My Studio Materials
I receive many questions from other artists about my process and the materials that I use in my studio. After much trial and error, I've found these to be best for my work. I hope it provides inspiration for those looking to explore new artistic avenues.
Premier Wood Panels
These wood panels are great quality and sturdy, but be sure to specify the 1.5 inch deep panels, which is gallery standard. Most wood panels have a depth of under an inch which does not look professional and the thin profile makes it difficult to frame.
Premier Heavyweight Stretched Cotton Canvas
These heavyweight canvases are great for my aggressive process. Not all canvases are created equal – you have been warned! These are well priced, great quality and are professional grade, gallery level canvases.
Amsterdam Standard Series Acrylic Paints
This acrylic paint is my go-to every time. It is quite affordable and just as good, if not better, than more expensive brands I have tried. Their range of color options are so large that I rarely need to mix colors.
Plaster
This DAP patching plaster is my preferred choice because it is LIGHTWEIGHT, dries fast, and it can be sanded and scrubbed to a paper-thin surface. I've tried them all - this is my favorite.
Pouring Medium
This is the product I use to give my acrylic paint a transparent glaze-like feel. It cuts the color so it allows me to give a light stain to my surface rather than a solid color finish.
Foam Brushes
These foam brushes come in many sizes- I use the 1inch, 2 inch and 4 inch brushes. I prefer these to a traditional paint brush because they have no bristles which means a smoother, more evenly saturated color. If you keep them in water after use you can get more use out of them - I try and minimize waste as much as possible.
High Density Foam Mini Paint Roller
I love these foam rollers because they go over the uneven plastered surface smoothly and leave no unintended paint or stain markings, which I find with the knit polyester roller covers. Typically I use 4 inch and 6 inch rollers.
Polyurethane Varnish
You MUST seal your work especially if you are using spackling and wood stain.
Since I do not rub away all of the wood stain off after application the surface will remain tacky. Once this polyurethane is applied it seals the painting - protecting the surface. It is also worth noting that after this is applied the smell of the wood stain is terminated. You can buy this in a gloss or matte finish. I always prefer gloss because it reflects light allowing you to see the texture better.
Scrub Pads
These awesome scrubbers are actually intended for cleaning screens used in screen printing. They have just the right amount of ‘abrasive’ without being too rough. They work beautifully on a plastered surface without risking the integrity of the canvas or wood panel base.