While it's cheaper per milliliter (or fluid ounce) to buy paint in big tubes rather than small, I find I frequently squeeze out more than I need from a large tube. I think it's because I judge the quantity by the length of the 'sausage' that's squeezed out, forgetting the diameter is wider.

Maybe the solution is to have all the tubes big ones? The other answer is, of course, to pay more attention to what I'm doing, but often I'm "just quickly" grabbing another bit of paint and my focus is on the painting not the paint.

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I've put together a step-by-step demo of one of the two painting ideas I mentioned last week. It has its origins in a stand of tall trees, and ends up as a painting inspired by landscape rather than a landscape painting. Take a look...

See Also: All my articles on painting trees

^{Image © 2012 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Derwent's current competition is to win one of 30 special edition Union Jack tins containing 12 soft graphite pencils. Be great for sketching and mixed media! Enter competition here...

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There's always impatient anticipation waiting for a new model to turn up at a life-painting session. What will they be like? What type of poses will they propose? Pencils out, paper ready...

See Also:
• Tips on Working with Life Models
• Quotes From Artists On Their Models
• What Makes a Life Model a Good One?

^{Image: © Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc}