Action Points/Alternatives  for Artists

General Advice:

Cleaning Aids for Painters:

OIL, Acrylic, Watercolor:

1.      Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover by Purex

Found: Most grocery stores in the laundry aisle

Price: $1.50 a bar

Use: Removing all types of paint from brushes and clothing.

 

2.   Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner

Found: Some grocery stores, Home Depot, Walmart

Price: $4 for 16 ounces

Use: Removing all types of paint from frames, furniture, floors, and equipment.

 

3.    Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Found: Most grocery stores in the detergents aisle, Home Depot, Walmart

Price: $3.75 for a 4 pad package

Use: Removing marks on equipment, frames, furniture, floors, walls and can be used for textural marks on watercolor works.

 

Practical Aids for Painters:

 

Make your own painting palette:

Oil, Acrylics:

 a. Cut desired size from heavy cardboard, cut out thumb grasp - if you use it.

  b. Cover palette with Freezer Paper (shinny side up) and leave enough paper to fold over and onto the back of the palette. Tape down excess wrap. Cut out thumb grasp, if you use it.

  c. Using a dark magic marker draw a circle, or place a piece of colored tape in a desired location on your palette paper to contain your medium. 

d. Label the Freezer Paper with your work title, date begun and color mixtures.

e. When finished painting, cover palette with saran wrap which will keep the paint viable for weeks. If a section dries out, remix paint and match to existing dried palette sample.

f. Upon work completion, the Freezer paper palette can be removed from it’s cardboard palette, just cover again with Saran Wrap and store it in your reference file, remembering to record any notes and the date work was completed with a magic marker on the front or back of your paper palette.

g. Reuse your bare palette.

 

To Find:

1.      Heavy Card Board: Home Depot, Container Store - moving boxes are best.

2.      Freezer Wrap by Reynolds: Most grocery stores in the baking or food wrap aisle.

 

Storage Alternatives for Wet Paint:

Oil/Acrylics

A. Cover your wet working palettes with Cling, Plastic or Saran wrap. The paints will stay viable for several weeks. If they dry, just remix - you will have your previous color match immediately available.   

 

Watercolor

A.  When mixing large quantities of watercolor color with water, such as in pouring, leave unused mixture uncovered to prevent mold.