BobBlast 481 - Best of BobBlast - "Painting Surfaces – Paper, Canvas & More!"

Weekly BobBlast Issue 481
Best of BobBlast - Painting Surfaces - Paper, Canvas & More!

Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

You often hear me singing the praises of Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff for their Kilimanjaro Watercolor Paper and the cradled wood panels I use. In this Best of BobBlast, I am celebrating the memory of my very good friend Joe Miller.

Painting Surfaces - Your choice! So many to choose from: Paper? Canvas? Wood? Panels? Rocks? It depends on what you intend to do with your artwork. This Best of BobBlast is in two parts: Paper Surfaces and Canvas Surfaces. These are the surfaces that I use in my studio and all are discussed and demo’d in the video.

Starting with Watercolor Paper… available in long rolls, elephant sizes and standard sizes. Paper is available as single sheets, as well as convenient pads of the most popular sizes. The following is a brief “need to know” about paper for artists.

• Smooth paper is referred to as HOT PRESS (HP) - smooth…The paint flows
• Slightly textured paper is called COLD PRESS (CP) - rough… The paint sticks
• Paper Thickness, known as the weight, is shown in pounds (lb) not grams (gms)
The popular weight in small watercolor paper pads is 90 lb. The next popular is 140 lb. - considered medium weight. Depending on the manufacturer, 140 lb. can curl too much for me. I prefer the thicker, sturdier weight of 300 lb. paper. This weight holds up well after my aggressive painting techniques and abuse!

Next, we talk about the other types of surfaces I use in my studio. Namely, Canvas, Canvas Panels, Wood Panels and Cradle Boards. Most commonly used for oil and acrylic paints, these surfaces are more rigid than paper.

Canvas is stretched over and attached to wooden stretcher bars - or glued directly on to wood panels. The weaves range from a smooth linen or a more pronounced, textural cotton weave. Note: Portrait painters often choose the smoother weave.

All pre-stretched canvases are available in standard sizes. Look for the ones that are of a higher quality construction, such as a reinforced back that will resist warping - particularly in larger sizes.

In my studio I use Cheap Joe’s Pretty Good Wooden Panels. One of my favorites are Cradled Painting Panels, made of birch wood. I also use Masterpiece Artist Canvas and Ampersand Artist Panels.

With most artist panels, you have a choice of surfaces: Smooth clay coat, pre-gessoed canvases or natural finish. Even though the manufacturers say the surfaces are already gessoed, I always start my painting by prepping the surface with gesso.
I can’t wait to see what I do in the studio today!

Paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, California
Studio Mentor Workshop - October 5-8, 2023
Studio Mentor • Instructional • Figure Painting Workshops
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Enjoying watching Bob's Demos? Join Bob Online!
• October 3, 2023
“3 Easy Ways to Draw & Paint the Figure”
•November 8, 2023
"Reductive Painting: Negative Shapes"
•December 6, 2023
“Choosing Color Combinations that Work”
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We have One-Day Intensive Workshops!
•September 27, 2023
"Bob's Goof-Proof Color Wheel Intensive"
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•October 18, 2023
"Paint the Effect of Light"
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Save the date! Open Studio Tour - 2 weekends!
October 14-15 and October 21-22
Burridge ArtWork
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Don't Miss! - Online Figure Workshops
September 29 - October 1, 2023
Abstract Figurative
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•and•
November 11-12, 2023
Paint Bob's Circus!
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Check out the other ONLINE WORKSHOPS we have in December!
•Painting Figures without Painting Figures - December 2-3
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•Larger Looser Abstract Painting - December 9-10
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