Plastic vs. metal - do you find that working with metal is better than plastic. I purchased some plastic palette knives, but I noticed people saying that they prefer the metal ones.

Picture sizes? What size do your prefer to work with and what size do your customers prefer to purchase? I've been working with 11x14 and 8x10. Was thinking about going to 4x6 & 5x7 just to try it. I'm afraid to work with anything large yet until my work gets a lot better.

I purchased a lot of paint from Walmart, but am switching to Rustoleum. The paint covers a lot better and you can use a lot less so it's not as runny and gunky.

Any suggestions on getting better texture while using the glossy paper and pulling it away?

Thanks for your help!!!!!

Lisa :)

Respirators: I just bought one and it's pretty nice. While I don't think it is immediately necessary, it doesn't hurt, and it makes you look cool for you live performances.

Pallet knife: No experience...I still need to buy mine :(

Picture size: I use 11x14 and 22x28 most of the time. I am just starting and I don't want to waste extra paper. I might do some 16x20 or something similar, just because then I have scraps I can use for waterfalls and such.

Paint: Good Idea, the Walmart cheapy stuff is really runny.

Texture: You can just lay it down and peel up, you can lay it down and poke it to create crater looking things, you can swipe across the planets to give a windswept look, you can use a water ripple look, running your nails over the paper as it lays on the paint. Messing around and paying attention to the results will give you your favorite textures...but this should help. Oh, and crinkling the paper before you lay it down also looks really nice.

Metal pallet knife all the way. I, too, purchased a set of cheap plastic ones. Forget it. They simply won't bend and flex like the metal one to create the cool textures you want.

I paint on 14"x18" because you can cut 2 of them out of a sheet of 22"x28" and have some extra left over for water effects and star burst and cloud textures and things.

Glossy paper flat, glossy paper crinkled. Regular notebook paper lightly crinkled. Tin foil flat, tin foil crinkled and pressed heavy on (my favorite!) Plastic bags, Saran Wrap, Wiping across with poster board, wiping with fingers, laying glossy paper on and smearing up and away before lifting, And try 2 different techniques too. Use one, then apply a light coat of black (very light!) and then use another and see what you get :)

Have fun Lisa!
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Kevin

Check out my new website! :)
http://www.AstroSprayArt.com

Lisa

Last Edited on 4-Sep-2009 8:33 PM