Artist Toolbox: Painting Tools & Materials

A practical guide to paints, brushes, palettes and more

,

• Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781600582431
• eBook ISBN: 9781633224568
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Art Techniques

Artist Toolbox: Painting Tools & Materials is an easy-to-use guide which focuses on teaching you the fundamentals of working with paint and the tools that come with it.

In Artist Toolbox: Painting Tools & Materials, artists will discover the important differences in brush styles, sizes, shapes, and types; how each brush is used to create different types of strokes; and how different types of brushes interact with various paints and supports.

You will learn how to properly load brushes with paint, how to shape brushes to create specific strokes and effects, when to choose synthetic hair over natural hair, and much more. Experienced art instructors focus on the key concepts and practical aspects of working with specific tools, materials, and mediums to impart a complete understanding for those seeking to learn the fundamentals of painting.

The Artist Toolbox series provides easy-to-use reference guides for beginning and aspiring artists. While many instructional art books gloss over important concepts, focusing instead on how to replicate a piece of art, the Artist Toolbox series breaks down the whats, whens, whys, and hows of each relevant tool or technique, clearly demonstrating its purpose and how to employ it to achieve your desired effects.

CHAPTER 1: Studio & Storage

An efficient studio or workspace can make all the difference for an artist. A well-designed space can help you stay organized, tidy, and comfortable—and it can simplify the artistic process by providing good lighting and effective working surfaces. A studio doesn’t have to be its own room; you can create a workspace anywhere in your home or garage. This chapter covers the following topics:

• Easels and Working Surfaces

• Tool and Equipment Storage

• Lighting and Comfort

• Studio Safety

EASELS & WORKING SURFACES

Your working surface should depend on your chosen medium. For artists working in watercolor, a flat or slightly tilted surface works best, whereas easels are the traditional choice when working in oil or acrylic.

SURFACES FOR WATERCOLOR

Watercolor artists often work on flat, smooth surfaces, such as tables or simple desks. Some choose to work on craft or drafting tables, which allow users to tilt the surface to varying degrees. (However, watercolor artists avoid steeply angled surfaces to prevent unwanted drips and runs.) Drafting tables are often made of wood, composite wood, or tempered glass and have ledges or compartments for holding art materials. Many also feature wheeled legs and drawers for storing supplies.

Shown above is one option of many craft tables available from Martin Universal Design.

STUDIO EASELS

Studio easels are sturdy, freestanding canvas supports. Traditionally they are made of wood, but you can also find lighter-weight metal varieties. Studio easels often fold flat so you can tuck them away into a corner of the studio if needed.

An A-frame easel is perhaps the most common format. The main frame, shaped loosely like an “A,” is supported by a third leg.

An H-frame easel is a classic format that can support large canvases. A tiltable main frame is anchored to a small base.

PORTABLE EASELS

Also called a French easel, a box easel is a great option for artists who work outdoors. This portable unit collapses into a compact box and features a handle for easy toting. The easel has three adjustable legs supporting a wooden box that holds materials; the lid serves as a tiltable canvas support with a ledge.

Box easel, closed and ready for traveling

Box easel, open and ready for painting

TABLETOP EASELS

This type of easel sits atop any flat surface and holds your work upright as you paint. They are usually mini H-frames or mini A-frames in format. Tabletop easels are sometimes used to display finished artwork on desks or countertops.

Box-style tabletop easel

Standard H-frame tabletop easel

TOOL & EQUIPMENT STORAGE

Keep your materials organized and easy to access using some of the storage options shown on the following two pages. This will not only help your efficiency as an artist, but it will help you keep your working surfaces free of clutter so you can move freely and focus on painting.

TABORET

A taboret is a small storage unit with cupboards, drawers, trays, or shelves for holding art materials. Taborets can double as tabletops; artists can use them to support a palette, brushes, and mediums while painting.

A taboret includes several compartments in a compact space. The unit often fe...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Studio & Storage
• Chapter 2: Paints & Mediums
• Chapter 3: Brushes & Techniques
• Chapter 4: Painting Concepts
• Chapter 5: Demonstrations
• Copyright