Acrylic Gouache Primer

Sharing Innovative Ways to Paint & Create!

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Basecoating

Here are a few tips in creating a basecoat that is smooth without ridges.

Thin down your paint so it flows nicely onto your surface. It will take a few more coats if you want opaqueness but can be worth it. Having a nice quality brush is important. The chisel end of a flat brush for basecoating needs to have a feather edge to it. If the brush is old, paint has dried in it, or it is just plain cheap, try another brand or a new brush. When you put on a coat of paint, before it dries make sure and brush over the coat lightly with the feathered edge of the brush to smooth out the paint and calm down those ridges..

Stenciling the Basecoat

Have you tried stenciling the basecoat...? 
As designers on the road teaching, we have to go this route often in prepping. Try making a stencil for each color and stencil the paint on with a stencil brush or stiff bristle brush. I prefer the stiff bristle brush that is round and comes in multiple sizes. Once the paint is dry, lightly sand till smooth. Touch up if needed. Also try basecoating with chocolate nearby, it makes everything better.

Organizing Your Space

There is true satisfaction to be had in a
organized artsy space. 
With the myriads of various infectious, collectious, artsy items we all accumulate - you know who you are <wink!>, it is imperative to have a some specific space in place. A place that can be easily accessed and organized. "A place for everything, and everything in it's place" kind-of space.

Over the years my collection has grown to occupy a main art area and....ahem cough cough!....several satellite spaces surrounding the main art collection. Many techniques have been employed to collect my treasures. I've used cardboard boxes, old kitchen cabinets, big rubbermaid bins, plastic bags, stacking shoe boxes etc. only to be rag-tag frustrated. I've discovered that these only brought me to the same problem......diobolical disorganization! 

With these many frustrating years behind me, the answer has finally arrived and it came loud and CLEAR. Yes, clear is the operative word....clear bins, clear boxes, clear drawers, clear cubes. Thank you! Thank you clear plastic invention bin people! You surely know my pain. I now collect clear plastic drawers, bins, cubes, and boxes to hold all my infectious, collectious, artsy, items and all this with satisfaction indeed!


                    More Acrylic Gouache Tips to Come...