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| This long narrow container at left is a treasure. It is small enough to be lightweight even when full and it is shallow enough to allow me to dig through it without taking a lot of stuff out and having to reorganize again. Where would I be without ziplock bags of all sizes? So much "stuff" so little time.The smaller container below left (notice that I did not remove the lovely "desert patina" before photographing) is only half as long as the one above it You see them side by side below. They house a wonder of impression-making treasures. |
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| Art Materials 101 |
| Susan Reynolds Art and Design |
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| The containers are just transparent enough to enable me to see what's inside. They have a handle built into the lid and stack neatly on top of each other, making for a better solution than piles of plastic bags. Other containers include things like this large plastic meat tray. You'll find torn bits of silk flowers, aluminum foil, waxed paper, chesapeake bagel bakery coffee holders, more ribbed cardboard, plastic covered wire, discarded plastic envelopes and even some dried leaves thrown in for good measure. Great stuff for doing what I do! |
| Components and partially completed 3 dimensional shadowbox pieces are kept in the smaler containers so that they are clean and all in one place when I want to do more work on them. More ribbon, plastic canvas, ribbed cardboard, plus tissue paper and celophane of various weights are the kind of materials I've currently got in another. - See photo at right - With "impression makers" galore it's time to get down to work. When I paint on the "art futon" if I look in front of me to my right I'll see what you see below. Three water containers which my cats think is provided for their drinking pleasure, and brush cleaner are just off the right side of the photo, along with brushes, drying area, paper towels, aluminum foil, waxed paper, rice paper & some remaining paper stash. |
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| My favorite tool is a handy roll of waxed paper which nestles next to the wide packing tape and an assortment of inks. I lie paper on top of wet paintings in order to produce interesting textures as the pigment dries. One can never have too many colors and types of Ink. What a great present for an artist! The ink supply carries across to the lower right where more are housed in another plastic basket from the cosmetic or kitchen department.???? |
| The center container above is the same size as the ones at the top of the page. It's great for smaller size bottles. This is where I stash supplies like powdered metallic pigment, gum arabic, iridescent medium, masking fluid, ink brayer and droppers of random sizes and styles. If you poke around you can generally find a few crayons, glitter, smaller brushes, small bottles of metallic finishes, erasers, straws and coffee stirrers here as well. Rubbermaid drawer dividers are great to keep things separated. |
| Below - a birdseye view of the extra supplies I have nearby when I work. Among what you don't see are two covered watercolor palettes which I always keep stocked with tube pigment. Some of the necessities needed when working on the "painting futon" may surprise you. At the left of the photo are pieces of apple cinnamon raisin bread (yumm) - a vital ingredient in the art process! |
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| In the meat tray (handy things they are) are more "impressions on paper" things as well as a drawer divider holding plastic and regular kitchen knives, straws and the like. Kept nearby are some plastic bags for trash and a couple of large paper pads. |
| Do you have suggestions that might work for others? Has any of thie been helpful in some way? Did you enjoy the behind the scene peek at my work setup? Be sure to let me know. Stay tuned - more to come! |
| Updated June 15, 2005 |
| At the left of the photo above you glimpse of some of my stash of leaves, sticks etc that are too tall to be "contained". My make-do solution was to set them upright in a container twice as deep as those shown above. A trash can would do the job but the rectangular base of this container saves space and keeps the material handy. Since it still isn't as tall as the twigs etc are, obviously I can't use the cover, so I'm looking for something translucent and with a lid to keep the desert dust off the goodies. |
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| The effect of spraying can be seen in the painting in progress at right and you saw squirt bottles above. Although I hadn't had a problem with leaking from the numerous squirt bottles that I use in the artwork and to get the attention of random recalcitrant cats, I have heard tales of ruining a work in progress with unforseen drips and puddles. |
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| To the right of the water, near the rear of the futon I have rigged up a painting drying area. I like to work on foamcore covered with non-stick aluminum foil and these are piled in such a fashion as to allow the air to get to each area and make drying fast. Looks secure doesn't it? Engineering talent at work. |
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| People ask how I create a textured look on my paintings. Other artists ask me where I put all my "stuff". Hard to believe, but all of these materials, when combined with water media and left alone on a horizontal surface, make wonderful impressions as well as drying and evaporation images on paper Rope, popsicle sticks, film negatives, strips of leather from old purses, chain, ribbon, star garland, plastic, pieces of a loofa, beads; if it will make marks on paper it's gotta be here.. . . or in one of the many boxes just like it. |