Returning to art - advice needed on setting up basic painting studio

[StellaBlue]

Hey, everybody!

I used to paint. And do papier mache. And screenprinting. And pen and ink drawings. And other random art.

And I want to get back to it. I have only ever painted in acrylics and watercolors, but I would like to paint in oils.

My question is: what do I need (I am on a budget!) to set up a basic oil-painting studio? I have an easel, but that's it! And where can I get canvas in a small town in East Texas? Do those of you outside cities order stuff in or what? When I used to paint, I made my own canvases out of separately-bought canvas, gesso, and clear pine, but I don't have the hardware to do that now. No saws, etc.

Thanks for any input.

[cleofus1]

1. you seem to already have a working knowledge...

setting up a working studio is not cheap...how much space do you have?

well anyway...some spitball ideas and reflections...


get a mitre box if you can and get to making your own supports again, that is the way to go...but you knew that!

another thing i've seen is using a thick sheet of glass laid flat on a table to use as a palatte...if you have the space and a little cash that seemed to be perfect...

one kick ass brush...

i've never done it but some of my pals have and i think it really looks fantastic...when your oils have dried laquer/varnish your painting...either way oils do dry relatively slowly...so try to maintain a dust free environment for your "drying space"....



note this artists "favorite brush"

[wovenpaint]

2. Basic "core" colors to buy

If you need this list-these are the basic oil/acrylic colors I recommend to students for mixing-then you can buy the "extra colors" as you go along.

Titanium White (get large tube)
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Naples Yellow (optional)
Cadmium Red Light
Alizarin Crimson
Ultramarine Blue
Primary Blue
Pthalo Green (optional)
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
Mars Black (optional-brown and blue=black)

You'll need linseed oil and non-toxic "natural" turpentine to start
with for oil painting

Basic brushes-the Dollar stores have alot of these real cheap-don't forget your hardware paint dept, old toothbrushes, old knives, etc!
Good luck! I hope this helps. :hi:

[StellaBlue]

3. Great - thanks!

I am not going to really have a dedicated art space, unfortunately. It will be between dining room table (covered in plastic tarp) and balcony, for sunlight.

Those colors sound about right to me (familiar!).

I need to get the turpentine and that type of stuff... I will look at mitre clamps, etc. online to get an idea of prices. I would really prefer to stretch my own canvases. I HATE those board ones in 'art' shops. Egads!

[cleofus1]

4. just a reminder

many oils and ingrediants are highly toxic...at least i remember in my artists manual a whole section on oil paints and related stuff that will poison you...so be aware that clean up is very important if you are going to paint in the dining room...

[wovenpaint]

5. VERY good point!

Cobalts and Cadmium colors are VERY, VERY toxic. Read your labels.
Thanks for the reminder!

[cleofus1]

6. there is nothing worse in the whole wide world than

poisoning yerself...

once in a drunken stupor i cooked some potatoes in pine sol...i had gulped down about 1/4 of the plate before i realized that something was wrong...but that's another story...:dunce: