Studio Artist, Paintbrushes

The dirty truth.  My brushes may LOOK dirty here, but in reality they’re actually quite clean, thank you.  I don’t care a lot about the handles and paint dries on them anyway while I’m painting but the bristles are another story.  I may even be a little anal about brushes.  If you see anything that looks dirty in my bristles it’s not paint but a brush cleaner and preservative. I thoroughly clean the brushes, then load them with ‘The Master’s Brush Cleaner and Preservative.’ I’ll let them dry and leave them like this until I use them again, then I just wash them out.  Good stuff.  And at the price of good paint brushes, well worth the price.  And... do you see a couple rubbery-tipped ‘brushes?’ They’re for drawing into wet paint. :)

Brushes

I bet you didn’t know that today is TINY BRUSH DAY! What that means is I’m almost done with another painting! :). It’s a commission so I can’t show you yet, but it’s coming! Yay! I love the sense of accomplishment when a painting is finished. 

An Artist’s Palette

Palette of the Day. My work for today is with this palette and an entirely new set of colors. What’s your work today?

Honestly, though, although I don’t paint a whole lot of abstracts, I love the abstract qualities of my palette and really love looking and the colors, layers and values.  I think it’s beautiful in its own right.  Sometimes I’m sorry to cover it up and start anew.

The Continuing Saga of... (cue music) AN ARTIST’S DESK

Between each project I clean my desk and clear off all the stuff.  Okay, not ALL the stuff, but a goodly portion! Then I lay out the tools of my trade with a surgeon’s precision, albeit not that sterile, for the next great work. The brushes laid out here indicate I’m working small, which means I’m either painting a small project or working on a BIG project and getting close to being finished. Generally when I work big, I keep to big brushes for as long as possible and switch to the smaller brushes when they start to feel unwieldy. I think this keeps my work looking fresh and more immediate. And yes, I am getting close to the end of a big project.  Can’t show you yet because it’s a commission.  Dream about a painting you’d like to have and ask! I work within everyone’s budget. My email address is colorcatstudios@gmail.com.

My Art Studio and Paintbrushes

Today is National Honor Your Brushes Day. Or at least statewide.  Or maybe Houston-wide.  All right, all right, it’s The Johnson Household Honor Your Brushes Day!  Yippee!  Love these three; they’re Fleur brushes handmade in Italy.  Best paint-holding brushes I have ever owned.  They soak it up and hold it.  My biggest one (not pictured) even has a center reservoir. 

Paintbrushes in My Studio

You know, these are the unsung heros of my studio. I have ... I just counted... twelve containers of paintbrushes. Mostly arranged by size and purpose. Some are for students to use, and then there are some that STUDENTS MAY NEVER TOUCH OR EVEN LOOK AT.  This particular broken urn holds my faves. Most often used, they find their way here for easy access. The square one at the base is also my go-to, and it hangs on a nail on the wall directly to my right. Here I’m using one of my paintings for a backdrop.

By the way, I always use broken things to house my brushes.  Broken favorite coffee mugs, broken pitchers without handles... it’s a good place for them. :)

Paintbrushes in My Studio

I own a lot of brushes.  So why is it that I always seem to prefer these goofy self-shaped brushes to all those others sitting in my studio having mini brush conventions? I can’t answer that question.  I guess what I really should do is go into the custom brush business, huh? 

Come one, come all.  Bring me your brushes! I will customize them for you, tailoring them perfectly to your needs.  riiiight...  

My Palette

I’m working on a commission right now in blues and golds. The colors are so gloriously beautiful together that even my palette looks good! WhenI get a little further, I’ll be adding the complimentary colors to this,and hopefully soon showing you the painting.