Happy Monday and welcome to Day 28! We are racing towards the finish line! Wanted to talk to you today about how to incorporate paint in your craft/diy projects. I haven't painted seriously in years, but I still find, especially with being a calligrapher, that there are times that pen and ink are just not appropriate for work that needs to be produced in a larger format.
Here are a couple of signs that I was commissioned to do by a client with an envelope wall... I typically really spend the MOST time measuring out the letters, outlining them and making sure they are perfectly straight before I start painting. A nice trick you can use if this idea intimidates you is to 1.) print out your words from a laser printer 2.) generously rub a pencil or graphite on the blank side, right behind the letters. 3.) You can then lay that piece of paper down over the surface to be painted and outline the letters. The graphite from the pencil should transfer the letters perfectly.
These painted book covers (the client painted them) needed to have the table number and name painted. I used a paint or brush marker for this one. Perfect for this kind of work. Medium sized letters, and its easy to manipulate the marker to generate the necessary "thicks" and "thins" required to indicate a calligraphy look.
See the tips of the paint marker? Very flexible. You apply pressure for your thicks. Takes some practice, but its now one of my favorite tools to use.
Chair back signs that I painted for a client. I used canvas because they wanted it to be more permanent. I used acrylic paint and used 2-3 coats. Came out great, see below.
General Tips:
- Keep the area where you will paint clean... Less clutter ensures a clean surface and no accidents.
- Make sure to invest in a palette that works for you. This will ensure that you are not wasting paint and you can adequately mix with water or other colors if required.
- Clean your brushes when done. This will increase the life of your tools. Especially brushes used on this level. The more expensive kind can take a better beating.
- Invest in a color wheel... They are cheap and will act as a handy reference guide when mixing colors.
--ct
