 Some painters prefer prepared board over canvas for its rigid, smooth surface and durability. Board allows finer detail, cleaner edges, and less texture interference than stretched fabric. Oil paint often behaves more predictably on panel surfaces, especially for glazing and precise brushwork. Properly prepared boards can resist warping and last for centuries.... Because hundreds of years from now, people will surely want to see your paintings! If you haven't painted on board yet, try it out to expand your experience of painting surfaces. Find on Amazon.  Personally I paint on both, however, when painting smaller pieces I often prefer board because you can get more refined edges and textures. But not so fast... Board requires that it be primed with Gesso (pronounced "Jess-O"). Three coats, with very light sanding between coats. This primer is the same that is used on canvas. It enables the oil paint to adhere firmly, and seals the wood protecting the painting from oils and impurities that may be in the wood. Buy the smallest amount (8oz), found on Amazon.  Learn lots of stuff about painting on board and displaying it here:
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” — Pablo Picasso
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  Developing your painting style Paint on most days. Developing your painting style by painting a variety of subjects: interiors, landscapes, mountains, oceans, pets, people—whatever subject is at hand. Paint subjects that inspire your curiosity. By giving yourself these painting challenges, you continue growing and learning as an artist, and this becomes the foundation for your own painting style, which will eventually emerge. Regular engagement with your painting practice is the best way to develop your own artistic style. Developing an Artistic Eye Your painting style is how you apply paint, but developing an artistic eye is about how you see the world. Developing your artistic eye is the same as developing your artistic voice. It’s easy to notice a beautiful landscape or flower, but the artistic eye goes beyond that. Our days are full of the busyness of life, but to develop an artistic eye, we must slow down enough to take the time to truly see. Every day we look at things, but we don’t really see them because they are not essential to accomplishing whatever tasks have gained our attention. To develop an artistic eye, however, we must sometimes let go of those tasks and enjoy seeing the world for no other reason than the pleasure of seeing. This requires moving more slowly and cultivating mental stillness.  Look for things in the world that are beautiful. Allow yourself to broaden your understanding of what beauty is. Some things we see may not be beautiful in the conventional sense, but may instead be interesting because their shapes, colors, or textures are unusual and captivating.
Notice how light falls across your kitchen counter. Observe the colors, light, and shadows on the face of the person speaking to you. Observe reflections of people and objects in windows, along with their shapes and colors. Look at a wet street and see it as a painting in your mind. Practice this daily. This does not mean you have to paint everything you see; you only need to practice seeing it. This practice builds your “visual vocabulary,” the storehouse of visual impressions that accumulates in your mind over time. It requires no effort other than giving the things you see your attention for a moment. Over time, your unique way of observing the world will naturally find its way into your artwork. |
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Patrick Howe, Artist, Author and Educator Seattle, WA. Contact: [email protected] |
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