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Frequently Asked Questions
Miscellaneous Questions I
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1. Can I sign my name to a painting although I painted it from an art book, video, or photograph of a painting? Can I use a pseudonym to sign my paintings? | |
You can sign your name to a painting as long as it is not an exact copy of another artist's artwork. You cannot use a pseudonym on original works of art. It is best if you name them or at least catalog your work with a numbering system and description. |
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2. What easel does Jerry use? | |
An aluminum easel - Stanrite #500 (make sure you get the 500, the legs are sturdier) |
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3. What type of varnish do you use? My varnish has become very thick. Can I thin it? | |
You can use a variety of varnishes. Damar picture varnish is good and so is Liquin varnish. Make sure you use a varnish that is applicable to your medium - acrylic varnish for acrylic paintings and oil varnish for oil paintings. You can purchase a spray or a liquid varnish depending on your preference.
For oil varnish, you can thin a thick liquid varnish with turpentine to breakdown the thickness. Add small amounts of turpentine and mix thoroughly before you apply the thinned varnish to your painting. |
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4. When can I varnish my painting? | |
For oils, you need to wait 3 to 6 months for light texture. For heavily textured oil paintings, wait 6 to 8 months before applying a varnish. One or two coats of varnish are sufficient for oil paintings.
For acrylics, you need only to wait about one hour after completing your painting. You will also apply one or two coats. A varnish is not necessary for acrylic paintings because they are self-sealing, but a varnish gives acrylics the shiny look of oils. |
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5 What is Jerry talking about when he refers to a 3-in-1 lens on his camera? | |
This particular lens (usually a 28-80mm lens or a 20-200mm lens) will allow you to zoom in on your subjects and also gives you a wide angle. |
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6. How do I start marketing and selling my work? | |
Joining your local art club is a great place to start. They usually have monthly or quarterly meetings which will give you access to art resources in your area. They may have a couple of showings a year and the yearly fees are usually very affordable.
You can also post your own website over the Internet. You can reach many more interested persons than you can locally. Post your website address on search engines to increase your market potential. |
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7. What are artist glasses? | |
Artist glasses are designed to help an artist focus on the palette while mixing and then have the same focus as you move to the canvas. While they are much like bifocals, they are specifically designed to have a larger field of vision in the two lenses. I use a pair of trifocals that I had made just for painting. |
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8. How can I get prints made of my original works of art? | |
You need to look for companies in your area that do digital scans or Giclee prints of fine art. These are copies made from any form of artwork - the original, slides or transparencies are used. Your artwork or pictures are scanned on a computer and usually filed on a CD. A digitized copy of your work will allow you to make various size copies of your artwork but will never change the original. Go to www.fineprintimaging.com for additional information on the process. |
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9. Can you reuse a canvas? | |
A canvas can be reused many times. If your painted surface is rough, you will need to lightly sandpaper your canvas to remove the rough edges. Wipe of any residue before you apply a thick layer of gesso. You may need to apply more than one coat of gesso before it will completely cover the painted surface. Allow the gesso to dry completely before beginning a new painting. You can use this technique on acrylics and oils. |
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10. Is there a problem with copyright or patent infringement if you add a can of Pepsi to a still life or have done a portrait from the cover of a magazine? | |
Any time you use a product that has a patent or a published photograph that has a copyright in your painting it is an infringement and a copyright violation. You must first get permission before you use copyrighted or patented materials in your paintings. If you profit from your artwork, you can be subject to a lawsuit. This same rule applies to items that are licensed - logos and company trademarks for example. |
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11. How can I remove varnish from a painting? | |
Removing varnish is tricky. The best approach for an acrylic painting would be to use fine sandpaper. Lightly go over the painting's surface with the fine-grain sandpaper. Wipe off the varnish dust with a damp cotton rag. After you remove the varnish, you will be able to re-paint on the surface.
If you are removing a varnish from an oil painting, lightly sand the painting's surface. Then, take turpentine and rub the background to clean the surface. Then, re-paint as normal. There are chemicals available for removing varnishes but they are expensive and mostly used by museums. |
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12. Does gesso crack with time? | |
Since Acrylic gesso has been in use for 40 years there has never been any evidence of it cracking or turning yellow. With the acrylic base, it is flexible which allows the canvas to contract and expand. I have spoken to several chemists and they all agree that the acrylic gesso will probably outlast oil gesso 10 to 1. Oil gesso will crack over time and turn yellow. |
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13. I love to draw, but painting really is not my strong suit and I prefer sketching. How can I receive the training I need to work as an illustrator? | |
It is much easier to find work as an illustrator than as a fine-art artist. To achieve your goals, you need to take about 6 to 12 months of good basic, intermediate and advanced drawing classes. It is crucial to become proficient in rendering in ink, pencil and gouache (an illustrators medium that is very forgiving). There are many art schools that specialize in these areas and a private instructor would be most helpful. You can contact a successful commercial studio in your area to inquire about private instructors and/or recommended schools. |
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15. How can I keep mold from growing inside my Sta-wet palette saver? | |
You can stop mold from growing in your palette by putting a sugar cube in a small plastic container and, in another container, put cotton balls with a small amount of vinegar then place both containers in your palette. This should eliminate mold from growing in it for days. |
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16. How do you feel about using gels and retarders? | |
I cannot recommend a particular gel or retarder. I am not a big fan of any gels or retarders because they weaken the pigment of your paint. |
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17. What type of art sells the best? I am starting to do oil paintings and would like your suggestions. | |
If you want to sell, you must paint what the public wants - usually a trend. Look at the Thomas Kincaid success story. Now you need to have lots of color, flower gardens, pathways, and extreme light to create drama. You should keep your paintings light, cheerful, and colorful. Sell under $500.00 and you should do well. |
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18. How does one go about getting a gallery to show your work? | |
Send them a sleeve of good quality slides of a variety of your work. You can also rent space in some galleries. Be prepared to pay high commissions. |
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19. Are arts & craft shows worthwhile? | |
Only if you sell work less than $500.00. You can spend up to $1000.00 for your display in these shows. |
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20. I am thinking about submitting my artwork to a gallery that requires a representation fee of $1850.00. What do you know about these types of galleries? | |
These types of galleries are nice and have professional, experienced employees. Unfortunately, they make most of their money from the artists. If they do sell any of your artwork, they normally charge a high commission as well. I suggest that you stay away from fee galleries and stick with galleries that charge a commission if they sell your artwork. |
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21. Should one be able to see the texture (waffle or weave) of the canvas showing through to the surface of the painting, or is this considered an inferior application of medium by the painter? | |
It is very desirable to be able to see the texture of the canvas below your painting. You just do not want to see the white canvas showing through a missed area or a thin layer of paint. |
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22 Does having brush hair left in a painting diminish its quality or value in general? | |
Do not pick off brush hair or any other debris on the painting once you have completed the painting. During the painting process, you can rub these hairs off the canvas easily. Removing these items once the painting is completed will damage the finish of the painting. Go to a museum and look at the master's work. You will find brush hairs and other debris throughout the painting. |
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23. I noticed that on the television series Jerry is mixing on glass. Why does he use this instead of the palette paper and sponge? | |
Jerry uses both glass and palette paper with sponge. He prefers to use glass because he likes the discolored palette saver to show through the glass. He claims this helps him achieve the correct values when mixing his paints. In addition, the glass is more durable and easy to clean by misting it with water and scraping it off with a razor blade. In place of the paper, fold paper towels lengthwise, soak with water, and lay your acrylic paints on top. |
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24. I sketched in a subject and tried to wipe off the charcoal with a damp paper towel. It would not come off. How can I remove charcoal sketches from my painting? | |
First, you need to use #2 soft vine charcoal when making your sketch, and you only want to make a suggestion of your object -- no dark shades or hard lines. If you cannot remove the charcoal with a damp paper towel, then you need to use a mixture of denatured alcohol and water. Make sure the alcohol is diluted and wipe with a clean soft cloth. |
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25. Do you need to be proficient in drawing to become a good painter? | |
Depending on the type of art you do, painting and drawing can be as unrelated as night and day. On the other hand, your painting is only as good as your drawing. If you are a realist and love doing birds, animals, people, etc., an accurate knowledge of drawing is necessary. Not that you need to draw the object, but you must be able to accurately render the objects with your brush. If you are unable to do that, your painting will be out of proportion. On the other hand, if you are a modern or impressionistic artist you work with color, form and composition. Drawing is not important. |
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26 Do you ever use a toned canvas and what are your thoughts on this? | |
I have used a toned canvas on occasion. Most landscape artists do not use a toned canvas. However, portrait, still life, and figure artists often use them. I do not object to them, it is more of a matter of choice. I have used toned canvas when I did many wildlife close-ups. |
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27. Where is the best place to sign your work, and does color matter? | |
Color does matter. It is best to sign your name in the compliment or form of the compliment of the overall color scheme. The signature can be used to fill a void, like an eye stopper instead of a weed in the corner of the painting. However, your signature should not overpower the painting. If it is the first thing you notice when you look at a painting then you know you have overdone the signature. Also, never sign your painting at an angle. This will appear that you have cut off the corner of the painting. |
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29. Are there any rules of thumb or recommendations regarding whether it is better to stand or sit in front of the easel and what height the easel should be? | |
Sitting or standing varies from one artist to another and depends what each individual artist prefers. It can be a combination of both. You must find your most comfortable position when painting. Whichever position you choose, your eyes should be level with the center of your canvas. |
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30. I read how reds will fade with exposure to light. Should I switch from alizarin crimson to quinacridone red instead? | |
You should change only if the crimson is exposed to consistent sunlight. All reds, especially alizarin crimson, fade more quickly when exposed to sunlight. You really would not need to change the paint, just don't hang the artwork in direct-sunlight areas. |
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