Common QNA
Can anybody paint?
Any person with the desire to paint can produce an attractive painting by following Len’s tutorial DVDs.
How long does POST take?
DVDs are posted as soon as payment is received. Post in Australia takes about 3 or 4 days. Overseas post takes 1 to 3 weeks
Can I share my DVD lesson?
PaintWithLen Tutorial DVD Videos are subject to copyright and must not be copied or duplicated by any person without the written consent of Len Hend. Len is happy for you to share the Tutorial DVDs with friends or art groups. If you need extra copies of PaintWithLen Tutorial DVDs for any reason, (e.g. retirement home, public library, art groups, benevolent institution) please contact Len Hend, he will adjust the price accordingly.
What is Oil or Acrylic?
Oil paint is thinned with TURPS or other oil based mediums, Acrylic paint is thinned with WATER. Brushes etc are cleaned with TURPS or WATER respectively. Oil paint can take days to become touch dry, Acrylic paint becomes touch dry within minutes or hours. Oil painted can be placed over dry Acrylic paint ( Oil over Acrylic is common ), Acrylic paint will not stick over Oil paint
Which paint should I use?
These days the quality of Acrylic paint is excellent, OIL or ACRYLIC paint can produce the desired results. Therefore a beginner can practice the brush strokes using the easy to clean-up and less expensive Acrylic paints before moving onto the Oil paints, or you may wish to continue with the Acrylic paint.
What brushes do I need?
Each DVD will show you a full list of brushes. We do not need special brand or expensive brushes. A few different sized round and flat hog bristle brushes, a fan brush, a little soft hair brush for the thin branches and a cranked painting knife is a good start. On large paintings a 1 or 2 inch house painting brush is useful.
What should I paint on?
Prepared or pre-primed artist canvas is the perfect surface for painting landscapes. This comes by the yard or stretched on a wooden frame or glued to cardboard. Beginners may wish to practice on any smooth primed surface, such as particle board (masonite, plywood, custom wood) under-coated with acrylic house paint.
What colours do I need?
Each DVD will show you a full list of colours required.
Here are the colour in Len’s art box: White (for oils use the titanium white), Burnt Umber, Cobalt Blue, Phthalo Blue, Prussian Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Warm Yellow (or cadmium yellow deep), Crimson (or cool red), Warm Red (or vermilion), Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Viridian, Phthalo Green (or Prussian green), Indian Yellow (or Australian sienna, Australian red gold)
Here are a few tips:
Art paints come in TUBES and can often be purchased at newsagents, stationary shops or department stores. Other containers are available for larger quantities. Support your nearest ARTIST SUPPLY STORE, they are fascinating places and the staff always ready to welcome beginners (new customer). Artist supplies may also be purchased online. .
Many brands of paint have STUDENT QUALITY and ARTIST QUALITY. Student quality is recommended for beginners. If you wish to try a tube of artist quality paint, start with any blues (PHTHALO BLUE).
Oil paints can have an undesirable smell. (when using Oil or Acrylic make sure there is fresh air in the work area)
Oil paints generally produce a finer quality art piece with skill.
House paint can be useful for practicing to use the brush
When buying paint in tubes do not buy runny paint or flow paint, we need a firm paint about the consistency of tooth paste. Oil paints can sometimes be too firm and will not come off the brush. Firm paint will need thinning to a thick creamy consistency by adding turpentine or a medium of your choice (maybe one that smells ok).
Don’t use linseed oil it does nothing but make a mess of a beginners painting.
Don’t buy artist quality WHITE as it may have been on the shelf too long and student quality is good quality. Buy plenty of WHITE you will need it.
Here is a list of some of the art paint brands available in Australia:
Chromacryl (and also Atelier Interactive, Archival oils and Jo Sonja’s) www.chromaonline.com
Matisse http://www.matissederivan.com/
Art Spectrum http://www.artspectrum.com.au/oils.html
Genesis http://www.genesisoilpaints.com.au/products.htm
Rowney, Winsor&Newton are available worldwide