FAQ

Who do I recommend for Picture Framing? A Google search lists three frame shops in Mountain Home: Corner Joint Gallery & Picture Framing, First Street Framing & Art, and Hobby Lobby. 

Online, I have used and can recommend Franken Frames for premade frames at www.frankenframes.com. Check out Franken Frames floating frames for panels. Another source for panel floater frames is WebPictureFrames.com. Will try https://www.omegamoulding.com/ in the future and have heard https://www.masterworksframes.com/ specialize in gold leafing.

What medium do you use? Walnut oil or refined linseed oil

What is your palette? I'm currently working with three primary colors Cadmium Yellow Pale, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, plus white mixing color in complementary and tertiary color schemes described in John Pototschnik’s book “Limited Palette Unlimited Color”. For outdoor landscapes I have used the limited palette which includes Titanium white, cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, and phthalo green adding cadmium red light, burnt sienna, dioxazine violet and burnt umber at times.  

What brushes do you use? I use hog bristle brushes and synthetics. Lately, my favorite brushes are flats with extra long fibers and liners for detail work.

What surfaces do you paint on? I purchased a quantity of gallery wrapped canvases at the end of 2018 and frame them or paint the sides for instant hanging. For plein air I use gessoed hardboard panels from Jerry's Artarama or tempered hardboard masonite panels from Dick Blick or Baltic birch wood panels from Dick Blick that have been sealed with shellac. Mary Gilkerson describes how in detail found by searching for "The Importance of What You Paint On".  Or, muslin glued to wood panels as described in a YouTube video "Aimee Erickson's Muslin Panels & Famous Golden Tone. 

Other options are Jessica Henry's method involving triple primed Belgian linen adhered to masonite panels described in her blogpost  and I’ve heard Raymar's smooth cotton canvas panels.

Do you varnish your paintings? Yes, I use Utrecht Damar Varnish, which I apply when all the paint is dry. 

How do you ship your paintings? For smaller paintings, I use archival bags from Clear Bags. I wrap, package, and insure each painting and ship it in a Priority Mail box that generally takes 2-3 days to reach the buyer.