5 tools

A secret dip into my studio workings... today I thought I'd share with you 5 of the most important tools in my studio. They may not quite be what you think! (it's not all brushes and paint)

Buckets
Used constantly and of vital importance are my water 'buckets'. These are actually large tupperware type containers from the local Pound Shop. Which means when they get icky I can just go get new ones. I use two containers - and I don't clean in one and use the other, it's more so that I have a cleaner bucket to swap to part way through a studio session so I don't have to go downstairs and get more water.

The secret to my buckets though is the cutlery screen I have inside one (also from the Pound Shop). It acts much like the fancy expensive screen or wire brush holders in shops; it holds the bristles slightly above the bottom of the bucket so they don't bend and also is a great surface to scrub against to remove paint. Since my brushes live in the water 24/7 the screen keeps them in shape.

Easel
Yes, a predictable choice. But 6 months ago it wasn't. I've been working with canvas hung directly on solid walls for about 7 years. My old easel (which is now my photography easel outside) was given up ages ago because I work very fast and rough on my canvases. I needed a more sturdy, solid support so the canvas would move, wobble, or shake. My new but still budget-range easel, bought for the new studio because I thought the walls were all masonry, is a good compromise. It isn't quite as sturdy as I need but the flat-bottom design, square back support layout, and forward tilting means I have rather fallen in love with it. It was a cheap one because I was very worried about working on an easel again and didn't want to splash out too much until I knew I could be happy off the walls. My goal is to eventually buy a Sorg easel but they are terribly expensive here in the UK (about $1200, more than double the US price). One day.

Mirror
A fantastic old mirror I bought at Greenwich Market many years ago. Like the easel, the isn't the ideal item. In my old studio I had a convex shop mirror that allowed me to gain visual distance from my paintings - very beneficial when working on large canvases in a small studio. Alas the shop mirror belonged to gallery so I had to give it back. So now my art nouveau lady mirror adorns the back of the door and lets me look at my paintings from another angle. Even a normal mirror is very useful for analysing my work.

Map
Not just a record of so far my map is a sort of visual key for me in the studio. I have a visual memory so if I can't quite place a photo or sketch I can usually remember where I was near, the weather or season, or at least which trip it was, then go to my map and work out the spot. It's great for looking up the little place names when my sketch might say "before I got to Margate" or "somewhere between Worthing and Brighton". I can look for bays, beaches, roads or turnings that were landmarks along the way.

Because my paintings are all very specific places, I can also do a sort of inventory with journey lines. See how many paintings I've done, ponder if there was a place along the way that I had a memorable impression of but perhaps had been overlooked for painting. And of course I can daydream a bit about the next trip! Good for coffee breaks.

Brushes
Oh okay. Brushes are important! Every artist has his or her favourite brushes. My smaller brushes are all hogshair and I'm not fussed about the brand so much. But my main working brushes are one brand and only a few sizes, and I'm very fussy about that brand.

A.S. Handover varnish brushes.

I actually use the Thin Lilly brushes found in the decorating brushes section. Mostly size 18 but you can see a couple larger ones here. They are lily bristle (and I don't know what that is so anyone who does please let me know! I thought they were hogshair) and because they're varnish brushes the thickness of the bristle layer (for lack of a better description) is narrower than a regular brush. Because I do very thin glazes I find this works better - a thicker brush just soaks up quantities water and paint that I don't need. The varnish brush gives me more control.