Unlocking the Artist’s Palette: A Guide to the Perfect Palette, Oil Paints, and More
As an artist, finding the right tools can make all the difference in bringing your vision to life. Over the years, I’ve experimented with various palettes for mixing paints, but none have quite captured my heart like the Jack Richeson Grey Matters Paper Palette. Paired with the reliable quality of Gamblin paints and the indispensable linseed oil, these products have become my go-to choices. Let me share why they are essential to my artistic process..
1. The Perfect Neutral Canvas: The neutral grey color of the Grey Matters Paper Palette provides the ideal backdrop for mixing paints. Unlike white palettes, the grey tone helps you see the true colors and values of your mixes, allowing for better color accuracy. This feature is particularly useful when working with a diverse range of hues and shades.
2. Hassle-Free Cleanup: One of the standout benefits of using these paper palettes is the ease of cleanup. Since they are disposable, you can simply tear off the used sheet and toss it away. No more scrubbing or scraping dried paint off glass or wood! This convenience saves time and keeps your workspace tidy, allowing you to focus more on your creative process.
3. Smooth Surface for Easy Blending: The smooth surface of the paper palette makes it incredibly easy to blend colors. Whether you’re working with thick impasto techniques or delicate washes, the Grey Matters Paper Palette provides a consistent and smooth area for your paints, ensuring seamless transitions and mixes.
4. A Love Affair with Gamblin Paints: When it comes to paints, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for Gamblin. They offer a fantastic range of affordable options in different sizes, making them perfect for artists at any stage. Personally, I find the 150ml tubes to be just right for my work, though I also keep a 32-ounce can of titanium white handy, as it’s a color I frequently use. For hobby painters or those testing new colors, the 1.25-ounce tubes are ideal. While I love using Michael Harding's oil paints for their exceptional quality, they can get a bit pricey, which is why Gamblin is my everyday choice.
5. Keeping Paints Vibrant: In a conversation with Michael Harding, I once asked him how to prevent the paint’s life from being absorbed into the canvas. His advice was simple yet profound: "linseed oil." By incorporating linseed oil, you can maintain the vibrancy and longevity of your paints, ensuring your artwork retains its brilliance over time. Whether you prefer Kremmer out of New York or Gamblin’s linseed oil, both are excellent choices.
Speaking of Michael Harding, did you know that he is renowned for his meticulous research into historical pigments and techniques? He has even recreated Rembrandt’s Lead White using a traditional method that dates back to pre-industrial times.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ARTIST: BRADFORD BRENNER
Born June 9th, 1959 in New York City, NY to art collector parents, Bradford Brenner has been a professional artist for the last 36 years. His work has been featured in numerous national art publications and can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the world. Brenner’s gallery and studio is located on the historic Plaza in Healdsburg, CA.
Brad received his education from both University of California, Santa Barbara and San Diego State. Receiving creative inspiration and ideas intuitively, his emotive imagery and loose brushstrokes reflect an instinctive and intuitive spirit. Collectors are drawn to the freedom and looseness that represents his unique style, and highly spontaneous rich, multi-layered works. Brenner draws upon a wealth of artistic influences, including his passion for and study of the Old Masters, the Impressionists, the Tonalists and the Abstract Expressionists to create a style that is uniquely his own.