Learning to See

Inspiration and practical advice for aspiring realist artists

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Materials list: Live daffodil session, 9th March 2021

Surface: I’ll be painting on an 8 x 10 Ampersand gessobord panel. Here’s how I’ll be preparing mine: Lay on a couch of 50/50 linseed oil and solvent, then wipe the panel down till almost all of the oil is gone (don’t tone your surface or the yellows will lose chroma).

Grid the panel up if you want, dividing it into four horizontally and vertically.

Brushes: I’ll be using mostly synthetic flats, about a half inch, and a couple of soft, dry brushes will help with the blending. Maybe a couple of half inch or so hogs for the background.

Palette (this is what I’ll be using, just get as close as you can):

  • Titanium White
  • Michael Harding Bright yellow lake (This is an arylide yellow, greenish. Hansa yellow might be close from some manufacturers. If you don’t have either, try lemon yellow.)
  • Cadmiun yellow (cad yellow pale if W&N)
  • Yellow ochre
  • Michael Harding Green Gold (Williamsburg green gold is similar. If you don’t have this I’ll show you another way to mix without this, but you will need the phthalo green)
  • Transparent red oxide
  • Raw umber
  • Ivory black
  • Phthalo green (I use W&N Winsor green, yellow shade)

Hi, I’m Paul

I'm a (mostly) self-taught artist. I paint realism in oils, mostly still life. I share my work, my evolving process and what knowledge I've gained on my own learning journey here, in the hope that it might help you on yours.
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