Painting Patterns Question

Nancy_G · #11 01-01-2007, 11:53 AM

Hi Jillsy -

First - no question ever sounds dumb... I sure wish my explanations did LOL.
My blocks and triangles aren't perfect but can look OK because I use a really good paint brush. I use the cheapie Loew-Cornell or anything low priced for all the blocking-in but when it's time to do the detailing I switch to Winsor-Newton series 7 (my favorite) Raphael or something GOOD.

And it's not dry brush ... it's just ~blush~ holding the carving with the thumb and last three fingers of my left hand and using tip of the index finger of that hand as the pallet for paint. I sure wish I could show you how I make certain the tip of the paint brush is perfect with its smooth amount wet paint.

And Dave is correct about "opaque" paint... you just can't see through it. It might even require two coats.

Painting by sight -- what "feels right TO YOU" IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. That's what originality is all about. Sure, you want to learn tricks of the trade and what's correct for the tools but your sight, what looks right to you, is vital.

Did I make any sense?

jillsy · #12 01-01-2007, 04:59 PM

Thanks, Nancy and Dave. Yes, it all makes sense and I'm definitely going to try it with the graph paper (although I still don't know how I'm going to wrap it around without sliding it!) I'm working on a Shawn Cipa Nativity and will try this with some of the garments and robes I think.

I did try making squares using tiny stencils, but as you can imagine, the plastic, although pliable, wouldn't bend well!

Dave, it's nice to see you've got brains to go with your beauty!

Jillsy

bygeorge · #13 01-01-2007, 05:55 PM

Nancy, is there a particular size you use for you detail? 3/0?

Chuck

Nancy_G · #14 01-01-2007, 05:57 PM

OK, OK -- I will admit that Dave IS much prettier than I am BUT I'm a heckuva' lot more talented !
Honest - the graph paper won't slide a bit. It will only be a couple "items" large so it's easy to hold in place and it will bend around arms, under arms and any place you need it to. It's transparent enough to line up perfectly with with the last transferred item.

I make certain everything is transferred in a straight line by, of course, drawing straight lines to follow. I set a pencil horizontally on top of, say a paint bottle on top of a piece of wood, and then turn the Santa in a circle holding the pencil point to make a perfect line around it. Make any sense? Need a photo of that?

jillsy · #15 01-01-2007, 08:12 PM

Yes, please, more photos please!

Nancy_G · #16 01-01-2007, 08:50 PM

Chuck - I lean on 0/3 but also buy any of the 0's that I find on sale. I have many dozen of the 0's up to 0/15. Dick Blick (www.dickblick.com is my favorite place to buy brushes. I just wait for sales and then buy all I can afford)

Jillsy -- I'll see if I can fake some photo settings. I have absolutely nothing in the works. I have such an ego ~blush again~ that I'm tickled to be asked for stuff.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #17 01-01-2007, 09:27 PM

doggone it, Nancy had to throw talent in there! Shes right, don't you hate when they are right?

AlArchie · #18 01-01-2007, 10:35 PM

I still say it's MAGIC! Way past talent.

Thanks, Nancy for the tips on painting, but you have to teach us the spell.

Al

Nancy_G · #19 01-01-2007, 11:28 PM

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww you guys are being nice to me 'cause I've had such a rotten year.
Bless your hearts.

I have cut out a fake Santa robe and I'm hacking at it now to show the magic of graph and tracing papers. I hope to have some photos tomorrow.

jillsy · #20 01-03-2007, 10:38 AM

Nancy, I just bought some graph paper! Ready when you are!!

Jillsy