TIPS AND HINTS FOR PAINTERS
 by Linda C. Butler
  • Protect small watercolor brushes but cutting a piece of a drinking straw to fit over them.
  • Use the new Glad wrap to cover your oil paints when you are finished painting for the day and they will be moist the next day.
  • If storing oil paints for a long period of time, put your palette in a plastic box with a lid and put in the freezer. To store acrylics, mist and cover then store in frig.
  •  Workshop Carrier:  Use a suitcase carrier to carry painting supplies and canvasses.
  • Put a bit of hair conditioner on the tips of your cleaned brushes to help them keep their shape.
  • Set you wet oil painting near a fan to dry it faster.
  • Dry your acrylic brushes horizontally, so water doesn't run between the bristles.
  • Make tiny dots with the wooden end of the brush.
  • Use a sponge to paint large floral or grassy areas quickly.
  • Butcher Freezer Paper makes a disposable palette.
  •  For acrylic paint, use a plastic plate and when you stop painting, mist with water then cover with a disposable shower cap.
  •  Never mix your colors completely so there is a subtle variation in the color.
  •  When painting landscapes, mix your greens to give more subtleties in color.   
  •  Use the same blue in your greens as your sky color.
  •   If you are painting outdoors, pack some baby wipes.
  •   Baby oil can be used to keep brushes soft until you can clean them properly.
  •   For watercolors - use an old toothbrush for a splattering effect. Dip into paint  and then flick the bristles back.
  •  If you have old oil paints: Be careful about getting older oil paints on your skin as some of them contain lead.
  •  If your hands are sensitive to oil paints use disposable gloves.
  •  Use odorless paint thinners or turpentine.  The odor from regular thinners is too strong for indoor use.
  •  Clean brushes with old cotton rags. Paper fibers may come off paper towels and adhere to your brushes.
  •   Linseed Oil is flammable.  Don't store rags containing linseed oil as they could ignite by spontaneous combustion. Lay them flat to dry.
  •  You can paint with oil paints on top of acrylic paints, but not the other way around.