Espresso, anyone?

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Comment by Jessica Futerman on September 1, 2015 at 18:31

Thank you very much, Ningning!

Comment by Ningning Li on September 1, 2015 at 1:15

Jessica, Exlcellent work. One of your best. Vacation refresh us, isn't it?!  I love your negative painting of that"CAFFE" very much.

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 29, 2015 at 22:34

Thank you Sarah!

Comment by Sarah Bottjer on July 29, 2015 at 8:18

Lovely painting!

Comment by Jessica Futerman on July 29, 2015 at 7:09

Thanks Candi, Rubi & Michael for all the helpful comments & ideas.  I suspect the surface I paint on causes much of the problem.  Actually, I began using the same hog bristle brushes which Richard was using in his demos, and find they last reasonably well, since I don't leave them in water at all.  Will check out Stu's gesso recipe and see how that works and will look out for oil primed linen too.  The book sounds interesting too.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 29, 2015 at 3:01

Jessica, I do not know what substrate you use, but if you are using gesso or universal primed cotton canvas, it will have a tendency ....well more then a tendency ....to absorb the paint ...it will literally suck the oils from the paint into the fabric.  You might try getting a copy of "The Artist's Handbook of materials and techniques", by Ralph Mayer.  It is the "Bible" of technicality stuff.   Stu has a nice recipe for a gesso combo that does not absorb the paint ..actually works like an oil primed surface.  I like to use oil primed linen ..as it does not absorb like gesso ..the paint sits on top and the brush glides across the canvas .depositing a full load of paint with each stroke.   

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 29, 2015 at 2:46

Hi Candi, I would suggest you take them back ..hog bristles to not work with Water soluble paints ..well they do do a point  ...but the constant use of water will make them go limp and useless ..better to get a very good synthetic brushes..the kind artists use for acrylics.  BTW everyone, brushes are probably the last  thing we should not underestimate ..get the very best and try different kinds to see which one fits your style ...I like to use bristle Flats ...the longer the hairs, the better.  I have recently been using a blend of synthetic and hog ...anyway, experiment what works for you and stick with it. 

Comment by Candi Hogan on July 29, 2015 at 2:26

Hi Michael!  Well, I have two brushes that came with the Cobra set, they work pretty well, but are small.  Then I have about 50 various brushes that I go crazy choosing from!  Wish I could find the perfect brushes, and get my choices down considerably.  Just picked up a few new ones - Connoisseur black and white hog bristles, because I am doing a plein air workshop in  October in Abiquiu  ( where Georgia O'Keefe painted).  The workshop is conducted by Saim Caglayan, a Hawaii artist, and he had hog bristle brushes on his supply list.  Guess I'll take them back, I haven't used them yet.

Comment by Michael J. Severin on July 29, 2015 at 1:53

Hi Candi.  What kind of brushes do you use with your WS paints?  With Water Soluble, it is best to use synthetic bristle brushes.  Ruby, what do you mean when you say that you Gesso  your canvas before painting ..what primer does your canvas have on it before you gesso it?  (hey, this is weird ..my word checker does not recognize ..Gesso ..the alternative it gave me was .....Gestapo). 

Comment by Candi Hogan on July 29, 2015 at 0:36

Love your palette Jessica!!!  Looks so inviting, wish I were there and could go in for a bit!

  I'm having the same experience that you are Jessica.  I find that my WS Oils don't seem to flow like oils, they kind of drag and get hung up on the canvas.   Always finding little spots on my paintings that are bare that I have to touch up.  Maybe it's the brushes we are using with them?!

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