February 19 2023, 22:54

Gradually (almost finished) my tenth attempt at oil painting. In this post, however, I want to talk about some automation and equipment for my (non)working space.

I finally moved from the garage to the study since I learned to paint without getting paint on my clothes and surrounding objects. It took some time to grasp these nuances.

About the contraption with the light bulb and the phone holder — see my next post. It’s my invention for transferring the sketch onto the canvas. Briefly, the phone captures the canvas, sends it to the computer where it aligns with the original, and on the screen, I see my hand with the brush, the result, and the reference. I’m not sure if I will use it often, but I tried it with oranges. I’ll discuss the pros and cons of this “invention” in the next post. I could do it here, but unfortunately, Facebook no longer allows adding videos and photos to a single post. And there is a video there.

Paints — WINSOR&NEWTON, bristle brushes from Amazon, some random set, Gamblin NEO-Megilp oil, Gamblin Gamsol solvent, rags (this turned out to be very important) – a roll of 72 microfiber pieces, a box for the palette with a tightly sealing lid – Masterson Palette Seal, and the palette itself – just a piece of glass. I bought a picture frame of the right size for 12 dollars and took the glass out of it. The presence of a rubber lid allows reusing paints even a week later. I converted the frame itself for transporting wet canvases, which deserves a separate discussion. I couldn’t find a “store-bought” solution for this. The solution is simple – a “picture frame” of the suitable size with a minor modification – the front part is covered with plywood. And you can transport a wet canvas without the risk of smudging.

Oh, about the miscellany I have not yet finished… It’s useful to have a hermetic container for washing brushes. Then the Gamsol is used more slowly. Yes, a spatula is also needed to clean the glass palette. Canvases are still a consumable material. I think that’s it. Well, you might also want to keep a roll of paper towels nearby.