Journey Art Supplies Blog
Tips, Tricks, Thoughts, and inspiration from across the art spectrum.
Cheap Joe’s Lessons for Painting with Acrylics
When it comes to the art supply industry, it’s no secret that Cheap Joe’s is one of the best in the business. But did you know that we also have an amazing YouTube channel filled with all sorts of art lessons? If you're looking to improve your skills, our channel is the perfect place to start, especially if you’re interested in acrylic painting. Whether you’re a beginner looking for introductory lessons or a seasoned artist who is always searching for ways to improve their craft, you’ll find an acrylic lesson that can benefit you on our channel. What To Expect From Our Channel The Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff YouTube channel is a great resource for artists of all skill levels. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced painter, you'll find something to learn from our acrylic painting lessons. Our experts cover a wide range of topics, from basic color theory to advanced painting techniques, so there's always something new that you can add to your toolkit. One of the great things about our channel is that we make our art lessons easy to follow. We take great care to be clear and concise in our explanations, and we demonstrate each step of the process so that you can see exactly what we’re doing. We also provide a list of materials needed for each lesson, so you can make sure you have everything you need before you start. In addition to being easy to follow along with, Cheap Joe's Art Stuff's lessons are also very engaging. Our instructors and art experts are passionate about work, and it’s evident in their teaching. They share tips and tricks that they've learned over the years, and they encourage our viewers to experiment and try new things. It's clear that they want our artist viewers to succeed and they do everything they can to help them do so. Our Free Acrylic Art Lessons Another great thing about our YouTube channel is that we have videos that cover a wide range of subjects, particularly within the realm of acrylic painting. Whether you're interested in landscapes, portraits, still-lifes, or abstract art, we have helpful videos that cover it all. We even have lessons that focus specifically on different techniques, such as glazing, impasto, and wet-on-wet painting. And the best thing? They’re all free! One series of lessons on our channel is the "Acrylics Art Lesson" featuring Elliot Coatney. This 6-part series is perfect for anyone who is new to acrylic painting and wants to learn the basics. The lessons cover everything from selecting the right brushes and paints to mixing colors and creating different textures. By the end of the series, you'll have a solid foundation in working with acrylics and be ready to take on more advanced techniques. Another popular series that can be found on our channel is the "Painting with Joe" series. In this series, Joe Miller, the wonderful founder of Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, demonstrates how to paint a variety of subjects, from landscapes to animals to abstract art. He shares his tips and tricks for creating beautiful paintings, all while encouraging viewers to experiment and try new things. It's clear that Joe is passionate about art and he wants to share that passion with his viewers. Need Supplies? We Can Help! Now that you have access to this amazing (and free!) resource, you may be feeling inspired to pick up the brush and get creative. If you find yourself in need of new acrylic supplies, Cheap Joe’s is the place to be. We have a wide variety of acrylic paints for artists of all experience levels. For example, our selection of student grade acrylics is ideal for inexperienced painters who are still learning the ropes. Alternatively, our artist grade acrylics are a bit higher in quality, but they’re meant for professionals who are already familiar with the medium. To simplify your shopping experience, we also offer some amazing acrylic painting sets that come with a variety of paint colors for your convenience. Improve Your Craft with Cheap Joe’s We promise we aren’t biased when we say that our YouTube channel is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to improve their painting skills, especially when working with acrylics. Our instructors, experts, and special guests are knowledgeable and passionate, and the lessons are always easy to follow. The videos cover a wide range of topics and subjects, so you’re guaranteed to find something new to learn, regardless of your skill level. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced painter, you'll find something to inspire you on this channel. If you're interested in checking out Cheap Joe's on YouTube, we highly recommend starting with our acrylic lessons. We really do have a lot to offer, and we're confident that you'll find something that will help you take your painting skills to the next level. So grab your paints and brushes, and get ready to create some beautiful art with Cheap Joe's Art Stuff!
Cheap Joe’s Lessons for Painting with Acrylics
When it comes to the art supply industry, it’s no secret that Cheap Joe’s is one of the best in the business. But did you know that we also have...
Acrylic Painting: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques ...
Acrylic painting is a versatile and popular medium used by artists worldwide. It is known (and loved) for its fast-drying properties, water solubility, and flexibility, as it’s able to be manipulated in color, texture, and thickness. Additionally, many artists prefer working with this medium due to the safety benefits – unlike oils, acrylics do not require harsh solvents, making them a safer and more accessible option for artists of all levels. Today, we’re going to explore the basics of the versatile art medium. In this blog post, we’ll review the properties of acrylics, teach you the most common techniques, and share a few of our tips to help you get started. Whether you’re brand-new to acrylics or you’re just looking to brush up on your skills, this guide will help you become more familiar with this beloved medium. Painting by John Hairston Properties of Acrylic Paint Acrylic paint is made from pigment particles suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. The polymer acts as a binder, holding the pigment particles together and adhering them to the surface. Acrylic paint is water-soluble when wet, but dries quickly to a water-resistant finish. One of the main advantages of acrylic painting is the paint's versatility. It can be used on many types of surfaces, including paper, canvas, wood, and even glass. It can also be mixed with a wide range of acrylic mediums to achieve any working properties you can imagine. Additionally, acrylic is ideal for mixed media applications with watercolor, pastels, collage, ink, and more to create unique effects that truly make your piece stand out from the rest. Acrylic paints are also known for their opacity – the paint can be applied thickly to create texture and depth, or thinned with water or medium to create a translucent wash. Finally, acrylics are resistant to cracking and yellowing, making them a durable option for artists, especially artists who like to paint thick. Types of Acrylic Paint Based on the properties of this medium alone, you can probably see why so many artists enjoy acrylic painting. But there are other benefits to acrylics that make them extremely accessible to artists of all skill levels. Acrylic paints come in a range of types and qualities, including artists' acrylics, student-grade acrylics, and craft acrylics. Here is a quick breakdown of the different types: Artist AcrylicsArtists' acrylics are the highest quality acrylic paints available. They are made with high levels of high-quality pigment and less filler, resulting in cleaner color mixtures. Artists' acrylics are available in a wide range of lightfast colors and are perfect for professional artists who require a high level of control versatility, and longevity in their paintings. We offer a wide variety of artists’ acrylics here at Cheap Joes, from individual paints to acrylic painting sets – our American Journey Artists’ Acrylic Sets are an excellent choice for experienced painters. Student Grade AcrylicsStudent-grade acrylics are a more affordable option than artists' acrylics. Although they may contain the same quality pigments as artist acrylics, they have a lower pigment load, more filler, and can be made of less lightfast pigments They are available in a limited range of colors but are ideal for students or hobbyists who are still learning the basics of painting with acrylics. Craft AcrylicsCraft acrylics are lower quality acrylic paint that is designed for use in crafts and home decor projects where lightfastness is not a concern. They have a low pigment load and a thin consistency, which makes them easy to use for a variety of applications, such as painting on surfaces like wood or glass. Craft acrylics are available in numerous different colors and are great for casual crafters. In addition to these types of acrylic paints, there are also other variations, such as heavy-body acrylics, fluid acrylics, and acrylic inks. Heavy body acrylics have a thick consistency and are ideal for impasto and other techniques that require a lot of texture. Fluid acrylics are thinner and have a higher pigment load, which makes them great for pouring and other techniques that require a smooth, even finish. Acrylic inks are highly concentrated, fluid acrylics that are meant for use in drawing, calligraphy, and other applications where a fine, precise line or wash is required. Acrylic Painting Techniques Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, there are a variety of techniques for this kind of painting that you can use to achieve different effects, from creating texture and depth to blending and layering colors. In this section, we'll explore some of the most popular and effective acrylic painting techniques, including wet-on-wet, glazing, dry-brushing, impasto, and stippling. With these techniques in your toolkit, you'll be able to take your acrylic paintings to the next level and create stunning, unique works of art. Technique #1: Wet-On-Wet The wet-on-wet technique involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface. This technique allows the colors to blend seamlessly, creating a soft and dreamy effect. The wet surface also makes it easier to create smooth transitions between colors and blend them. Here are the steps for using this technique: Prepare your painting surface: Start by priming your surface with gesso and allowing it to dry completely. You can also spray/mist the surface with water to keep it moist and ready for painting. Choose your colors: Select the colors you want to use for your painting and squeeze them onto your palette. When blending acrylics, it’s best to work in small areas at a time so you may only need a few colors mixed at a time. Wet your brush: Dip your brush into water and blot it on a paper towel to remove any excess water. Load your brush with paint: Dip your brush into one of the colors and load it with a good generous amount of paint - the thicker your paint, the slower it will dry. Apply the paint, working in small sections to keep ahead of the drying paint: Using a gentle, sweeping motion, apply the paint to the wet surface. Be sure to work quickly and avoid overworking the paint. Blend the colors: Repeat steps 4 and 5 with your other colors, blending them as you go. You can use a clean brush to help blend the colors without adding extra paint. A fan brush is ideal for this. Continue painting: Once you've covered the area you want to paint, continue to work on other sections of the painting, keeping the surface wet as you go. TIP: Mix your acrylic colors with a retarder medium that will slow the drying time. Or use Golden Open Acrylic Paint which stays wet much longer than normal acrylics, allowing easy blending without feeling rushed. Technique #2: Glazing The glazing technique involves a process of layering thin, transparent coats of paint over a base layer to create depth and luminosity in the artwork. This technique is commonly used in oil painting, but it can also be done successfully with acrylics. Glazing is a rich and beautiful way to build unique layered colors and values. To use the glazing technique, follow these steps: Choose your colors: Select the colors you want to use for your painting and squeeze them onto your palette. You'll need a base color and one or more transparent colors for glazing. Apply the base layer: Using a brush or roller, apply the base color to the entire surface you want to paint. Allow it to dry completely. Mix the glaze: Mix your color with a glazing medium. This is a clear acrylic medium that extends the drying time of the paint and makes it more transparent. The amount of glaze you use will depend on the effect you want to achieve. More medium equals more transparency. Choose from gloss, satin, or matte finishes. Apply the glaze: Using a soft brush, apply the glaze to the surface in thin, transparent layers. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next layer. Build up the layers: Continue to apply thin layers of glaze until you achieve the desired depth and luminosity. Be patient and allow each layer to dry completely before adding the next layer. Finish the painting: Once you've built up the layers, you can add final details and highlights to complete the painting. Detail of Painting by Julie Davis Technique #3: Dry-brushing Dry-brushing involves using a dry brush with a small amount of paint to create a textured, rough, and scratchy effect on the surface of the painting. This technique is used to create the appearance of textures like grass, hair, fur, or wood grain. Here’s how to do it: Choose your brush: Select a stiff-bristled brush, such as a hog-bristle brush or a dry-brush brush. Whatever brush you choose should have firm bristles that can hold the paint without becoming too soft or floppy. Dip the brush into the paint: Dip the brush into the paint, but make sure to remove any excess paint by wiping it off on a paper towel. The brush should have only a small amount of paint on the tips of the bristles. Test the brush: Test the brush on a scrap piece of paper or canvas to see how the paint looks when applied with a dry brush. You can also adjust the amount of paint on the brush by adding more or wiping off excess paint. Apply the paint: Using a light touch, drag the dry brush over the surface of the painting in the direction of the texture you want to create. This will create a textured, scratchy effect that mimics the appearance of the texture. Layer the paint: For a more pronounced effect, layer the paint by applying additional dry brush strokes over the same area. Each layer should have only a small amount of paint on the brush. In this way, colors can build up in layers, peeking through the texture of each subsequent layer to create interesting optical color mixing. Technique #4: Impasto This option involves applying thick layers of paint to create a three-dimensional texture on the surface of the canvas. Impasto is used to create a sense of depth, luminosity, and movement in the artwork. To use the impasto technique with acrylics, follow these steps: Choose your paint: Select high-quality acrylic paint with a thick consistency, such as heavy body acrylics. These paints have a high pigment load and are perfect for creating thick layers of paint. Or you can mix an acrylic gel medium into any viscosity of acrylic paint to give it thickness. Prepare the canvas: Choose a canvas or a painting surface that can support the weight of the thick paint. Apply a layer of gesso or acrylic medium to prime the canvas, and allow it to dry completely. Load the paint: Squeeze a generous amount of paint onto your palette or mixing surface. Use a palette knife or a brush to mix the paint and achieve the desired consistency. Apply the paint: Using a palette knife, spatula, or a brush, apply the paint in thick, textured layers to create the desired effect. Build up the layers to create a sense of depth and movement. If using a brush, choose a stiff-bristled brush, not a soft one. Create texture: While the paint is still wet, use different tools such as sponges, brushes, or palette knives to create texture on the surface of the paint. You can create ridges, bumps, or grooves to create interest and variation in the surface. Allow the paint to dry: Impasto painting requires time to dry completely, and the drying time may vary depending on the thickness of the paint. It's essential to allow each layer to dry completely before adding additional layers. Technique #5: Stippling The last technique we’re going to discuss is stippling. This one involves applying tiny dots or stippled marks of paint to create a textured, pointillist effect on the surface of the canvas, creating the appearance of texture, light, and shadow in the artwork. To achieve the stippling technique with your acrylics, follow these steps: Choose your brush: Select a small, stiff-bristled brush, such as a round or flat brush. The brush should have firm bristles that can hold the paint without becoming too soft or floppy. Load the brush: Dip the brush into the paint, making sure to remove any excess paint by wiping it off on a paper towel. The brush should have only a small amount of paint on the tips of the bristles. Apply the paint: Using a light touch, apply the paint to the canvas in small, dotted marks or stippled patterns. Vary the pressure and the density of the dots to create a textured, pointillist effect. Layer the paint: For a more pronounced effect, layer the paint by applying additional stippled marks over the same area. Each layer should have only a small amount of paint on the brush. Adding lots of stippled layers is the key to success with this technique. Create texture: Use different brush sizes, shapes, and colors to create variation in the texture and the color of the paint. Experiment with different techniques to create effects. Detail of Painting by Jan Toorop Acrylic Painting Tips and Tricks Looking for some more tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your acrylic painting experience? Here are 9 additional aspects to consider when you’re working with acrylics: Keep your brushes clean: Acrylic paint dries quickly, so it's important to keep your brushes clean. Make sure to regularly clean your brushes with warm water as you’re working, and do a deep clean afterward, using warm water and a small amount of mild soap. Use a palette knife: Palette knives are useful for applying thick layers of paint, creating texture, and scraping away mistakes. Experiment with different shapes and sizes to see what works best for you. They can also preserve your brush bristles longer by mixing colors on your palette instead of using your brush. Layering: Acrylics dry quickly, so layering is key to building up depth and complexity in your painting. Start with thin layers and gradually build up thicker layers as you go. Experiment with mediums: Acrylics can be mixed with a variety of mediums to alter their properties. For example, adding a matte medium can give your paint a satin finish, while adding a gloss medium can make it shiny. Experiment with different mediums to see how they affect your paint. Use a spray bottle: If you're working on a large canvas and want to keep your paint wet, use a spray bottle to mist the surface with water. This will help prevent the paint from drying out too quickly. Don't be afraid to mix colors: Acrylics are very forgiving when it comes to mixing colors. So get adventurous – try out different combinations to create unique hues and shades. You can always paint over it later if you don’t like it! Work from dark to light: As you’re painting, you’ll want to start with darker colors and gradually work towards lighter ones. This will help you build up depth and create a more realistic-looking painting. Use a white gesso base: Applying a layer of white gesso to your surface before painting can help your colors appear brighter and more vibrant. Alternatively, use a colored gesso to create instant color interest from the beginning. Use a limited color palette: Limiting your color palette can help you create more cohesive and harmonious artwork. Choose a few colors that work well together and stick with them as the main colors of your painting. Elevate Your Work with Cheap Joe’s By following these tips and tricks, you can improve your painting skills and create acrylic artwork that you're truly proud of. Just remember, the most important thing is to experiment, have fun, and never stop learning! Don’t forget to shop Cheap Joe’s for all your art supply needs – we offer high-quality products for artists of all skill levels. And if you need inspiration, check out the Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff YouTube channel. We’re always posting sample clips, instructional videos, and even art lessons so you can improve your craft anywhere, anytime.
Acrylic Painting: Tips, Tricks, and Techniques ...
Acrylic painting is a versatile and popular medium used by artists worldwide. It is known (and loved) for its fast-drying properties, water solubility, and flexibility, as it’s able to be...
Top Deals for Acrylic Painters
Beat the mad dash and start shopping now! Some of our best and top-tested supplies are marked down to bring you holiday deals on everything from our best acrylic paint sets to gifts that line your stockings.
Top Deals for Acrylic Painters
Beat the mad dash and start shopping now! Some of our best and top-tested supplies are marked down to bring you holiday deals on everything from our best acrylic paint...
Tips and Tricks for Making Your Acrylic Paintin...
It makes sense that, as artists, we would assume the most important parts of our art are the colors, designs, lines, brush strokes, or even our muse. When it comes to acrylic painting, we’re talking about the finished product – the thing that everyone sees at the end and admires. What we may not pay as much attention to (but definitely should) are the beginning layer and the end layer of the piece. These features are extremely important if we want the art to last. In this blog post, I want to talk about the importance of properly prepping your surface before you begin painting, and how you can protect your artwork after you’ve completed it. After all, your painting can be destroyed by the elements from the moment you put your brush to the surface. I know it sounds intimidating, but it’s vital that you understand the importance of these steps, and that you learn how to take care of your art from start to finish, and everything in between. The Painting GroundTo start with, you need to make sure that a substrate has been properly base coated. This will allow the paints or mediums to form a secure bond to the surface, therefore resulting in a painting that will last a lifetime. To achieve this, the medium and the base coat have to be compatible. This is a very important step, because if you have incompatible aspects, then your painting can develop cracks and end up separating from the surface. Every medium has a preferred ground that you’ll want to work with, and you’ll find that not every type of paint will stick to every surface. You can still apply the paints to other surfaces, but if you want the best, longest-lasting results, you’ll want to keep the following pairings in mind: Acrylic – acrylic primed cotton canvas or wood surfacesWatercolor – 100% pure cotton rag watercolor paperOil – oil primed linen or cotton canvasPastel – sand-coated paper or textured heavyweight paperColored Pencil/Charcoal – smooth or slightly toothy heavyweight paperMarker – coated marker paperEncaustic – encaustic gessoed wooden panelsEgg Tempera – rabbit glue gessoed wood surfacesAlcohol Inks – clean, non-porous surfaces including tile, metal, glass, and Yupo Of course, the list could continue forever, but you get the idea. If you don’t take the time to prepare your substrate properly, then your paint won’t have anything to adhere to. Acrylic Paints with the Golden TouchGolden Artist Colors, Inc., also known as “Golden,” has developed multiple acrylic grounds and gessos to ensure that your colors stay where you need them to. Here at Cheap Joe’s, we offer the following Golden Acrylic Gessos: White or Black Acrylic Gesso – a ready-to-use acrylic liquid ground that’s prepared with more dry solids than acrylic paint, which provides tooth and expertly prepares a substrate for oil or acrylic application.It’s important to note that, while oil paints will stick to this ground, an oil painting ground or primer tends to make a better base coat for oils. You can also apply watercolors to an acrylic ground with minimal water content, but there are specific “watercolor gessos” that are designed to keep watercolor washes from resisting the acrylic surface. This can cause the paint to bead up and form a puddle on the surface. Hard Sandable Gesso – this gesso results in a harder surface and heavier consistency when dried and gives you the option to leave various textures on your painting surface. Acrylic Ground for Pastels – features a fine grit that offers the required tooth to hold the pastel dust to the substrate. Now that you’ve created a strong surface base coat, you can move on to the most exciting part – the painting! You can express yourself to your heart’s content, knowing that you don’t have to worry about your painting getting ruined.If you’re looking for a new set of gels, consider checking out the Golden Introductory Gel Medium Set. This set is a great way for you to sample some popular gels before buying full-sized products. We love Golden because they have the most expansive line of professional quality paints, gels, mediums, and texture mediums. Check out any of the following categories to find the highest quality products at great prices: Golden Open AcrylicsGolden Heavy Body AcrylicsGolden Fluid AcrylicsGolden GelsGolden Molding PasteGolden Specialty MediumsGolden Texture MediumsGolden Fluid Mediums Protect Your Work, Don’t Forget the Final LayerNow that you’ve created a beautiful piece of artwork, it’s time to apply the top coat. This acts as a barrier to help protect your art from various dangers, such as grime, dust, fingerprints, sand, oils, or light. While light is important when it comes to viewing the artwork, it will also immediately start working to deteriorate the piece. The longer the art is exposed to the light, the duller the colors will become. The paint can also begin to crack and separate from your substrate. This might not happen right away. It could take years for you to visibly see any damage on your painting. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen eventually, so it’s imperative that you protect your art for as long as possible. When it comes to varnishing, Golden has a pretty simple system. Here are the Golden Acrylic varnishes that we have available at Cheap Joe’s: Golden Polymer Varnishes with UVLsThis is a water-based acrylic polymer varnish that is formulated to provide extra defense from ultraviolet radiation. Designed as a topcoat for acrylic paints, this varnish offers a removable protective surface for the soft acrylic paint layer. It tends to have a harder film than most acrylic paints, allowing the surface to be less susceptible to dirt and dust. It also provides enhanced protection from any moisture, marring, or scratching that may occur. The Polymer Varnish is intended for indoor use only and is not meant to be used on furniture or other surfaces that are prone to physical contact when in use. This varnish can be removed easily because it remains soluble in alkaline solvents like ammonia. When removing the varnish, you will also simultaneously be removing any surface contamination. But don’t worry – the removal won’t cause any damage to the painting. If you’re trying to clean or restore a painting, then this could be a useful product for you. The Polymer Varnish is available in three finishes: gloss, satin, and matte. The gloss will dry to an extremely reflective finish. The satin option still offers a moderate reflection. The matte varnish is flat. You’ll want to thin this varnish before use, and it’s preferable to either spray or use a brush application with Golden varnishes. Golden Archival Spray Varnish (Mineral Spirit Acrylic Aerosol with UVLS) I like to call this the “Do It All Varnish,” because it can quite literally do it all. You can use this varnish for almost anything because it has very few limitations. The Golden Archival Varnish is formulated with 100% solvent-based, reversible acrylic polymer resins. This product was designed to produce a clear, flexible film that will protect against various environmental concerns. It targets issues such as ultraviolet light, moisture, and dirt. Better yet, the cured coating is highly resistant to yellowing. The Golden Archival Varnish will adhere well to most surfaces, as long as they aren’t oily. If you’re using it on fresh oil paint films, or if there are residual surfactants present with your water-based paint films, then the varnish may not stick very well. This varnish remains flexible and defies alterations in appearance as time goes on. Media Application Methods for Golden Archival VarnishWe know that different paints and substrates have their ideal circumstances. It’s important to abide by these circumstances when using the Golden Archival Varnish. Before you begin, you should always start by testing out the varnish on either a scrap piece or a non-visible area before proceeding to use the product on your final artwork. Listed below are general application guidelines for common substrates. For example, permeable substrates require multiple layers of gloss to seal the surface. For more detailed information regarding concerns about specific media, please review various information sources, such as artists’ handbooks. Applying Acrylic Paint Isolation CoatsWith acrylic paints, isolation coats need to be applied per the MSA Varnish directions. You can find these directions in the main Golden Varnish document. You’ll want to give the varnish 24 hours to cure the final isolation coat layer. Once that’s finished, you can continue to build layers of the Archival Varnish if necessary. When working with acrylic paints, you’ll want to consider using an isolation coat. This is something that is only used on acrylic paintings; it should never be used on oil paintings. An isolation coat is a permanent coating that works to separate the removable varnish from the paint surface. It aids in the protection of your surface in case the varnish is ever removed. So, if you’re going to be working on any conservation or varnish removal projects in the future, using an isolation coat before varnishing can be very beneficial. If you’re wanting to use a brush application, you can alter the isolation to the right medium by diluting the Golden Soft Gel Gloss with some water. You’ll want to use two parts by volume of the Soft Gel Gloss to one part of water. If you prefer a spray application, use a two-to-one mixture of Golden GAC-500 to the Transparent Airbrush Extender. This product can be applied with a touch-up spray unit, an airbrush, or any kind of commercial spray equipment. You might have to increase the number of isolation layers you put on your surface, depending on how absorbent it ends up being. For most non-absorbent surfaces, you should be fine with one or two coats of isolation. For more absorbent surfaces, you could end up using two or more brush application coats, or three or more if you’re using a spray application. You want the final result to have a satin sheen to it, so you’ll need to make adjustments accordingly. Oil/Water Soluble Oils or Alkyd PaintsFor oil/water soluble oils or Alkyd paints, you’ll want to account for a minimum curing time of 6-12 months (if you’re using the isolation coat as a final varnish). If it’s just a temporary varnish, make sure the painting is dry to the touch before using anything on it. Having substantial layers of oil paint that isn’t dry will hinder oxidation development, causing the varnish to fail. The number of layers you’ll need will vary, so just apply layers of the Archival Varnish with UVLs as you see fit for your artwork. Graphite/Pastels/Colored Pencil/Marker/Watercolor/GouacheResults of using the Archival Spray Varnish over these mediums have varied drastically, so it’s extremely important that you do not use the product to top coat, varnish, or fix your artwork without running extensive tests beforehand. We’ve found that the varnish can cause an overall darkening of the artwork, which could potentially be avoided, but should be noted anyway. After all, you don’t want to ruin your piece! If you decide to use the varnish after testing it first, make sure you begin by applying light coats of gloss varnish. When dried, these light layers will eventually form a glossy film. Once you’ve accomplished that, you can move on to applying layers of whatever sheen you want. Applying Varnish with Inkjet PrintsWith inkjet prints, you can usually put the Golden Archival Varnish with UVLs directly onto the print, but you’ll still want to take the substrate absorbency and your desired protection level into consideration. Multiple thin coats will work for moisture resistance, but you’ll want to do some testing if you’re going to be applying any gels that are water-based on top of the varnish. Special Uses for VarnishesThere are a few other special finishes that the varnishes can be used with. These finishes are watercolor and alcohol ink. In the past, it wasn’t very common for artists to apply varnish to their watercolor paintings due to the fear of potential alteration of the piece. However, some current artists have ventured out and sealed their watercolor paintings with a varnish, and are okay with the changes that will occur. If you’re interested in trying out this technique, it’s a good idea to test it out on a smaller watercolor first before moving on to a large piece. When you’re ready to begin the application, you’ll want to spray the piece with the Golden Archival Gloss Spray Varnish, applying three light coats. Make sure you allow each coat to dry before going in with the next one. Then you can go in with additional coats of either a matte or satin finish. You can see the difference between the two watercolor paintings in this image. The top tile was sprayed with a satin varnish, and the bottom was not sprayed at all. For anything made with an alcohol ink finish, you don’t necessarily need to use a varnish at all. Dried ink tends to be quite durable, so you most likely won’t need any extra protection. If you find that you do need an added layer (like if you aren’t planning on framing the piece) then you can seal it with a spray varnish. If you need further protection, apply a brush-on coat afterward. You’ll want to make sure that the product is fully dry, so allow it to do so overnight, and then you can proceed with applying one or two coats of the gloss. Follow that up with either a satin or matte layer; this will alter the sheen. Note: When using the satin and matte finishes, make sure you consider their solids matting agents. These agents help to reduce the sheen of your artwork. This is imperative when you decide to apply these to darker, more saturated colors (like alcohol inks) because heavy coats will end up giving you a dull, cloudy finish. For more thorough information on these varnish products, please visit Golden’s website. Things To Remember When Applying VarnishBefore using any of the varnishes, don’t forget to shake your spray varnish can. It’s recommended that you do this for at least two minutes. This is a very important step, so don’t forget! It doesn’t matter how you shake it, just that you do so for the entire recommended duration. Check out this video that Golden made, where they demonstrate various ways to shake a varnish can: It’s also super important that you take your time during the application process. You want to apply the varnish correctly the first time, to avoid any damage to your painting. The following video is a demonstration of the right way to apply the spray to achieve the best results: When you use products from Golden Artist Colors, Inc., you can create with confidence that you’re working with some of the best materials on the market. This company is very well-known in the world of acrylic painting materials, and for good reason. They’ve spent many years perfecting their products! If you find yourself needing more in-depth information about any of Golden’s products, you can head on over to their website. They have a great site that has tons of educational and instructional materials. They also have several tutorial videos that can show you how to use their products. If you still have questions after viewing their website, you can contact their representatives. They have plenty of artists and employees who will be happy to assist you! If you’re looking for more art inspiration, make sure to browse around our blog page. You’ll find tons of posts on all sorts of topics. Also, don’t forget to check out Cheap Joe’s Facebook page, where you’ll find the most recent updates on our best deals, as well as other information about our Art Stuff. After reading through this blog post, we hope we’ve been successful in helping you recognize the importance of protecting your artwork. When you put so much time and effort into making something beautiful, you want it to last a lifetime. So, the next time you find yourself wanting to start a new acrylic painting, refer back to these tips and tricks for protecting your piece. A solid defense begins with proper preparation and ends with the right protective coat. We’ve given you the best tools for the beginning and end, but the middle (the best part!) is up to you. So what are you waiting for? Get those creative juices flowing and start on your next painting today. We’re sure it’ll be the best one yet, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for years to come thanks to these preservation techniques.
Tips and Tricks for Making Your Acrylic Paintin...
It makes sense that, as artists, we would assume the most important parts of our art are the colors, designs, lines, brush strokes, or even our muse. When it comes...
How To Achieve A Spray Paint Marble Effect
A couple of months ago, I heard about using nail polish in water to marble paper and other items, but it wasn’t until a few days ago that I learned you could use something a bit more economical: spray paint!
How To Achieve A Spray Paint Marble Effect
A couple of months ago, I heard about using nail polish in water to marble paper and other items, but it wasn’t until a few days ago that I learned...
A New Kind of Canvas: Shoes Were Made for Paint...
What’s the least-conventional thing you’ve ever painted on? A windowpane? Maybe a tree branch? What about shoes? Canvas is canvas, right? At least, that’s how I see it. For this project, I picked up a pair of plain, white shoes from a local thrift shop and gave them a brand new life using Golden High Flow Acrylics.
A New Kind of Canvas: Shoes Were Made for Paint...
What’s the least-conventional thing you’ve ever painted on? A windowpane? Maybe a tree branch? What about shoes? Canvas is canvas, right? At least, that’s how I see it. For this project, I...
Why Should You Try American Journey Acrylic Pai...
With the sheer volume of acrylic paints on the market, it can be frustrating and expensive to find the right paints for you. How do you know if the paint has a strong pigment or if it can blend well with other colors? Most of the time, you have to spend money on the paints before you know what the quality is truly like, which can result in you taking a risk of possibly wasting your money on a sub-par product.So, how do you choose the right acrylic paints? We think it’s best to rely on professionals for advice. At Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, our mission is to deliver you the best quality products for the best value. And we believe that American Journey Artists’ Acrylics are some of the best acrylic paints on the market today! American Journey products have been a staple at Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff since 1998 for two very good reasons: Their quality never fails, and their value is unmatched. American Journey produces a wide variety of art supplies, including high-quality brushes, sketchbooks, watercolor sticks, palettes, mediums, and even studio furniture. But their Artists’ Acrylic paints are truly the showstoppers of the brand. Their vibrant, concentrated formulas deliver stunning pigments that don’t dull when color-mixing and perform beautifully on paper and canvas. +V373 Pigment Quality and Paint Characteristics The most important characteristic of acrylic paints is the quality and number of pigments used in the formula. Premium acrylic paints ideally contain only one pigment. The fewer pigments in a paint, the easier it will be to mix colors. If acrylics contain two or more pigments, mixing the paints can risk blending all three primary colors, creating a dull brown shade. Therefore, over half of the American Journey acrylics are single-pigment paints. This makes color-mixing simple and stress-free! The American Journey Acrylic Paint formula contains a unique blend of acrylic polymer emulsion, which gives the paint a high viscosity, leaving a flexible finish when dry. The pigments are finely-ground and “mill-strength,” which gives the acrylics an especially high tinting strength. This high-tinting strength means less paint is needed to cover a surface, and they will retain their vibrant color when mixed with white to lighten. All 60 shades come packaged in air-tight collapsible aluminum tubes and are available in 60 or 150 ml.Here are some noticeable qualities we found when working with the American Journey Artists’ Acrylics:1. The paints have a smooth, creamy texture when wet2. The acrylics dry fast and remain flexible when dry to prevent cracking3. The pure pigments create an easy mixing process4. The colors dry evenly5. The paints have a moderate sheen when used in full strength6. The sheen was reduced when mixed with Tint White7. Tint White is good for mixing; Titanium White is good for covering One of the best ways that we can demonstrate the quality of these acrylic paints is by creating a complete color swatch chart. Using all 60 American Journey colors, we created a color chart using the paints at their full strengths and then again at a 50% lightened version. Our eventual goal is to create such a chart for each of our paint lines, to be used as a visual tool for our customers. Having a color chart to reference when painting can be invaluable. Use the step-by-step instructions below to create your own color chart! Creating a Color Chart All paint brands use different formulas, so their paints will perform differently. Having a visual aid that displays each shade and its lightened version can be very helpful when trying out new paints or re-using old favorites. Here is an example of how to make a color chart using American Journey Artists’ Acrylics:Necessary Supplies:• 60 Tubes of American Journey Artists’ Acrylics• 18 x 24 Joe’s Prime Extra Fine Art Board• Joe Miller Signature Series Gesso• Richeson Grey Matters 12 x 16 Paper Palette• ½ Inch Flat American Journey Interlocked Synthetic Brush• #81 Cheap Joe’s Painting Knife• Yupo Watercolor Paper• X-Acto Gripster KnifePreparation: Apply three coats of the Signature Series Gesso to the Prime Extra Fine Art Board, letting each layer dry in between. Alternate directions of the coats to minimize brush strokes. To fit all 60 shades on the art board, they should be arranged in 12 rows of 5 colors each. To minimize pencil lines on the board, create a placement template out of Yupo Watercolor Paper using a ruler and an X-Acto Gripster Knife. The paper template should have five 2” long by 1” tall swatch areas cut out. There should be ½ inches between the rows. Painting: Begin squeezing small amounts of the American Journey Artists’ Acrylic Paints onto the Richeson Grey Matters Paper Palette. Only use a few colors at a time so they don’t dry out while you’re mixing. Use the 1/2-inch flat brush to swatch the true color on half of the swatch area. Then using the #81 Painting Knife, mix a 1:1 ratio of the color with Tint White to show the tinting strength of each color. Swatch the lightened mixture on the other half of the swatch area. Each swatch area should represent a single color: the true shade and a 50% lightened version. Continue mixing and painting swatches of each color until the board is filled. You can arrange the colors in any way that suits your style best. We used a typical color family sequence, similar to the color wheel, starting with bright yellow and ending with neutrals and black and whites. When you are finished with the swatches, let the paint dry completely. Then add names and item numbers to each swatch for reference. A swatch is only helpful if you know which color it is!
Why Should You Try American Journey Acrylic Pai...
With the sheer volume of acrylic paints on the market, it can be frustrating and expensive to find the right paints for you. How do you know if the paint...
Decorative Tole Painting: A Modern Heritage
Tole painting is probably the most common and widely practiced arts of all among beginners and novice artists. The most beloved family objects tend to be high-quality utensils or furniture, painted freehand with favorite patterns, colors or flowers, humorous themes, family in-jokes, or illustrations of favorite or family stories.
Decorative Tole Painting: A Modern Heritage
Tole painting is probably the most common and widely practiced arts of all among beginners and novice artists. The most beloved family objects tend to be high-quality utensils or furniture,...
Group Art Ideas to Inspire and Challenge
Sometimes at Cheap Joe's, we love tackling unique group art ideas. We also understand that coming up with those group art ideas can be challenging whether you are an art teacher, student, or simply encouraging creativity around you. You might have noticed that I've been absent lately, and I apologize for that! We've been busy working hard here at Cheap Joes, but now that I have a moment, I have something exciting to share that might inspire you! For the past month, we've also been working on a group art idea centered around the beautiful painting, A Wheatfield with Cypresses, by Vincent Van Gogh. Our group art idea was to re-imagine this gorgeous classic painting into a collaborative project done between 36 different artists, and it's finally finished! So how did we do it, and how can you do something similar? 1. PlanningFirst, we chose a famous painting. In this case, A Wheatfield with Cypresses, by Vincent Van Gogh. Next, one of our talented Graphic Designers, Erin, collected the names of all the artists interested in participating and divided the painting into equivalent sections. You can see the divided section of the artwork that I chose, circled below. 2. SectioningOnce every artist was assigned a section, we sent each of them an 11"x14" Joe's Prime Cradled Painting Panel along with a printout of their section, and then the painting as a whole for further reference. We chose to-scale printouts of each section to help us ensure that our edges would line up as seamlessly as possible without a mess of crooked designs. Here's Erin, hard at work, distributing panels and printouts for all the artists. And below, here's one of our fantastic Marketing Assistants, Lori, providing much-needed group art support and unique flare. 3. Create!This part of the process is, in my opinion, the most fun. Each artist is free to recreate their painting section in their style or medium of choice. In my case, I decided that I wanted to make sure my panel lined up with its neighbors as much as possible, so I grabbed a piece of Saral Wax-Free Transfer Paper. Next, I placed the transfer paper between the panel and my printout to trace the major lines to get a good basic shape, paying attention to the bars along the edges the most. Though you can't really see it well in the image above due to the angle, the lines came out perfectly crisp, which is excellent. I've got a solid base down and am ready to choose paints. I decided to go with acrylic paints and grabbed an assortment of our Joe's Prime Really Good Lightfast Acrylic colors that mostly matched the colors I saw in my panel. (I say mostly because I knew to match better, I needed to mix colors for the perfect shades I wanted.) I mixed a combination of Bright Aqua Green, Light Blue Violent, and Titanium white to create the shades I felt matched best. I began with an even layer of a mixture of teal, and while it was wet, I quickly added a few dollops of Titanium White for blending. I chose to add white within the teal so that I could mimic the almost chunky, 3D, and heavy strokes found in the painting, something that Van Gough is most famous for, and I wanted to emulate that as closely as I could. I mixed up some purple clouds for my finishing touches and added the very top corner of the cypress tree that I had in my section. I wanted to give my panel a bit more of a personal touch, something in my own style, so I considered doodling over the basic outlines of my panel. I wasn't sure yet, so I decided to test my idea without ruining the panel to prevent making a mistake I couldn't return from. I decided to tape a sheet of 11"x14" Polyester Film over my panel and began doodling on that instead. I began by just lining the major shapes of my brush stroke texture, and I really enjoyed that effect on its own. But I decided to try and take it a step further and began to doodle lines in some of the corner sections. I eventually realized that I felt as if the little circles were so close together that they began blocking out entire sections of the painting underneath. I tried a second attempt at circles on a larger scale with a different shape, and I thought it looked much better. I was still experimenting, so I continued this process until I mainly had one corner covered where I could take a break, stand back, and gauge my feelings on what I had done so far. I ultimately decided that the doodling of shapes made it far too busy and scrapped my polyester sheet. I did, however, learn that I really loved the way everything looked by being lined in a simple black. So I took my black brush-tip Pitt Artist Pen and decided to go over my lines, but this time directly on my painting. Above is the finished, lined image of my section of the painting and all that was left was to wait to see what the other artists in our group did with their pieces before putting it all together. Here's how it turned out! As you can see, everything lined up so well! I am really impressed with the talent and different interpretations and artist styles on each of our separate panels having turned into a cohesive and natural-looking finished group art piece. It's incredible to see one of our inspiring group art ideas being hung up and displayed as part of an exhibition in the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. If you get the chance, drop by the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum today to experience fantastic art!Collaborative art ideas are a great way to promote and foster community and learn new group art skills, so we highly encourage you to take a group art idea and run with it!
Group Art Ideas to Inspire and Challenge
Sometimes at Cheap Joe's, we love tackling unique group art ideas. We also understand that coming up with those group art ideas can be challenging whether you are an art...
Spring Art Swap!
Hi, everyone! It was a great week over here at Cheap Joe's headquarters! For a little over a month now, our employees have been working diligently to create a one-of-a-kind work of art to be swapped for another unique piece made by a fellow employee! Well, today was the day of the swap, and I am extremely excited to show you the products of some of the amazing artists we have here! The theme, of course, was "spring"--but we encouraged the participants to interpret that however they pleased OR go in a different direction entirely. After all, art knows no bounds! In alphabetical order: Artwork by Alex Skala, retail associate at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Alicia Orlando, a member of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Aly Perez, manager of our Asheville Retail Store. Artwork by Amanda Chapman, manager of our Boone Outlet Store. Artwork by Annabelle Prince, manager of our Charlotte Retail Store. Artwork by Becky Stines, part of our receiving gang. (This is the panel I got!) Artwork by Bri Stoehr, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Brian Dubberly, our Marketing Manager. Alicia Orlando also created this piece, on behalf of a new employee in the Distribution Center named Bryan Elrod. Artwork by Byron Cook, our Web Developer is in charge of the entire Cheap Joe's website! Artwork by Carlee Hudson (that's me!), marketing assistant/copywriter/blogger extraordinaire. Artwork by Christy Firk, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Danie Firth, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Dawn Hill, roommate to one of our Call Center gurus, Tammy Guilford. Artwork by Derrick Fowler, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Edwina May, our Workshop Coordinator. Artwork by Erin Guffey, one of our graphic designers, who works on our seasonal sale flyers and orchestrates these art swaps! Artwork by Jacob Woehler, one of the retail associates at our Asheville Location. And here's the back of Jacob's--we're a silly bunch :) Artwork by Jana Smith, another member of our receiving gang. Artwork by Janalee Burke, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Jane Laferla, one of the retail associates at our Asheville location. Artwork by Kevin Brown, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte Location. Artwork by Kevin Bryan, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Lauren Murrell, another retail associate at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Linda Greenup, a retail associate at our Asheville location. Artwork by Lori Inman, the other marketing assistant, in charge of finding awesome new products. Artwork by Luke Russell, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Megan Hart, Content/SEO Management Artwork by Meghann Miller Williams, in charge of promotional donations. Artwork by Michael White, part of the Distribution Center team. Artwork by Michelle Dineen, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Phillip Church, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Sally Garner, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Tammy Guilford, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Taylor Bowers, marketing. Artwork by Terry Henry, part of the graphics team. Artwork by Tippy Kleinman, one of the retail associates in our Boone Outlet Store. And last but certainly not least, Web Alexander, manager/guru supreme of the Call Center.
Spring Art Swap!
Hi, everyone! It was a great week over here at Cheap Joe's headquarters! For a little over a month now, our employees have been working diligently to create a one-of-a-kind...
Spring Succulent Sanctuary!
Hello, everyone! Who's ready for spring? I know I am. The weather has been gorgeous this week--but they say we're supposed to get snow on Sunday! In an effort to fight this Indian Winter, I bought myself a little jade plant to keep in the window by my desk. (Not a photo of mine, but this is a jade plant.) I've used some pretty creative things as planters over the years: Like these dinosaur toys that I gutted and painted! Can you tell I like succulents? So I knew I needed to give this new baby a nice home. I have this terracotta pot (that I believe I stole from my mom a few years ago), but I'm not a huge fan of the pattern on the middle of it. Since I knew anything I painted onto the pot would still show this pattern, I decided to cover it with paper instead! If you've read some of my other posts, you know that covering ugly stuff with gorgeous handmade paper is one of my favorite techniques; it's quick, usually inexpensive, and--most importantly--easy! I went next door and grabbed this pack of stunning monochromatic paper by Shizen. And the process was simple enough: I began by priming the whole pot (two layers on the rim and saucer) with Joe's Prime Really Good Gesso. When that dried insanely quickly, I could put down my paint layer. I painted the rim and saucer with my absolute favorite accent color, Golden's Iridescent Gold Deep (Fine). These are the parts I wasn't going to cover with paper. When that was good and dry, I used Golden Soft Gel Medium (Gloss) to adhere the paper to the pot. One sheet didn't quite wrap around it entirely, but because of how busy the pattern is, you'd hardly be able to tell I had to do any overlapping. When the paper-covered everything, I trimmed it down to the bottom of the pot with an X-Acto Knife and glued the edges down with more gel medium. With another coat of gel medium to seal the paper and paint, I was finished! What a happy little jade! And now it lives in the window, hopefully beckoning springtime and rebuking the snow! There is soo much you can do to create one-of-a-kind planters, especially on these cheap little terracotta pots.
Spring Succulent Sanctuary!
Hello, everyone! Who's ready for spring? I know I am. The weather has been gorgeous this week--but they say we're supposed to get snow on Sunday! In an effort to...
Speedball Screenprinting Workshop!
Hey, everybody! A few weeks ago, we were lucky to have two representatives from Speedball come and show us how to use all the awesome new screen printing stuff we've just started carrying and how to use them! First, Kim (left) and Melissa (right) gave us a rundown of some of the inks we picked up. The teal jar Melissa is holding is part of the line of Acrylic Screen Printing Ink--works the same as regular old acrylic paint, in that it's permanent when dry and highly pigmented for bold, opaque colors! The dark blue jar is the Fabric Screen Printing Ink--just like it says, this is ink that is made to be used on fabric and will hold up to the most powerful washing machines once it's properly heat-set. Of course you can use these inks interchangeably, but the acrylic goes on smoother and is ideal for putting down single layers on paper, while the fabric ink has a thicker consistency that'll definitely stick to your clothes! Then we talked about the two kinds of screens we'll have: wooden and aluminum. The Wooden Screen Frames are your standard screen printing frames that work perfectly with both fabric and acrylic inks. The Aluminum Screen Frames are the step up from those because they're a bit sturdier and can have finer screens, allowing for more intricate printing details. Next, Melissa explained to us the pros and cons of different screen-filling techniques. First, you've got your simple stencil method (which Kim is holding up), where you can tape either a stencil you've bought or cut out yourself to the back of your frame and then you push the ink through it and onto your surface. Melissa said they've found that the Bienfang Graphics #360 Marker Paper works wonderfully for stencils because it's translucent, waterproof, and very easy to cut through. Speedball also has this great Block Out Tape with an adhesive strong enough to withstand inks without leaving any sticky residue on your screen! Tip: a coworker who has a lot of experience in screen printing prefers to use vinyl stickers for stencils because they stick right to the screen and you don't have to worry about the possibility of them moving! Because of the impermanence of stencils, this technique is recommended for those who are only making a handful of prints. Second, there's the drawing fluid technique. As you can see from the labels, the bottom layer is just Drawing Fluid used on a screen if you printed this as is, you would get ink on everything except for "Speedball Drawing Fluid." The middle layer is drawing fluid with Screen Filler in the remaining empty parts of the screen (ya know, because it fills the holes). This is the next step you would take if you wanted to get to the top layer, where they've rinsed the drawing fluid while the screen filler stays to make it so "Speedball" is now the only thing that gets inked. This method is more permanent and reliable than the stencil method and is recommended for those who are making <100 prints. And then there's the photo emulsion technique--the most advanced method of screen printing. The top layer is your blank screen (obviously. The next layer is filled in with a mixture of Photo Emulsion and Sensitizer--you need BOTH of these for the photo emulsion technique and, thankfully, there's a kit to make sure you have the right ratio! Once that dries in a dark place (Melissa recommended the drawer under your oven if you don't have cookie sheets in there), place or tape a photo positive (meaning the dark parts are what you want to be inked) that's printed onto a clear surface, like polyester film or acetate onto the front of your screen. Rather than using a printed image, you could also paint directly onto your clear surface with some super-dark India Ink--whatever you do, just make sure your image is completely opaque. The final layer is the result of exposing your screen to a light source and then rinsing out the unexposed areas aka your design! This technique is extremely reliable and recommended for those who are making hundreds of prints. If you're worried about not being able to reuse your screens, you shouldn't be! The drawing fluid and screen filler can both be washed out with soap and warm water, and the photo emulsion can be removed with--you guessed it--Photo Emulsion Remover! After dropping all of this knowledge on us, Kim and Melissa thought it was time for the fun part: printing! Since they already had a photo emulsion screen ready, we jumped right in to print some Speedball logos on these awesome bags they brought for us! With a craft stick, I applied what I thought was a reasonable amount of ink to the top of my screen... But Melissa said I needed more, so I added more. With screen printing, you don't need to worry about using too much ink because whatever you don't use can simply be added back into your jar and saved for another print! Then came the moment of truth! Melissa explained how I should hold my Squeegee at about a 45-degree angle and drag the ink down my screen slowly and carefully. If you don't have a friend or Speedball representative to hold your screen down for you, it's necessary to grab a Base Unit to keep it from sliding around. Once I pulled the ink over the screen once, I was done! But Melissa says it's a good idea to pull the ink back over your design (with your screen in the air above your surface) as what is referred to as "flooding." This fills ONLY your design with ink and makes it ready for a second pull across your surface. Woohoo! Look at that! My very own screen printed bag! After that, we had a little fun with cutting out our own stencils and using different inks for different surfaces. Here's Web, our call center supervisor, about to print with a stencil I made for him. This gorgeous blue is actually part of the Night-Glo line, which glows in the dark! Night-Glo comes in fabric ink as well as acrylic ink, giving our outlet store manager, Amanda, the opportunity to brand her apron with this design she made of her initials! In the light, this design made by our search engine optimizer, Megan, is a radiant "Peacock Blue." But with the lights out, it glows an incredible green! I've had some issues getting even coverage with glow-in-the-dark paint before, but screen printing ensures perfectly even coating! You can probably tell I'm pretty excited about this new line of supplies, so go and check them out yourselves!
Speedball Screenprinting Workshop!
Hey, everybody! A few weeks ago, we were lucky to have two representatives from Speedball come and show us how to use all the awesome new screen printing stuff we've...
