Creating Dark Green

John Singer Sargent used dark green backgrounds in several of his paintings to great affect.  An example would be "Lily, Lily, Rose". 

One way to create a wonderful dark green is not to add black to a mid-value green.  Instead, adding red creates a much richer dark green. 

When trying to get a dark green over an entire canvas, costs can be reduced by using large containers of  Winsor and Newton's Galleria paints.  Dark green can be created by mixing their "permanent green deep" with their "crimson".  the depth of the green can be controlled by the amount of green added.  When the two colors are mixed in roughly equal amounts, they create charcoal gray; so more green than red makes the mix greener.

When applying a complimentary color base, it is a good idea to have a color wheel handy. The one I use is pictured at the right. 12 colors on the wheels allows for more precision in obtaining actual compliments; and the closer the two colors are to being actual compliments of each other, the more the colors will vibrate visually.

Recycled Trash

Throughout my studio, I rely on trash. I use plastic tubs from yogurt, yummy Cool Whip, butter, etc. to store paints, as water bowls, as a table-top trash cans. In fact, there seems to be endless uses for the various plastic tubs we get containing food.

Some years ago, I also discovered that the plastic cups containing Del Monte fruits are wonderful
to use as "small palettes". The cups have ridges along the sides that can be used to "squeegee" the excess paint from a brush. I sue these for color blending and as single color palettes.

Artist's Board

My father was an A.W.S. watercolorist. I remember him soaking his paper, then using paper tape to stretch it across a board. He finally got to paint once the paper was completely dry.

I was amazed in my first class with Eleanor Cox when she used artist's tape to attach fresh paper (un-soaked) straight to a thick foam board called Gator Board. This thick white foam board with a plasticized surface comes under different brand names, one of which is Elmer's brand. It is lightweight and waterproof. Paper can be attached with tape or staples or push pins. Here is a link to the artist's board offered by Dick Blick: http://www.dickblick.com/products/incredible-art-board/

I have begun to use it for virtually everything. I watercolor or paint with pastels or use gouache on it. I usually staple the paper to it as this allows a person to work to the edge.

Recently, I have covered the edges of the board underneath the paper with artist's tape. This eliminates much clean up and helps preserve the board (which is not inexpensive).

Give this board a try. I believe you will find it worth the price.

Cheap Meatloaf Pans

I tried doing the paintings on my drawing table but the pastel would collect. So I decided to paint standing at an easel. I stapled the pastel paper (typically Stonehenge) to artist's board, and then placed it in the easel. The easel tray collects most of the dust, but as the painting sticks out on both sides past the easel tray, I decided to attach cheap aluminum meatloaf pans to collect the dust. In order to get the pans stable, I have taped them to a t-square that is taped to the easel. This easy system works extremely well, leaving little dust collecting on the paper as I paint.