Oil pastels that are made with pure pigments and oil last the longest and they don’t have an expiry date. That means oil pastels never expire or go bad. Many people have found these high quality oil pastels still draw just as good decades as they did when they were first made. I have some…
You can make your own charcoal fixative alternative using white shellac with isopropyl alcohol (I have the ratios listed further below) and you can apply it with a spray bottle or atomizer. Alternatively, you can use framing, laminating or protective glassine sheets. Make Your Own Charcoal Fixative You can mix your own charcoal fixative alternative…
Can you paint over varnished canvas to repair your painting? Well, the answer is ”it depends.” Let me clarify below. If you applied an acrylic, water-based varnish, or sealing medium, you can paint over it. If it’s a glossy varnish, I recommend sanding it lightly to remove the shiny surface. Then just paint with your…
Cigarette smoke is hugely damaging for any artwork even for a durable medium such as acrylic paint. All it takes to clean an acrylic painting from cigarette smoke is cotton wool, or buds, some bread and various types of solvents such as white vinegar or dishwashing detergents that are suitable for acrylic paints. Below are…
Removing the effects of cigarette smoke from an oil painting is straightforward and easy, but you need to take care to avoid removing the varnish and paint layer. You will need to use some household items such as a toothbrush, paintbrush, cotton wool, and even soft bread. You will also need some basic cleaning products…
I’ve found after of years of working with wax pastels and oil pastels, that there are many similarities between them. But there are also several differences which makes them both unique and suitable for specific styles of art. So when it comes to wax pastels vs oil pastels what are are we comparing? Wax pastels…
There’s a lot of confusion about dip pen vs fountain pen. You might think they’re the same thing, but they have several differences. When comparing dip pens with fountain pens these are the key summarized differences: Scenarios When To Use Each When I’m practicing my cartooning techniques, I prefer a dip pen. It allows me…
The best paper for dip pens needs to be smooth, or the dip pen nibs will scratch and rip any rough papers that have ‘tooth’ or rough fibers. When we need to find the best paper for dip pens, no matter what brand it is, the paper needs to be smooth. Smooth Bristol Paper Bristol…
In my experience, the best glue for watercolor paper is the same stuff you would use for making collage art. This would be a heavy acrylic gel medium. These are usually acid free. Heavy Acrylic Gel Medium: this gives me the best results when mounting my finished watercolor paper on an art board or wood…
Most paints are made using Gum Arabic but what do you do if you’re making your own paints and don’t have any gum arabic? You have to learn how to make paint binder without gum arabic. All you need is xanthan gum, glycerin and some water. You can even follow the ancient Egyptians and use…
When I frame my pastels behind glass, I use only acid-free materials to preserve the painting and for a professional-looking presentation. I know what you’re saying, “Glass and framing is super expensive” but guess what, I have 3 money saving hacks artists can use when it comes to framing pastels without glass. 3 Money Saving…
There is a big difference between a vanity art gallery and an authentic traditional art gallery. Legitimate traditional galleries make their profits from the sales of art. Vanity galleries make their profit from upfront fees that are paid by artists to show in them. In this post I will cover what a vanity gallery is…