The Great Art Debate

[Lost Leopard Spot]

'kinell, Tango. I nipped out at dinnertime to purchase some paper. My father-in-law's stocks were somewhat depleted. Which feckin paper do I get???? Rough, Not, Cold Pressed, Hot Pressed; students or Artist Quality; 300 or 140 gsm - the choices are endless. What do you use. And do you stretch yours, and if you do how do you do it????

[TANGODANCER]

'kinell, Tango. I nipped out at dinnertime to purchase some paper. My father-in-law's stocks were somewhat depleted. Which feckin paper do I get???? Rough, Not, Cold Pressed, Hot Pressed; students or Artist Quality; 300 or 140 gsm - the choices are endless. What do you use. And do you stretch yours, and if you do how do you do it????

Right now I'm using pads from The Works (any art shop will do) A3 size, 300 gsm. I tape a border round all four edges with masking tape then just use the back board of the pad to tape the edges to from that. Saves messing about stretching and 300 gsm is quite thick. I buy pads of twelve sheets for about a fiver but art shops may be dearer. I use the rough side
Have a quick look here to help. http://painting.about.com/od/watercolou ... aper_5.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Cheers Tango.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

The only art shop/stationers in Matlock does Rough or Not at 300gsm. It doesn't have Hot Pressed and when I asked he said there was little call for it. However, I think my style is naturally detailed and I'd probably benefit from HP paper, but I've got Rough for now, and I'll just have to cope.

[TANGODANCER]

The only art shop/stationers in Matlock does Rough or Not at 300gsm. It doesn't have Hot Pressed and when I asked he said there was little call for it. However, I think my style is naturally detailed and I'd probably benefit from HP paper, but I've got Rough for now, and I'll just have to cope.

You'll probably find the revese side is smooth, Mine is, use that for detailed stuff. First couple of paintings I did here are on board, some old stuff I already had.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

The only art shop/stationers in Matlock does Rough or Not at 300gsm. It doesn't have Hot Pressed and when I asked he said there was little call for it. However, I think my style is naturally detailed and I'd probably benefit from HP paper, but I've got Rough for now, and I'll just have to cope.

You'll probably find the revese side is smooth, Mine is, use that for detailed stuff. First couple of paintings I did here are on board, some old stuff I already had.

It's some French stuff. It's equally pebbly on both sides. I've got ten sheets at it cost £10.49 - so I'll be getting as much painting out of it as I can possibly squeeze. I went for the size that's slightly larger than A4 all round (I think it's B4). A3 seemed a little large and intimidating to start with, and I bought a little ring binder sketch book of B6 which I'm going to use to test colours before plonking them on the big expensive sheets.
When I'm next in Manchester/Sheffield/Derby/Nottingham I'm going to look out for a proper art shop and buy some HP 300gsm and some Not 300gsm, but that won't be for a few weeks yet, by which time I'm hoping to have whipped up a few paintings.

[TANGODANCER]

I use a large bathroom tile ( 11" x 8") for mixing colours on. Easy to wash off after and plenty room to work. It's white so I can easily see true colours.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I use a large bathroom tile ( 11" x 8") for mixing colours on. Easy to wash off after and plenty room to work. It's white so I can easily see true colours.

Do you use pans or tubes? I've inherited tubes - hundreds of them (well, tens and tens anyway) - so I'm going to stay with them, but I'm interested in what you're using...

[TANGODANCER]

Don't forget I'm just an enthusiastic amateur. Here, for what it's worth, is my complete studio (apart from the A3 pad you could easily get the lot in a havesack.)
The paints are tubes, Reeves and Boldmere and cost under a tener the lot. I don't think it matters tube or cakes, I'd use either.
Paper is Crawford and Black A3 watercolour paper 300gm acid free. 12 sheets about a fiver.
Brushes are any old thing I've collected as are the pencils. There are a couple of Chinagraph black and red markers amongst them. If you use any ink sketching pens make sure they're waterproof or washes will just bodge it all. Not much more I can tell you. Get in there.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Cheers TD. Really, it helps to know. I think I've got one of the world's greatest collections of paintbrushes - the f-i-l didn't stint: I've got at least two of each brushes from 00 through to 20, all of them top quality sable brushes. Must have cost him a feckin fortune.

What's really sad is I can't find any paintings he painted.

[TANGODANCER]

This might just get that mawkish sentimentality tag. I found an old black and white pic of my old Church and school, St Joseph's Halliwell, (complete with gas lamp) circa 1950. I spent nine happy chilldhood years at both school and church were I was an altar boy for seven of them. The building far right was the "senior" part of the school. Three road surfaces here, the area down to the school was unpaved, that down the side ( Horace Streeet) cobbled, and the one at our ( Harold Street) end tarmaced. Just out of pic on the right was the stable and yard of Joseph Smith, Haulier, who had a horse and cart at that time. The school no longer exists because it moved to Shephard Cross Steet somewhere along the line. The church also has seen some changes. Brought back happy memories so I did a simple pencil and wash sketch and enjoyed doing it.

[William the White]

This might just get that mawkish sentimentality tag. I found an old black and white pic of my old Church and school, St Joseph's Halliwell, (complete with gas lamp) circa 1950. I spent nine happy chilldhood years at both school and church were I was an altar boy for seven of them. The building far right was the "senior" part of the school. Three road surfaces here, the area down to the school was unpaved, that down the side ( Horace Streeet) cobbled, and the one at our ( Harold Street) end tarmaced. Just out of pic on the right was the stable and yard of Joseph Smith, Haulier, who had a horse and cart at that time. The school no longer exists because it moved to Shephard Cross Steet somewhere along the line. The church also has seen some changes. Brought back happy memories so I did a simple pencil and wash sketch and enjoyed doing it.

I recognised it immediately, Tango.

BTW my dad was a volunteer reading 'tutor' at St Joseph's on Shepherd Cross until he was 82 (and the oldest volunteer on the scheme - having resisted attempts to give him early 'retirement' when he turned 80).

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Technical question (again; sorry) TD. Did you use coloured/pre-tinted paper?

[TANGODANCER]

Technical question (again; sorry) TD. Did you use coloured/pre-tinted paper?

No, just the ordinary white. Drew the whole thing out in pencil first then played around with several light washes put straight on without pre-wetting the paper.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Technical question (again; sorry) TD. Did you use coloured/pre-tinted paper?

No, just the ordinary white. Drew the whole thing out in pencil first then played around with several light washes put straight on without pre-wetting the paper.

whoa! hold the feckin' hoss's. Pre-wet. This is the first time I've heard this - Alwyn Whassisface never mentioned this...

I can see I've got some serious experimentation to do.

[TANGODANCER]

Technical question (again; sorry) TD. Did you use coloured/pre-tinted paper?

No, just the ordinary white. Drew the whole thing out in pencil first then played around with several light washes put straight on without pre-wetting the paper.

whoa! hold the feckin' hoss's. Pre-wet. This is the first time I've heard this - Alwyn Whassisface never mentioned this...

I can see I've got some serious experimentation to do.

Don't panic Spotski. There are no rules. Some people soak the whole sheet through in a bath before painting on it where washing technique goes on. Some just brush water over the whole sheet ( not drown it, just wet it) Some just brush water on a particular area before painting it..eg, sky, or you can just paint your colours on to dry paper. Choice is entirely yours and anything goes.

[TANGODANCER]

This might just get that mawkish sentimentality tag. I found an old black and white pic of my old Church and school, St Joseph's Halliwell, (complete with gas lamp) circa 1950. I spent nine happy chilldhood years at both school and church were I was an altar boy for seven of them. The building far right was the "senior" part of the school. Three road surfaces here, the area down to the school was unpaved, that down the side ( Horace Streeet) cobbled, and the one at our ( Harold Street) end tarmaced. Just out of pic on the right was the stable and yard of Joseph Smith, Haulier, who had a horse and cart at that time. The school no longer exists because it moved to Shephard Cross Steet somewhere along the line. The church also has seen some changes. Brought back happy memories so I did a simple pencil and wash sketch and enjoyed doing it.


I recognised it immediately, Tango.

BTW my dad was a volunteer reading 'tutor' at St Joseph's on Shepherd Cross until he was 82 (and the oldest volunteer on the scheme - having resisted attempts to give him early 'retirement' when he turned 80).

I had a feeling it would ring bells with you Will. Nice to hear your dad was involved with St Josephs. I haven't been up there in a fair while. Must get up and visit one of these days.

[Bruce Rioja]

I recognised it straight off, Tango, and I'm not from round there nor have I ever set foot in the place. Very good indeed, Squire.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Torn up the painting well before I've finished, so I'll start from scratch this weekend.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Ordered some Hot Pressed paper over tinternet - shall restart the project when it arrives.