Oil Portraiture Supply List

This webpage is a supplement to the supply list for Oil Portraiture, a class I am offering through UT.  You can download the full list, or register for the class here.

Painting supplies can be a little intimidating.  Brushes are perhaps the most confusing.  To help, here are some basics.  To demonstrate, here is a photo of a few of my brushes…

Austin Art Classes Brushes 1024x768 Oil Portraiture Supply List

Look at those handsome devils.

So first of all, let’s talk about what they are made of. The five guys on the right are bristle brushes.  They are hard and coarse, and generally made of hog hair.  They are great for texture, as they leave deep channels in the paint.  They are also inexpensive, and can take quite a beating.

Notice the shape of these brushes.  Flats are sharp cornered, squared brushes.  A brush stroke made with a flat will have a sharp, hard edge.  Brights are the shorter cousin of flats, and therefore have a little more spring.  If counting from left to right, 1, 4, and 5 are flats, with 4 being a flat/ bright.  With brights, you can really use the tops and sides to make very  sharp strokes.

Austin Art Classes Flats 1024x557 Oil Portraiture Supply List

A filbert, on the other hand, doesn’t have an abrupt beginning, and therefore is a little more natural. Again, from left to right, 2 and 3 are filberts.

Austin Art Classes Filbert Oil Portraiture Supply List

Sometimes, it’s not ideal to see every groove left by each hair of the brush.  In that case, there are softer oil synthetics, like the white nylon brushes, or natural sables, like Kolinsky Red Sables.  They are more expensive, but beautiful, and will last a long time if well cared for.

Austin Art Classes Round 1024x587 Oil Portraiture Supply List

There are also round brushes, for a completely different line character, and for a very natural shape.

Fan brushes, like number 6 above, are specifically for blending wet paints together.

If you have any questions, we just need the little bristle, 1 on the left, for the first class.  That flat is about 1/4″, under a dollar, and we’ll get going from there.

Acrylic Painting Supply List

This webpage is a supplement to the supply list for Acrylic Painting, a class I am offering through UT.  You can download the full list, or register for the class here

Painting supplies can be a little intimidating.  Brushes are perhaps the most confusing.  To help, here are some basics.  To demonstrate, here is a photo of a few of my brushes…

Austin Art Classes Acrylic Brushes 01 1024x768 Acrylic Painting Supply List

 

Look at those guys.  Looking good.  Except the third brush from the left, who needs some brush soap.

Notice the shape of these brushes.  Flats are sharp cornered, squared brushes.  A brush stroke made with a flat will have a sharp, hard edge.  Brights are the shorter cousin of flats, and therefore have a little more spring.  If counting from left to right, 1 and 2 are both brights.

Austin Art Classes Flats 1024x557 Acrylic Painting Supply List

With brights, you can really use the tops and sides to make very  sharp strokes.

 

Austin Art Classes Filbert Acrylic Painting Supply List
A filbert, on the other hand, doesn’t have an abrupt beginning, and therefore is a little more natural. Again, in the line up of brushes above, from left to right, 3 and 4 are filberts.

Austin Art Classes Round 1024x587 Acrylic Painting Supply List There are also round brushes, for a completely different line character, and for a very natural shape.

I like to get brushes in pairs.  Both being the same size, but of different body types.  I use one for darks, and one for lights.

Don’t be afraid of big brushes.  I know it might feel a little clumsy at first, but you’ll get more comfortable. It is good practice to train yourself to grab the biggest brush possible.

 

Art Classes Austin

Are you stuck creatively, or have you hit a plateau technically you can’t quite get past?

I really enjoy helping others to be better artists, and so I am happy to say I have a few time slots open for painting lessons.

If you are interested, check out the art classes tab above, fill out the contact form, or have any questions, we have a phone line just for classes- 512 553-2845.

I’d love to hear from you

Austin Art Classes Still Life 1024x659 Art Classes Austin