I love to paint …. just for the pure joy of trying to create something that has beauty. Canvasses, glass bottles, pots ….. whatever. If i feel the flow I paint
When i create, i like having everything at arm’s distance so that I’m in the flow. And yet earlier, I used to find myself getting up ever so often to clean brushes, refill the water, clean my palette while changing from darker to lighter colours. Let’s not forget the mess on the floor that mom would look at
I find the effort of constant interruptions annoying.
what’s more annoying is that the palettes & containers start looking shabbier with every session of painting and storing them is an issue.
Also, I’m a big fan of recycling so I prefer to reuse something before discarding it.
here’s what really helps me whenever I sit down to paint:
1) Put lots of newspaper in and around you while working. Brushes have a habit of leaking, bottles like to overturn unexpectedly and canvasses simply fall over flat. If you don’t want to be yelled at, the old newspaper will save you.
2) Use thermocol / plastic glasses (used for serving soft drinks) to hold water for cleaning brushes. If you can recycle a few after a party, you’d be helping the environment. Dispose them once you’re done
Another really easy, disposable container is a soft-drink / mineral water bottle cut in half. If you’re going to keep long brushes standing in the water while painting, this is a pretty cool help
3) Wash brushes before storing, with soap water. Whether you’re working with oil colours or acrylics, the brushes harden if not washed properly. Turpentine is the right way, but not everyone likes the smell. Plus it’s expensive these days. I have started cleaning my brushes with a little detergent powder & liquid soap. Works really well and the brushes retain their softness!
You can choose to keep a glass of soapy water at hand so that you don’t have to get up between changes
4) Recycle Old bottle caps & tea-light containers. Use them to mix colours while creating shades and tones.
I have stopped investing in plastic r wooden palettes for years now. I don’t have to keep cleaning the palette if the shade is not right. Also, I don’t have to use the bottle cap of the existing paints to experiment!
I dispose them once I’m done. My helper sells off these used ones to the raddiwala, so everyone’s happy
5) Old t-shirts as rag-cloths. This one’s an “old as the hills” suggestion
but, a reminder nonetheless. Clothes that you’ve worn enough should be given away to someone who could use them still.
But sometimes these clothes, especially t-shirts & p’jamas are too shabby to give away. Cut them into big squares and stock them as rag-clothes. Siblings should be requested to donate to this worthwhile cause !!
When you wind up, dump the disposables in some of the newspaper and trash it.
6) Once you wash your hands, do try and moisturise them with cream, vaseline or even coconut oil. The colours we generally use are not known to be toodamaging to the skin, but they are chemicals after all. They do tend to dry our hands, so it’s good to be gentle to ourselves even as we create
I hope these suggestions will add some simplicity & ease while all you awesome artists continue to create
When i create, i like having everything at arm’s distance so that I’m in the flow. And yet earlier, I used to find myself getting up ever so often to clean brushes, refill the water, clean my palette while changing from darker to lighter colours. Let’s not forget the mess on the floor that mom would look at
I find the effort of constant interruptions annoying.
what’s more annoying is that the palettes & containers start looking shabbier with every session of painting and storing them is an issue.
Also, I’m a big fan of recycling so I prefer to reuse something before discarding it.
here’s what really helps me whenever I sit down to paint:
1) Put lots of newspaper in and around you while working. Brushes have a habit of leaking, bottles like to overturn unexpectedly and canvasses simply fall over flat. If you don’t want to be yelled at, the old newspaper will save you.
2) Use thermocol / plastic glasses (used for serving soft drinks) to hold water for cleaning brushes. If you can recycle a few after a party, you’d be helping the environment. Dispose them once you’re done
Another really easy, disposable container is a soft-drink / mineral water bottle cut in half. If you’re going to keep long brushes standing in the water while painting, this is a pretty cool help
3) Wash brushes before storing, with soap water. Whether you’re working with oil colours or acrylics, the brushes harden if not washed properly. Turpentine is the right way, but not everyone likes the smell. Plus it’s expensive these days. I have started cleaning my brushes with a little detergent powder & liquid soap. Works really well and the brushes retain their softness!
You can choose to keep a glass of soapy water at hand so that you don’t have to get up between changes
4) Recycle Old bottle caps & tea-light containers. Use them to mix colours while creating shades and tones.
I have stopped investing in plastic r wooden palettes for years now. I don’t have to keep cleaning the palette if the shade is not right. Also, I don’t have to use the bottle cap of the existing paints to experiment!
I dispose them once I’m done. My helper sells off these used ones to the raddiwala, so everyone’s happy
5) Old t-shirts as rag-cloths. This one’s an “old as the hills” suggestion
but, a reminder nonetheless. Clothes that you’ve worn enough should be given away to someone who could use them still.
But sometimes these clothes, especially t-shirts & p’jamas are too shabby to give away. Cut them into big squares and stock them as rag-clothes. Siblings should be requested to donate to this worthwhile cause !!
When you wind up, dump the disposables in some of the newspaper and trash it.
6) Once you wash your hands, do try and moisturise them with cream, vaseline or even coconut oil. The colours we generally use are not known to be toodamaging to the skin, but they are chemicals after all. They do tend to dry our hands, so it’s good to be gentle to ourselves even as we create
I hope these suggestions will add some simplicity & ease while all you awesome artists continue to create