ARTIST’S HINTS AND TIPS

• To save in drying time, when using both acrylic and oil paints, paint background material with acrylic paint so that each stage can be completed more quickly, then paint in detail with oils for the final result. Remember the simple rule that oil floats on water and never try to put acrylic over oil.

• When applying paint I find that more is usually better than less. One of the beauties of painting is that if it doesn’t look right it can be painted over. It is necessary however to usually leave a smooth surface on which to paint the next layer. Sometimes in certain situations however, thicker applications provide more of a 3D effect that can be effective.

• As I don’t have much natural talent in the drawing department I use photographs as a major reference in my painting. I usually print out photographs large enough to see all the detail I need and usually use a 5 inch x 7 inch size.

• First of all, if I find something I would like to paint, a photograph instantly and permanently captures the subject as it is at the moment of my attraction to it. In that capture are the details of symmetry, proportion, colour, light and shade and all the other nuances that made the attraction in the first place.

• As well as this I can then very easily, with a ruler and simple mathematics, scale up the drawing to suit the size of my canvas. At times, if necessary, it is also helpful to used scaled grid lines to assist in the drawing process.

• Don’t let paint dry on brushes, clean and wash them regularly and often, and they will last a lot longer.

• I usually prefer to use nylon brushes as I find they assist me in achieving a smoother finish when needed and also make it easier to manage finer and more detailed work.