It's fascinating looking at the things people have been searching for on this site. Here are a few questions that caught my attention this week (along with some answers):
• "Is brown a color?"
Yes, brown is a color you're thinking of pigment colors. No, if you're using the names of the colors in a rainbow.
• "What do you get if you mix white and yellow?"
A lighter yellow. Or if there's far more white than yellow, the kind of off-white that in DIY paints would be called something like "hint of buttercup" or "touch of sunshine".
• "Do I have to put gesso on for acrylic paint?"
No, you can paint on raw canvas or unprimed paper with acrylics.
• "Can I oil paint over thick acrylic paint?"
Yes, but be sure the acrylic has dried completely not only surface dry, and isn't too glossy to ensure you don't have adhesion problems.
• "How do I create a lasting impression in my painting?"
You need to create an emotional response in the viewer, something that stops them for a moment and makes them engage with it. It's not something that can easily be pinned down, but you know it when you see it. Study the paintings you think have impact, and try to figure out why. Then adapt it for your own work.
• "Monet, the waterlily pond, size of painting?"
Impossible to answer without knowing which of his many waterlily paintings you mean. Some are arms length, those in the Orangerie in Paris are room length.
• "Who was Theodore van Goth?"
I think you mean Van Gogh. He was brother to the famous painter Vincent van Gogh and a successful art dealer in Paris. He supported Vincent financially and emotionally for years.
• "You do like painting?"
Yes. Very much so.
• "In disgrace"
Sorry, you've got me there. Need a few more clues.
Comments
I really like the Q&A very much and hope to see more of these. thank you for all that you do to keep us informed and interested.
I was going to do an oil painting of some Californian Poppies. I drew with an ordinary HB pencil but when I paint, the pencil shows through.
Should I be using a different pencil as I feel that I must have some sort of guideline before I start? Can you please help me? The paints I am using are called “Flying Eagle” and “Maries Paints” both are made in China, would this be a problem?
Many thanks.
Jeanette
If the pencil’s showing through, then the paint is quite transparent. Try making a lighter drawing — an HB is fine, just don’t press hard with it, or go over it with an eraser afterwards to lighten it. Mixing a little white into the initial layer of colour might help hide the pencil — white usually being the most opaque colour in any brand.