For Artists: Your Questions Answered
Photo by Emily March Payne
Q — How do you prep your wood panels?
A — I use GAC-100 to seal the front and back (this helps prevent warping and Support Induced Discoloration). Then I apply a few coats of Gesso.
Q — Where do you find your large shipping boxes?
A — Local hardware stores are the best! You can typically buy in bulk, and they have a variety of sizes.
Sometimes I’ll also make my own boxes, using cardboard from packages I’ve received in the mail.
Q — What kind of paper do you use?
A — I love Arches watercolor papers for painting, and Glassine paper for packaging artwork!
Q — How do you grow your audience?
A — This happens naturally the longer you paint, as you find your voice and your niche. As long as you are being authentic and sharing your work with the world (online and in-person), it will happen organically!
Q — Varnishing tips?
A — I love Golden’s varnishes, but I tested several brands and finishes first. So I definitely recommend trying out different options to figure out which you like best!
I do apply an isolation coat between the painting and the varnish, waiting a day for the isolation coat to dry before varnishing. I brush-on varnish for small paintings and spray for large ones.
I always work in a clean space with tweezers handy. And don’t forget to wear a mask when spraying!
Q — What kind of tape do you use?
A — I just use your standard blue painter’s tape from Lowe’s Hardware for the edges of my paintings (to keep them clean). And I like using colorful painter’s tape from Amazon for packaging!
Q — Who do you recommend for creating prints?
A — I’ve used Simply Framed (when I want to have a framing option) and Giclee Today, and I’ve been more than happy with both!
Other Resources:
A look at the collection release process.
How I setup my new studio.