Lots of painting tips and hints. Browse the sites.
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Use an old glue cap and put it on an acrylic paint bottle to be able to write in color.
Indulgy
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When bottles of acrylic paints start getting old and have been used frequently, little bits of hardened paint can get inside the bottles. Don't throw them away and buy new ones yet! Instead, cut out a small square of pantyhose or nylon, stretch it over the top of the bottle and replace the cap. It acts as a strainer and you'll get much more mileage out of the bottle.
Tole Expressions
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Because acrylics dry so fast, squeeze only a little paint out of a tube. If you're using a 'normal' plastic palette invest in a spray bottle so you can spray a fine mist over the paint regularly to keep it moist.
About.com Painting
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Use a good quality brush with soft bristles for basecoating - one that you use specifically for painting. Use a separate brush for varnishing if you can afford it.
Artezan.com
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A small sponge roller is an excellent alternative to a brush. It gives a beautiful even eggshell finish and its faster! When choosing a sponge roller, make sure its around 2" wide. When purchasing, make sure that the sponge is a firm, good quality foam.
Artezan.com
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Make sure you clean your brushes after every session at the easel. There are professional brush cleaners you can buy at your local art supply store.
Pickering Studio
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Do not leave a brush sitting in water. The bristles will act like a wick, drawing water up underneath the ferrule and will eventually dissolve the glue that holds the brush together.
Ben Franklin Crafts
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Clean brushes thoroughly at the end of the work period by gently stroking the bristles on a wet bar of soap. Use your fingers to work the soap into the bristles and rinse. Repeat the process until all traces of color are gone and the water is clear.
Ben Franklin Crafts
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Keep the brush your are using clean and dry. With a soft rag, gently wipe the bristles before dipping into new colors.
Pickering Studio
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A ball point pen that has run out of ink makes a good stylus for trasferring patterns. A recycling tip!
Artezan.com
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Many light coats of paint are better than one or two heavy coats. Always add a little water to your paint for nice shear coats.
Painting On Jars
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Store bottles of paint in shallow baskets, grouped by color families.
Paint 'n Pine
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When doing line work with a script or liner brush, slow down at curves so the bristles keep their pointed shape and don't spread.
Folkart.net
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When a paint bottle is nearing empty, add a little water, and label it “Thinned” . This paint is great for washes, lettering, vines, or anything else that requires paint thinned to an inky consistency.
Folkart.net
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Use a good quality brush with soft bristles for basecoating - one that you use specifically for painting. Use a separate brush for varnishing if you can afford it.
Artezan
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Dry brushes facing down. This will help them retain the shape.
Dea's Crafty Creations
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If paint has dried on your brush, DON'T soak the brush in water. Instead, dip it back in the paint and work it gently on a piece of scrap wood or paper. The fresh paint will soften the old after a few minutes and you can then rinse your brush.
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To create perfectly straight painted lines on a flat wood surface, score lines in the wood using a stylus and a see-through ruler. Load a liner brush with thinned paint and follow the depressions created in the wood by the stylus.
Tole Expressions
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Foam Brushes are perfect for base painting many wood projects (such as plaques, shelves, boxes, ect). They make base painting quick and smooth looking.
The Stencilsmith
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Repurpose an over-sized tee shirt into an art apron.
Needlepointers.com
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Next time you're at the grocery store, pick up a box of plastic coffee stirrers for stirring paint. They're inexpensive and perfect for the job.
Tole Expressions
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Freezer paper makes for great inexpensive painters palette. It is available in most grocery stores anytime of the year.
Painting On Jars
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Place your paint pallet on a damp washrag to slow the drying process.
i-crafts
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When doing line work with a script or liner brush, slow down at curves so the bristles keep their pointed shape and don't spread.
Folkart.net
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Don't store your brushes in an air tight container. If you put them away wet, they will rot.
Artistic Seasons
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Make your own scruffy brush. Dip one of your old brushes in snow tex, rub the snow tex in, let dry, wash, rinse and you have the best scruffy ever made.
Artistic Seasons
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When floating color to shade and highlight let each layer dry before applying subsequent layers otherwise you will lift the paint you just applied.
Loew Cornell
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You can take any pattern to a copy machine and enlarge or reduce it to fit on any surface.
Folk Art
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When a paint bottle is nearing empty, add a little water, and label it “Thinned” . This paint is great for washes, lettering, vines, or anything else that requires paint thinned to an inky consistency.
Submitted by Leslie Kobus at Folk Art
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Baby wipes are handy for quick clean-up of paint spills or to remove paint from hands when necessary.
Submitted by Leslie Kobus at Folk Art
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Don't store your brushes in an air tight container. If you put them away wet, they will rot.
Artistic Seasons
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Place your paint pallet on a damp washrag to slow the drying process.
i-craft
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Use the laser side of junk mail CD's as a paint pallet. It has a finger hole to hold it and colors mix well, and wipe or rinse off easily.
i-craft
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Paint a file cabinet (or an old metal locker) and fill the drawers and shelves with craft supplies, pots, paper goods, plastic storage containers or pantry staples.
Country Sampler Decorating Ideas
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Place your paint pallet on a damp washrag to slow the drying process.
i-crafts
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Use the laser side of junk mail CD's as a paint pallet. It has a finger hole to hold it and colors mix well, and wipe or rinse off easily.
i-crafts
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Whenever a project calls for painting try to use spray paint for large items or painting in quantity. Acrylic paint is excellent for small items.
CraftClick
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Baby oil is the best and most economical product to get oil paints from hands,(and arms, face,etc.)after tole painting.
Pat Bennett, Tole World
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When beginning your painting, always start with the lightest color and finish with your darkest color, this way your paint water will stay clean longer.
Painting on Jars
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Freezer paper makes for great inexpensive painters palette. It is available in most grocery stores anytime of the year.
Painting on Jars
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Don't throw out those old hairblowers, speed up drying time by using these on your projects.
The Decorative Touch
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If you have the type of ceiling fan with solid wood blades, try decorating the underside of the blade with a design to match your decor. For example, a floral design from your drapery fabric, your bed linen, wallpaper design or border design.
The Decorative Touch
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Save plastic yogurt cups to mix paint in. If you need to keep for awhile, cover with plastic wrap, and wrap a rubber band around the cup.
Paint 'n Pine
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To remove paint from projects--vodka works very well--no fumes, no damage to your project--wood, fabric or otherwise--works great, use it on a q-tip or small square of cloth--give it a try, it REALLY WORKS.
F. LaReane Sullivan
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Recycle large plastic lids by using them for paint palettes.
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When painting very small items that need paint on all sides and edges stick a push-pin in them and hold the pin while you paint. Then push the pin head into a piece of Styrofoam® to let the piece dry.
Artezan
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Paper plates are a great place to pour your paint. (Quick clean up and cheap). You also want to have a few paper towels nearby, for dabbing/wiping brushes and easy quick cleaning.
The Stencilsmith
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Use toothpicks for applying paint to fine details, making tiny dots or applying color in hard to reach areas of your project.
Tole Expressions
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