I thought I would take a moment to share with you some of the materials I use most often while painting. They’ve really helped improve my practice.
What tools do you use while working? IĀ would really like to know!
51 Comments
Hi! Iām
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, Iāve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
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Thanks for sharing! I do enjoy seeing what materials other artists use. I save styrofoam food trays to paint on and use wax paper to cover areas. I currently PAINT in my dining room so I try to utilize small items.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d1958673d191e5f5edf88e37fae8186ca35e43e7ed00d0229d7583d4119078e8.jpg I use 9×12 cookie sheets from the dollar store as a palettes.
They fit inside a Masterson palette box with a snap lid that seals.
Damn that looks nice and used! Great idea..
Good Morning,
I’ve worked a lot with fabric, beads, ribbons, and cut paper to create mixed media illustrations. However I am now working digitally and also in colored pencils in my sketchbooks. Here is an example of a recent page of art journaling. Thanks so much for your video. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bba26bcc05da7fef2fa7e5b24d7c843a7d285c40149dffb0264a91b622afcf1e.jpg
cool…kind of aztec…
Inspiration from visiting Native American Pueblos in New Mexico
Enjoyed your thoughts on materials. I never thought to use the masking paper for transfers. Great idea! I bought mine very inexpensively from Harbor Freight. You are the best. Thanks so much for sharing. I hope the Universe returns the positive energy a thousand fold.
A thousand fold. I get to make art, teach art and be part of a great community where I get to keep learning.
I tried the brown paper transfer last month and it created a great transparent look. I like the paint guide idea for straight lines. Too bad your Esalen workshop got cancelled. I was wanting to learn more about texture and special effects. Blatant hint: your Sausalito studio looks large enough for a student workshop!
Wouldn’t that be wonderful!
Hey Jim–I am looking into local hotel where people could stay…I want to put something together as so many people were coming! so sorry…for Esalen too…
Yep, the blue paper shop rags are terrific. They’re thick, absorbent and cloth-like. After tissue paper which is somewhat wasteful, the blue paper towels work well cleaning off dip pen nibs when practicing calligraphy: Absorbent and not too fibrous.
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, you are incredibly generous with what you’ve learned over the years.
I am now a fan of the cafeteria trays. I bought several, and they’re very affordable. I got them on Amazon. I was really happy when you showed how you use them when painting with acrylic. Now I can’t wait to try the masking paper. Did you paint on the waxy side? And I’m now the proud owner of a painting guide, but I know I need a variety of sizes. I have yet to buy the blue paper towels but will soon. I use a lot of washable rags when painting with acrylic. I kinda hate to think of all the paper I waste, so I’m doing a little something to counter that. Paper towels, however, are a real necessity in the studio.
Again, thanks, Nicholas.
Those blue shop towels are hard to beat! Thanks Marti
I love the cafeteria tray palette! I just use an 18″x24″ piece of luaun from Home Depot, and cover it with freezer paper which gets discarded when there’s no more room on it. š To apply paint (with cold wax medium) I use a shower squeegee and various sizes of silicone bowl scrapers. I also apply paint with a brayer to bubble wrap and transfer that onto my work, creating a grouping of small circles. Fun in the studio! Thank you for continuing to share your inspiring ideas!
thanks for these!
Because I work with acrylics I use enamel trays to mix paint on, they are easily washed. I love cheap paper towels that have patterns on them. I put paint down on the canvas and then lay the paper towel down and in lifting the paint the towel leaves an interesting texture. I use kitchen basting brushes to rub the backs of the paper towels to get a good connection between the paint and the canvas. And finally, spray bottles, I use a fine mist of water to get the paint just moist enough so that it will move or I can lift part of it off the canvas.
Home Depot is my art tools stop…scrapers! those no handle brushes! cutting tools, sample paints! the list goes on! Also when framing I put the 1/4 inch plastic tubing (about 6 inch length) on the wire for a hand hold. It’s in the plumbing aisle. I have a glass microwave tray for my palette…soak in warm water and all the acrylics peel right off. I cover my table in front of the easel with old towels…they are perfect for wiping off excess paint and for drying after you dip into water….and the coarser they get the better! Kitchen tools often find their way into the studio too…lol! carly
So that 1/4 in tubing is so your hand doesn’t get sore from the pulling on the wire?
No…usually everyone picks up paintings by the wire or the wire will get a bit shredded from hanging. The tubing covers the center of the wire (about six inches) so you have a comfortable handhold.
I cut pieces of plastic tubing about 3″-4″ long and cover both wrapped ends of the wire so people (myself, gallery curator, or customer) don’t end up with a wire stab while handling the framed paintings.
I also meant to add that the blue shop towels can be bought at a Sam’s or Costco in cases which really brings the price per roll down. I once challenged a plein air painter my blue against a roll of his paper towels. He was almost finished with his roll and I was still using my one blue towel (oil painting)!
Thought I’d share one of my mixed media pieces…hope that’s ok. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4a30e360f77109ae453efc93e51efa30720c256b64ba9b7f209f939b7ef2e87c.jpg
This is Bonefish, 24×24 canvas
Nice….thanks!
You’re using the cafeteria trays as palettes? If so, does the background color of the tray impact your mixing? Thanks!
Not really because I have tracing paper in it ontop of paper towels..kind of a lightish grey color. I get used to it..
old credit cards i like to use for scraping off excess paint
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yes me too!
I use those too and if you cut off a corner, the tip is great for scratching thru.
When I paint in oil paints I often use a piece of terry cloth from a baby towel since it has very fine loops and leaves tiny drags of dense color, but not the full coverage a towel gives or if applied thick it will leave a nice texture on the oil paint surface. I use often it to blend since I like the added roughness. I cut them up into 5 inch squares and wash them to reuse until they are stiff and unusable.
I also use a lot of palette knives and have a foot long one I use at the beginning of paintings, but now I am seeing that I will be using it more at all stages since I truly do love it.
One set of unique brushes I made from my pet dogs hair over 30 years ago. One of our dogs hair had a slight curl so it made brushes with great personality, but I needed to use the other dogs fluffy hair underneath so that it would hold more paint. To make them I carefully held the hair in place at the end of a chop stick while I wrapped it securely with dental floss. When I was done I covered the floss end with clear nail polish. This brush can make marks that vary from fine line to thick depending on how it is used. In the 80’s I used these brushes thousand of times decorating clay pieces using iron oxide, but I found my self using the for the first time for the beginning of my black and white project to divide up the space and possible give me some cool things to work with. I ended up covering up 95% of the dog brush marks, but it began my painting in such a playful way that coupled with this new knowledge about tone and design, I believer I painted the best I have may have ever painted the two mornings I played with the dog brush! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d7ffef7a92c1441816efcc252b7bb5fa626857ab11aa0f16a945b83bdcdfe38c.jpg
Thanks for sharing!
You are so very welcome!
Can I reshare this ! Fantastic…wow.
Absolutely, please do share! My husband took three videos of me a two days ago I’d be happy to share as well. They are all under 19 seconds. I can’t upload videos here but can email you the files since they really show how the brushes work. It’s a very cool unique brush. You said we need larger tools for larger paintings to yesterday I talked to my son’s wife who owns a hair salon and she’s going to get me a human hair ponytail so I can make a giant brush with a slight curl!
Please let me know where to email the video files.
I love kitchen items from Pampered Chef, frosting knives used as palette knives, scrapers, etc. The Everyday Cleaning Cloths are the best! Absorbent, cheap,machine washable, they soak up paint.
https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/katiechristie/shop/Cleaning/Dish+Cloths+%26+Towels/Everyday+Cleaning+Cloths/1496
One cloth equals 15 rolls of towels. Their spatulas are inexpensive replacements for silicon brushes.
thanks Vicki!
I just ordered some…to try them out.
I hope you like them as much as I do! They are also great for drying up counters in the kitchen. They don’t get smelly like sponges, and I wash the kitchen ones in the dishwasher. Thanks for all your helpful tips, Love your videos.
Right now my favorite tool is wax paper. I will use small pieces say 8×10 as my palette and before the acrylic has time to dry I add some open medium to it, spread it around and with the end of a pencil I will inscribe writing or designs on it and turn it over to print on watercolor paper. Another way I use it is to cover it with paint turn it color down onto the paper or canvas and scribe with a pencil on top from the non painted side. I save the pieces of wax paper and glue those into different collages too. This makes many pieces of paper ready for collage, uses up excess paint and wax paper and introduces a lot of spontaneous mark making into art pieces. I also love rulers, paint scrapers, sponges.
Wow–and the waxy paper sticks? great idea…
If you put enough matt medium or polymer medium on both sides of wax paper it will stick.
I also love the blue shop towels and buy them in a pop-up box which is easier than chasing a roll around the studio. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scott-75190-Blue-Shop-Towels-In-A-Box/16816120#about-item
I also find a turntable lazy susan helpful in viewing my work from all angles. Thanks for all your helpful tips!
Thanks for this Nick. I would like to suggest a Martha Stewart tool that I have used a lot for stripes. Its called a “Martha Stewart Crafts Adjustable Striping Brush, 32232”
https://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewart-Crafts-Adjustable-32232/dp/B007C7XO20/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1488762222&sr=8-19&keywords=stewart+paint+brush
its 12 small brushes, equally spaced, on a comb.each brush is removable so you can vary spacing.
I wanted to ask you about gloves. yours look well used. do you have a glove you can re-use?
Also I thought your use of template shapes, shared in a previous video, was really a great idea. Also using a nail to scratch through paint on a board.
I think my favorite tool is sandpaper.
Thanks. In the studio,enjoying. Using the blue paper towels. The bomb.š
In adopting the use of a damp palette, I found two variations that are worth sharing. I’m using deli paper instead of tracing paper because I had on hand a lifetime supply in just one box from Costco. (1000 sheets 12 x 12) Instead of damp paper towels under the deli paper, I found 12 x 12 felt squares for $.23 apiece in the craft aisle at Walmart.They hold onto a fair amount of water without getting soggy. And I have a favorite tool that looks very much like a kitchen spatula. But it’s actually an auto bodywork tool – plastic but with a much more refined edge to it than a kitchen spatula. Perfect for spreading paint and various texture mediums. Because it has a handle like a spatula, you can get a lot of wrist action going.
thank you so much for this Sandi! Living in the dry Arizona air, I have been looking at the commercial damp palette’s, but this sounds even better! Thank you!
I have been very inspired by all of your suggestions and insights. This topic in particular is something that I was recently familiar with. Being afraid of ruining something that canāt be duplicated can be really frustrating. Sharing one of my more recent paintings after taking a āriskā.
thank you again.
Thank you for all of these great insights. I can relate to this idea of pushing your work further. It is a fine line. Just sharing a more recent painting. thank you again.
I don’t think you’ve ever said what type of paint you use…oil? acrylic? house paint? I’d be curious to know.
I use popsicle sticks, BBQ skewers, clay tools, burnishing stylists….anything I can use to carve into materials whether it be clay, wax, paint or pastels!
Hi Nicholas, where did you get that white divider thingie where you store your spray cans, tools, brushes, etc.? Thank you!