Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Suggested Painting w/Oils or Acrylic Supply List

 Pottle's Painting Supply Lists:

Acrylic Painting: 

Easel and dropcloth (for Lincoln Landscape class and Fruitlands classes only)
1.5" – 2” house painting brushes &/or sponge brushes, (the made in China brushes at the hardware store are fine),  pallet knife,  Acrylic matte & gloss mediums (Liquitex brand), rags or paper towels, 18"x24” paper pallet or a roll of Freezer Paper (purchase at a grocery store, not wax paper), plastic wrap, Muffin tray with zip lock bag to store paints, bucket for water, tuna cans for medium, a roll of pre-primed canvas, or you can size your own paper with gesso (do this way before class) or buy an 18”x24” canvas pad which is ready to go, 18”x24” drawing board, spray bottle, masking tape, newspaper, variety of brushes #10 & up (no small brushes), buy a round, flat & filbert for variety. Make sure they are acrylic brushes, synthetic brushes with long handles. Ivory soap, paper cups & plastic spoons. My favorite brand of paint: Golden or Windsor Newton. There are cheaper brands. The more expensive paints you get, the better colors, but you might be more frugal in use. If so, buy inexpensive paints, large tubes. 

Oil Panting: 

NO SOLVENTS IN MY CLASSES, IE.:  PAINT THINNER, TURPS. MINERAL SPIRITS- ODERLESS OR NON.  ONLY USE THE MEDIUM BELOW.  DO NOT OPEN ANY MEDIUM THAT IS NOT LABELED AS:  PROFESSIONAL GRADE WALNUT OIL

Easel and dropcloth, (only for Fruitlands Museum and Lincoln Classes), #10 size brushes & larger (filbert brushes are great but feel free to get some round and flat brushes), 1-3" house painting brushes, 18"X24" paper pallet or freezer paper, Murphy’s Oil soap, rags or paper towels, metal pallet knife, masking tape, metal paint cups, same painting surfaces as above, Artist’s professional grade Walnut Alkyd Medium and Walnut Oil. No premixed oil mediums NO SOLVENTS or citrus products to be used in class, Safflower Oil (from grocery store)  used for cleaning brushes in between colors, Water base oils are fine, (be sure to bring in appropriate mediums for the paint),  Two glass jars with metal tops for waste, (liquid waste goes home with you),  Regular oil paint brands: Gamblin, Grumbacher, Windsor Newton 


PAINT COLORS:   Cadmium Red Medium or Vermilion, (as a less expensive alternative), Cad. Yellow Medium, Ultramarine Blue, large tube of Titanium White. 

Other colors you might consider: Alizarin Crimson or Rose madder or Quinacridone Magenta, Cad. Yellow Light Cad. or Lemon Yellow Cad., Yellow Ochre, Cerulean Blue or Maganese or Cobalt Blue

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Week of painting with friends

Every year I head up to Maine for at least a week of painting. Every part of Maine is so unique in its rock formations, colors and populations. I love early spring and fall for the best light. What a beautiful fall. Always so full of surprises. There were days were the fog was thick and then the next not a cloud in the sky. I love the moodiness of the weather. It makes you paint fast and just go for the feeling. I will put up a few paintings I did up there soon. Every year I discover something new. I love a challenge. This year I realized how important it is to pay attention to what is going to change first and get that idea onto the canvas. This is unlike being in the studio where you want to paint everything to create the balance. Doing one of two components first can create an imbalance but that can be interesting in itself. There is also no time to over think and calculate each painterly move. I let intuition in and go with my gut and let things happen. Plein air is so extraordinarily different than all forms of painting because you are letting those accidents happen continually. Can't help this because if you wait too long the subject will be so different you might as well start another canvas. Breath, respond and let it happen. So with this there is success and failure. Both are pretty exciting. The place I stay at has so much subject matter. I could paint there for a month easy. But I wanted to experience other locations. We went to Sandy Beach in Stonington, where the rocks are purplely white and ocre and there are wonderful islands with such personality to paint. My only regret is never enough time.....

A week of painting in Brooklin and Stonington Maine








Sunday, September 2, 2012

Classes This Fall

Don't forget to sign up for my classes this fall. I am all over. The Ryan Estate Classes are filling. Hope to see you all soon.

Painting in Duxbury, MA

Beautiful location, great light...not enough time...but we wet a brush. All I can think about is George Nick's Yellow house...it is so rich and full of energy and light.



Duxbury, MA

My friend Linda and I went to Duxbury to see the George Nicks show at the Art Complex. What a great show. It was his work and his students. So many good names: Janet Manafo, Paul RaHilly...And on and on... this is the Best show I have seen in years. The paint quality was enough to make me cry. This is my second viewing of the show...wish I could go back again. My only regret in life is that I never studied with George...his work is so exceptional!!!!! I wonder if I could ever get into his league. Some great views of Duxbury where we went to paint before going to see the show. A field trip is always a good time to stop and paint.