint on the canvas?  You should never put more paint on a canvas than you need to.  The paint has to dry between layers or you could have problems with flaking and cracking.  The painting can be built up to generate the look you want.

11) Why did my painting crack?  The more paint you have on a canvas means the more space the paint has to cover.  As an artist layers paint on the rule of “fat over lean” applies.  This means the paint has more medium mixed in with it as each layer is added.  The addition of the oil makes the paint more flexible.  This means there is less chance of the painting cracking as it dries.

12) Is there a way to seal my painting after it is done?  When you have completed a painting you will want to seal it to make sure smoke, dust, and other foreign matter does not damage it.  You can varnish the painting.  You need to make sure the painting is completely cured before sealing.   Also, the varnish should be a very thin coat of clear varnish.  A thick coat can cause the paint to appear yellowed as time goes by.
 
13) Why don't my paintings look natural?  We see things in three dimensions.  The painting should reflect this.  In order to achieve this, as in a landscape, start with the background first.  This means the entire background, from the sky to the grass.  Then you would go in and add the mountains or distant tree line.  You always need to work from the back to the front to give the painting realism.

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