Best Brushes for Oil Painting on Canvas

Going to the art store can get a little confusing so today we are talking about the best brushes for oil painting on canvas. You definitely do not need to break the bank in order to get a handful of the best oil painting brushes for beginners, you just need to be mindful about what the various types of bristles and what exactly you need for your chosen subjects.

I think it's really important for each artist to find out for themselves how to build their own personal brush collection based off of what they find themselves needing, but I wanted to include a few of my favorites.

If you purchase anything through these special links it helps to support my channel at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much!

Princeton Size 0 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/3bb05v9

Princeton Size 1 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/3gFb7cT

Da Vinci Size 2 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/3diLEEK

Da Vinci Size 2 Filbert Brush: https://bit.ly/2NdkwMv

Kolinksky Size 4 Sable Filbert Brush: https://bit.ly/3hy6Sk8

Bristlon Size 4 Flat Brush: https://bit.ly/2DZgbvC

Bristlon Size 6 Flat Brush: https://bit.ly/35yTCJE

Bristlon Size 10 Flat Brush: https://bit.ly/32nLvh0

Taklon Size 3/8 Angular Brush: https://bit.ly/3mj8b9S

Taklon Size ¼ Angular Brush: https://bit.ly/2RyvMpf

Size 2 Liner Brush: https://bit.ly/2XiUayS

Need anything else? https://bit.ly/36vvPr8

9.13.2020

How to Transfer a Drawing to Canvas for Painting

Today I've got three super easy ways to transfer your drawing to canvas to paint in oil or acrylic. I've actually shared this in a video once before, but it was at the end of how I create my own painting surfaces and since I always refer to it for this, I figured a tutorial on transferring drawings to canvas needed its own video.

The good news is you can transfer a traced drawing to canvas, or even transfer a photo to canvas without having to create your own drawing first - it's super easy!

My favorite way to transfer my drawings when I’m ready to start painting is by using carbon paper and tracing my original drawing. However, if you don’t (yet) have carbon or graphite paper (which I highly recommend you get), you can use charcoal, a graphite stick, or even just a regular pencil to trace your drawing, or even a photograph, in order to transfer it to canvas.

Supplies:

If you needed to grab some graphite paper or any other supplies, use my special links and it will help support my channel without costing you an extra penny. Thank you!

Graphite Paper: https://bit.ly/2R6oo3P

Fredrix Canvas Pad: https://bit.ly/3i4oOnx

Anything else.. https://bit.ly/36vvPr8

9.6.2020

New Wearable Resin Creations!

When I was recently doing the resin layers on my skull trio I also tried something else new for the first time,... using my leftovers to create resin pendants with my favorite ferns, seashells, and even a lizard, along with beautiful sparkly gold leaf!!

Pop up to my shop to snag one before they’re all gone. I’ve already had a few find their new homes and I’m only making a couple of these on the occasion when I’m already doing resin pours for my paintings so each one will be very unique and rare.

And how great are these seashells in there too?! I just found so many of them on the Gulf Coast recently and I’m so thrilled to find ways to wear them!

9.2.2020

How to Paint a Skull with Oil Paint

Yay folks my highly anticipated Skull Trio is complete, and not only that, but I’m going to use them to teach you how to paint a skull with acrylic or oil paint too! First we’ll draw a skull from a royalty free image I found to share with you, and then I’ll take you step-by-step through the skull painting process, from materials to paint mixes, to how to enrich our human skull painting from the reference image using an array of natural toned paint that will really breathe life into our skulls!

The abbreviated version that includes the resin pouring process is here on my YouTube, and at the bottom you can find a link to the extended Skillshare version that is almost an hour long and goes into way more specific technical detail.

Grab a Skull or some wearable art in my Shop here!

Ta daa! My completed mixed media Skull Trio oil paintings!

Take the full workshop here:

You have two options to join! Find me on Skillshare or get access on my website for only $4

Videos I Reference:

Real Time Skull Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9XSNCjh8Y4

How to Create a Shadowbox Frame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJcIFE__tlU

How to Create Resin Layer Art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxmP_I9gEvM

How to Make a Painting Panel + Transfer a Drawing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XozulwC3fM

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8.30.2020

Music Room Mural

Painting this music room mural earlier this year was a great learning exercise for me! Remember that other interior mural I did of the beach scene a few months ago? (Find it here if not) Well, this one is in the same building and I completed them during the same week which worked out well for maximum efficiency for letting paint dry.

I used all interior house paint for this musical mural, and if you watch the vid you'll find out why the painting focused on percussion instruments too. Enjoy!

8.23.2020

Lots of Creepy Fun in My Upcoming Newsletter

… so if you’re not signed up, you aughtta be!!

I just finished my Skull Trio and before the YT vid even comes out or they’re posted on IG, I’m sharing them with my Birds of a Feather folk. These photos are from before I added in all the bugs and resin… wait til you see them now!!

I’m also including a few vacay shots from the Florida springs I just visited last week along with the usual personal artist talk about what it’s really like being a working artist that I don’t share anywhere else.

I’m still putting the finishing touches on the letter, but expect to see it in your inbox this weekend!

And you can sign up HERE if you’re not already on the list. Yay!

8.20.2020

Florida Springs Vanlife Adventure + Artwork

Yay so happy to have a little vanlife adventure thru central Florida this week! We went from one cool blue spring to another, which really is the way to beat the summer Florida heat. I was able to create one nature drawing on the road and a landscape painting in gouache once I got home which I'm so happy to share with you today!

Here’s the little oak tree sapling at our second campsite, and below is the gouache painting from our tube day down Ichetucknee Springs.

Wanna snag some gouache paints like mine? These are all M. Graham brand and I love them! If you snag any paints or brushes through my special links it helps to support this channel. Thank you!

Titanium White: https://bit.ly/344AceH

Hansa Yellow: https://bit.ly/3kKPKud

Napthol Red: https://bit.ly/311Z0lP

Hooker’s Green: https://bit.ly/3azfqp0

Cerulean Blue: https://bit.ly/2PXJtNx

Cobalt Blue: https://bit.ly/3kSoQ3C

Payne’s Grey: https://bit.ly/3g59q8t

Da Vinci Trio Brushes (size 1 round, 4 bright, 4 filbert): https://bit.ly/312TCiO

Da Vinci Size 2 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/3diLEEK

Da Vinci Size 2 Filbert Brush: https://bit.ly/2NdkwMv

Da Vinci Size 0/2 Round Brush: https://bit.ly/2CqUxiK

8.17.2020

How to Clean + Maintain Your Art Studio

Today we are getting down to the nitty gritty of cleaning, organizing, and maintaining your art studio because it is important to take care of the spaces we love and that nurture our creative spirits.

A tidy and maintained studio is a productive studio so I hope you feel so inspired to refresh your space soon!

Grab a Tube Wringer here: https://bit.ly/3ipAm4w

If you use my special link it helps to support my channel at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

How to Clean + Restore Paint Brushes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwdYu1chYGE

How to Get the Most Out of Your Paint Tubes (a super old vid so don't judge too harshly - ha!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il1RHs9QL18

8.9.2020

Skull Trio Painting Complete

After the last bit of glue dried on the frames last night and I flipped this skull trio over this morning I was really struck by how I could actually see a bit of progress and improvement just between these three pieces.

I feel like in the first painting I got my form down, then in the second painting I was getting a little bit more confident with the colors, and by the third painting I had really found a lovely illuminating glow within the bone.

Okaaayy this is the last time you’ll see these skulls in their 2D format but if you’d like to get sneak peeks at all the creepy-crawleys that will be ensconced in resin with these skulls, make sure you’re checking in on my Stories on Instagram here @caleighbirdart.

8.6.2020

How to Clean + Restore Old Paint Brushes

Today I am going to share with you a super easy way to clean and restore your old oil paint brushes - yep even the ones with dried paint in them - using common household products.

One of the best ways to be eco-friendly while also being nice to your wallet is to rejuvenate and condition your old paint brushes rather than buying new ones, so grab some dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and olive oil and let's get this party started!

8.2.2020