My Setup

"Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated" -Mark Twain

HA! I'm always looking for an excuse to say that. Anyway, beside being a slack ass this week and only posting once, my camera broke on top of that! I think I have to say good bye to my cheapo but trusty old Canon a75. :( Anyone got any budget conscious suggestions for a camera?
I actually painted this morning but now I have to get another camera or wait til a painting is dry enough to scan.
Anyhoo, this was the last picture I was able to take with the camera:

I thought this might be a good excuse to list my meager setup, so here goes:

• 9x12 Guerrilla Box Pochade Box - I bought this used from painter Tim Shultz and never have looked back. I love this thing! It keeps all my messy junk in one place. I was a freaken disaster area before I got this thing. btw- I recently painted the slide out palette black (then urethane coat) so that it would better match my black gessoed painting surfaces.
• Hang-Up Brush Caddy - This is great for holding my brushes on the side. I actually fill it with rice also so that brushed stand nicer.
• Rope or bungie paper towel holder - To the rings in the front I attach a rope or bungie cord to hold paper towels there. Usually I also have a plastic bag underneath it for trash.
• Heavy Tripod - Ok you got me, I don't know the specific type. I actually borrowed it from my step dad who used it for astonomy (Thank you Bob!). I love it because it's heavy/sturdy and the head moves very fluidly.
• Clip-on Halogen Light - This is a cheapo clip-on halogen desk light from target that I use for illumination on the Pochade box. I use some defusion on it to soften the light and cut down on glare.
• Robert Simmons Bristol Brushes - (Flat or bright) sizes 2,4,6, and 8. I used to have fancy soft brushes, but these ruffians make great texture and keep me from fussing with details.
  
• Black gessoed Masonite - I use simple precut masonite. With a knife, I gesso it with a very thick white gesso. Then once it's dry I lightly brush on black gesso. The last coat is some kind of quick spray varnish. This is just to make the gesso less thirsty so it doesn't suck up to much oil from the paint.
• Krystal Seal Bags - These comes in just the sizes I need and are great for shipping and archival.
• Lukas 1862 Oil Paint - Titanium White, Cad Yellow Lite, Cad Red, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Thalo Blue. I like the Lukas paints because they are well priced, and have a nice creamy texture. I was tired of battling paint that was thicker (or inconsistent).
• Mason Jar of OMS - I use odorless Mineral Spirits because it's cheaper and I can't tell the difference from Turpenoid. The little mason jar fits in my box, it completely sealable and I put a little standing screen in there to rub the brushes against.
• Liquin or Galkyde - Really either is fine as a medium for me. I think I prefer Liquid because it doesn't dry as quick, though it's still good to go in 24 hours.
• White chalk pencil - Used to draw in basic composition on the black gesso bkg.
• Q-tips (medical grade) - My wife gets these from the dental office but I think you can order them. You can see one next to the chalk pencil under the painting. They are longer and stronger than normal cute tips. They don't come apart and are great erasers!
• Duct Tape - I use a loop of duct tape to hold the masonite in place while I paint. Sounds stupid doesn't it? It works.
  
• View Cacher - This is for framing compositions. I hate using my fingers and I always feel a premodonna auteur when I do. This little baby is adjustable and nuetral gray. Seen next to my closed jar of OMS. http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-supply/catalogs/0065300000000
  
• Paper/Cloth for Background - I buy a good bit of randomcolor paper in big thick sizes from the art store. Sometimes I use cloth (frabric or thrift store), but the paper makes it easy for me to try different backgrounds.
• Still life Stand? - Nope. Haven't come up with a good solution yet. Soon I'd like to mount a board to a tripod that I can raise and lower. Right now I often stack random stools around the house to get it at the level I need and then put a drawing borad on it for a platform. I put clothe or paper on the drawing board and often against the cheap wooden easel behind it.
  
• Key light (not pictured)- I use this simply light stand http://www.dickblick.com/zz551/14/
  I don't use the cromalux or any daylight temp bulbs. They just look violet to me. I use a 75 watt halogen spot which seems to give me cleaner light with good color response.
• Diffusion and Blackwrap (not pictured)- My lighting savvy brother gave me some diffusion and black wrap. The diffusion plastic is great for softer lighting (and also on my halogen). The Blackwrap is just like heavy matte black tinfoil. I wrap big pieces on the light if I want to shape it more or keep it out of my eyes.

That's all I can think of for now. Let me know if anyone has suggestions or questions about my setup. It's a work in progress for sure. :)

related posts:
What I've Learned (after 120 paintings)
Digital Starts - Photoshop, but it's exactly how I paint anything.





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