Painting trivia

[Jean Kelly]

I still consider myself to be a newcomer to the art of painting, so I thought I would start a thread about the little things.

First, palette knives are called knives for a reason. Yesterday I decided to check the edge of my favorite palette knife for knicks by running my thumb along the edge. I now have a half inch long cut (like a paper cut), deep, on the tip of my thumb. Lots of blood and three bandages later I have learned a valuable lesson. Knives are sharp!

Please add to this if you have any other insignificant trivia that may save a life!

Jean

[Julie Deane]

Hi Jean -

This made me laugh - I still regularly get paper cuts after many years of knowing better!

Let's see - beware the staple gun, and make sure you point it in the right direction. Thank God I never did that wrong! But I have left staples one the floor and stepped on them later. NOT good.

if you use a glass palette, be careful cleaning the edges. I got myself once with that one.

What else? Make sure your large-size paintings have large, strong hanging straps and wall holders (I forget the technical name - at least I don't call it the "Wall thingie") or yours may make a funny sound one night as mine did when it fell to the floor with a heart-rending thump.

If you have cats, keep them out of the studio! Or you might get a heart attack after seeing their handiwork (or should I say "paw-work"?)

Originally Posted by Jean Kelly

I still consider myself to be a newcomer to the art of painting, so I thought I would start a thread about the little things.

First, palette knives are called knives for a reason. Yesterday I decided to check the edge of my favorite palette knife for knicks by running my thumb along the edge. I now have a half inch long cut (like a paper cut), deep, on the tip of my thumb. Lots of blood and three bandages later I have learned a valuable lesson. Knives are sharp!

Please add to this if you have any other insignificant trivia that may save a life!

Jean

[Richard Huante]

Don't set your glass of lemonade too close to your container of turp. You'll inevitably take a drink from the wrong one. That once happened to someone I know. But not me, though. I would never (*hack*) do something (*choke*) that stupid (*spittle*)........

[Jean Kelly]

Richard, that's a good one, makes my little cut seem like a walk in the park! I choke along with you, yuk.

Julie, I used a glass palette years ago in college. We were told to put masking tape around the edges and in an X on the bottom. This saved me many times I'm sure.

I now have two german sheperds, and three cats. So far I've been lucky. One of my sheperds (Zoe) is a thief, she steals my pencils, pastels and brushes. I've learned to keep them out of her reach. Now she steals my clothing and shoes. She doesn't hurt anything, just does it for fun.

I can't afford an organizer for my pastels yet, so I use check register boxes filled with rice. The rice cushions and cleans them, and they stack easily.

Jean

[Julie Deane]

[My cats like to eat my charcoals sticks. I find little remnants lying around if I don't put them away.

[Jean Kelly]

Don't wash your palette knives in the dishwasher! Don't leave them in the kitchen, for other people (husbands) may put them in the dishwasher.

Jean

[Chris Saper]

Hi, all - I thought this thread would have a happy home in the Cafe..