WHAT WE DID

1. Sourced References:

• Drew from life, your own photography, and online resources: Canva, Creative Market

2. Prepared Canvas:

• Applied 2 coats of acrylic paint to the canvas as a base colour, allowing at least 4 hours drying time between coats (more in Winter, less in Summer).

3. Projected Image:

• Drew the image onto the canvas using a projector and a HB or B pencil.

4. Applied Paint:

• Used thick acrylic paint, thinning with water only for fine lines, and washed brushes with water.

• Expected to paint every shade with at least two layers.

5. Organised Workspace:

• Set up a clean, open, and organized space with brushes, palettes, paints, water, paper towel, and cotton buds.

• Laid out palette knives and brushes for easy access.

6. Mixed Paint:

• Worked on a flat, easy-to-clean surface, mixing paint according to paint charts, and painted from 'furthest behind' to 'foreground', working from dark to light.

• Tested colours on spare paper or card, checking against reference image and colour chart.

7. Maintained Cleanliness:

• Kept the area and tools clean and organized throughout the process.

8. Finished and Sealed:

• Let the painting dry flat for at least 24 hours (longer in Winter).

• Sealed with Matisse (oil-based) satin or matt varnish, mixing well before use.

• *Note: Always read instructions on all paint materials.

WHAT WE USED

• Canvas:

• Any good quality triple-primed stretched canvas 300gsm or more. We used Luca Triple Primed Canvas, 350gsm 40 x 40cm with a deep return (3.5).

• Paint:

• Monte Marte Dimension Acrylic x 36 colours

• Additional Paints: Matisse texture acrylic paints Titanium White, Indigo Blue & Deep Rose Madder

• Background Paint – First Layer: Matisse Gesso White, Second Layer: mixture of Matisse Gesso, Titanium White, and Yellow

• Tools:

• Flat paint tray or plates, or paint palettes for colour mixing

• Water bowl or jar

• Paper towels, cut into small squares

• Assorted palette knives, round and pointed (Favourite brand: Art Spectrum)

• Artify Brush Set, Meeden Brush Set, Montemarte Fine Liner Brush Set, Liquitex paddle brush for base colour

• HB or B Pencil

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS

• Time Management:

• Allow yourself ample time, take your time, and have fun.

• Preparation & Organisation:

• Crucial for success.

• Strategise your painting steps.

• Use your Colour Chart and ensure proper colour mixing. If a colour isn't working, paint over it.

• Painting Technique:

• Work from background to foreground, dark to light (for accurate, neat painting).

• Breaks:

• Take breaks and step away from your work.

• Material Choice:

• Choose materials and equipment with longevity in mind; avoid cheap imitations.

• Maintenance:

• Clean as you go

• Discard old or inferior equipment.

• Enjoy the Process:

• Give yourself space to enjoy the entire creative process.

ART SUPPLIERS

• Art Supplies Australia

• Riot Art & Craft

• Art on King

• The Sydney Art Store

• Meeden on Amazon

WEBSITES FOR LEARNING ABOUT MATERIALS & TOOLS

• Princeton Brush

• Winsor & Newton Education

• Matisse Video Library

Follow me on Instagram @ julielynchartanddesign

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2024 WORKSHOPS 

Coming up at Green Door Studios, Robertson   

Sunday 20 October: Spring Impasto Flowers, using acrylics and impasto

https://www.greendoorstudios.com.au/workshops/spring-flowers-impasto-painting-workshop-with-julie-lynch-20th-oct-11-til-5pm 

Sunday 8 December: Budgie Beauties, painting pink, blue, green and yellow budgies with acrylics and impasto

https://www.greendoorstudios.com.au/workshops/budgie-beauties-acrylic-and-impasto-painting-workshop-dec-8th-11-to-5pm

“May your life be full of colour and creativity”                                                       

  Julie Lynch