Just read some old posts and amazed at some of my notes. Finally have a work area to keep set up. Spent time with sadly neglected paintbox, cleaned/tidied it, re-organised paints which now look beautifully arrayed.
- Store specimens to last: take plastic bag, breathe deeply into, cover cut specimen stem with wet tissue paper, place in plastic bag, tie up and store in fridge until needed. Specimens apparently last up to 10-14 days.
- Make colour swatch from paintbox taking each paint to its most intense value then jot down the series number, name , staining, transparency, graining, etc. Cover swatch in plastic and keep in paintbox.
- FREE lightbox alternative PLUS permanent template – draw outline on to outline paper and using masking tape attach to window at elbow or shoulder height. Take drawing quality paper, place over outline, tape firmly to window and ensure it’s all well attached to window to prevent them slipping. Outline will be visible through support. Major benefit are that it speeds up the process
- no need to use tracing paper or trace outline on reverse of tracing paper if not drawing direct on to paper;
- protects paper surface from erasures;
- avoids re-tracing on support;
- creates a permanent template and saves time if having to restart.
- Start painting – no need to go over specimen line drawing outline first.
I reckon that saves up to an hour and frees-up time which can be used far more usefully elsewhere by developing actual painting, colour matching or whatever.
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