Ronda Palazzari Designs

Create Daily: The Paint Brush - Shapes & Sizes, part 2

 

Last week we talked all about brush shapes and touched lightly on sizes. This week i would like to dive into the topic a little deeper and really give you a visual of these brushes. While i know the information i have written for you is informative, sometimes seeing and having a visual reference can really inspire you. So here's a look at brush sizes and shapes in action.

This swatch shows each brush shape previously posted side by side with each other. i used various sizes but you still get a general idea of the shape of the brush. Below are each brush shape broken down individually so you can see just a tiny portion of what they are capable of creating. i used the same brush size pictures above as below in the individual examples so the above swatch is a reference to the sizes. 

The Round is such a verstile brush. It can make thin to thick lines. This is the same brush that created all those different lines and shapes. It is the first brush i would recommend for your stash. The sizes vary from a very tiny 0000 to big larger sizes. These sizes are supposed to correspond to the length of the hairs from the ferrule to the tip. However, the numbers on these brushes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so a "4" in one brand can be smaller or larger in another brand. The above round is a "4."

The pointed round is very similar to the above round but as you can see, you can get a more detailed, fine line. The thin point on the top really changes up this round shape. The pointed round has the same number sizing as the round. The above pointed round is a "5".

These look large but are really small. The above overview photo really gives you an idea how tiny these script/liners can be. i love them for the detail they give. Great for highlighting and signatures. The scripts have the same number sizing as the rounds but you generally don't find them in larger sizes. The above scripts is a "1."

The filbert is such a fun brush. That curved toe really creates a different shape than a normal flat as evident in those little "dot" shapes and in the petals of the flower. The filbert has the same number sizing as the round. The above filbert is a "6." 

Flats, as you see, can give you nice coverage in one stroke. Turn it on its side to get a smaller line. i wanted you to see what different sizes look like side by side.  These brushes are usually sized by the width of the hair above the opening of the ferrule. So you will usually see numbers like 1/2" etc. The left flat is 3/4" and the right flat is 1/2".

The angle shaders/brushes are another useful brush. They produce a variety of shapes from a wide swipe to a thin line. All of the above examples use just one size angle brush. These are generally measured the same way as flats although sometimes you will find them numbered like rounds. The above angle is a 1/4".

Very similar to flats in shape but good for short controlled strokes. These are also generally measured the same way as rounds or filberts. The above bright is a "2."

This oval wash really lays in lots of color. This particular oval wash is 3/4" and the same size as the bigger flat pictured above. Because of its "moppy" head you really get that great coverage. Generally sized the same as flats. 

The fan brush is fabulous for creating texture like the above image. Turn it on its side to get a nice line. i also find it useful for creating great circles with a small flick of the wrist. Generally sized like rounds so you will see a number on it. The above fan is a "2."

If you are just starting out, i recommend purchasing a round and a flat. These two types of brushes have such a variety that you will get lots of uses out of them. Then depending on the type of art you are creating, expand your paint brush stash as it appeals to you. 

Previously covered paint brush topics:

• Create Daily: The Paint Brush (Basics & the anatomy of a brush)
• Create Daily: The Paint Brush: Hairs & Bristles
• Create Daily: The Paint Brush: Shapes

 

 

 

Create Daily: The Paint Brush - Shapes & Sizes

On last week's Create Daily blog post, i went over the hairs/bristles of paint brushes. We are continuing our discussion of paint brushes, in particular the shapes. There are so many different shapes and sizes out there depending on the "medium." i am just going to cover some of the basics shapes that are fairly common and not dive into "specialty" brushes.   

Each brush shape has a specific purpose and usually a technique to go along with the shape. Here's a look at a few different shapes

round/pointed round - A round is just like it sounds, a round or pointed round shape. They have round ferrules and come in short & long handles. One of the most useful brushes for details, washes, fill, etc. It can make thin to thick lines. A pointed round is usually used for fine detail. These brushes come in natural, bristle, & synthetic fibers and are good all mediums.

script/liner - Scripts and liners are narrow brushes with long hairs. They have round ferrules and usually come in short handles. They are used for delicate work like lettering, outling, or highlighting. They come in natural and synthetic fibers and are usually used in watercolor painting. However i do have some synthetic ones i use with acrylic and india ink. 

filbert/egbert -  Filberts are flat in shape with an oval toe. They have flat ferrule and come in short and long handles. Egberts are very similar with longer hairs. The soft rounded edges of both these brushes make it suitable for blending since they don't have a precise edge. They come in natural, bristle, & synthetic fibers and are typically used for oils and acrylics.

flat - A flat is a square-edged brush with medium to long hairs. They have a flat ferrule and come in both short and long handles. Another versatile brush and it holds a lot of paint and is easy to maneuver. Typically used for bold sweeping strokes. You can also get a crisp hard edge with these brushes. They come in natural, bristle, & sythetic fibers and are generally used in all mediums.

angle - An angle brush has hairs cut at an angle at the toe. Sometimes called an Angle shader or Angle Bright. It has a flat ferrule and comes in both short and long handles. With its sharp edge, it's useful for precise strokes and for lines and curves. They come in bristle and synthetic hairs and are generally used with watercolors and acrylics. 

bright - A bright is similar to a flat but the width and length of the brush head is equal in size.  It has a flat ferrule and comes both short and long handles, though usually found in long handles. It's typically used for short controlled strokes.  They come in natural, bristle, & synthetic hairs and are generally used with oils and acrylics. 

oval wash - Wash brushes come in a variety of shapes (oval, flat, etc). Washes typically have flat ferrules and come in short handles. They produce a soft edge with no point. It's a very useful brush for laying in large areas of color (or water), for wetting surfaces, and for picking up (absorbing) excess paint. They come in natural, bristle, and synthetic hairs and are generally used with watercolors. However i have used them in some of my acrylic works.

fan - Fan brushes have spread out hairs like a fan. They have flat ferrules and come in both short and long handles, although they're often found in short handles. They are used for blending, smoothing, and textural effects. They come in natural, bristle, and synthetic hairs and can be used in all mediums. 

Previously covered paint brush topics:

• Create Daily: The Paint Brush (Basics & the anatomy of a brush)
• Create Daily: The Paint Brush: Hairs & Bristles

I will be continuing with shapes next week as well as talking briefly about sizes and giving you my recommendations.

 

 

 

Create Daily: The Paint Brush - Hairs & Bristles

On last week's creative daily blog post, i went over the basics of paint brushes. This week i wanted to discuss the types of hairs out there and their uses. Often they are classified into natural, bristle, and synthetic. Each type has different properties and the prices vary from inexpensive to very expensive. The type of medium you are using determines the type of hair you should use

Natural

Natural hairs are from animals. The prices on these brushes is determined by the "grade" of the animal with Kolinsky Sable being one of the most expensive but considered one of the best. 

• sable - oil, watercolor
• squirrel - watercolor, lettering
• badger - oil
• camel (not actually from camels but usually a blend of other animal hairs) - watercolor, tempura, lettering
• sabeline - watercolor, lettering
• ox - watercolor, lettering
• mongoose - acrylic, oil
• Kolinsky Sable - oil, watercolor

Most of these types of hairs are good for oils & watercolors but not great for acrylics. 

Bristles

Hog Bristles are often called China bristles as they come from china. These bristles are stiff and stronger than the soft hairs. They can be bleached or unbleached. They are good for oils and acrylics and are less expensive to the soft hairs. i have a ton of these types of brushes and find they are great for washes and glazes. i find them at the home improvement stores for really cheap.

Synthetic

Synthetics are man-made, usually either from nylon or polyester. Often they are dyed and baked to make them more absorbent and softer. You will often hear the name "Taklon" associated with synthetic brushes. Synthetic brushes are less prone to damage from paints or solvents. They are easier to keep clean. They can better withstand the caustic nature of acrylic paints so are a good choice for this medium.   

 

 

 

Create Daily: The Paint Brush

One of my favorite tools in my studio is the paint brush. i have mason jars and repurposed tubs full of brushes. Long & Short handles. Synthetic & Natural Bristles/Hairs. Filbert, Rounds, Flats, Brights. The arts and crafts market is flooded with various brushes for every type of project. Today i want to cover just some of the basics of brushes. 

 

• bristles/hairs: these vary greatly depending on the type of art. They can be natural, synthetic, or a combination of both. The hairs can be broken down further into the toe (end of the bristles), belly (the fattest part of the brush), and the heel (the part that is attached to the ferrule). i have brushes with both natural hairs & synthetic hairs.
• ferrule: ("small bracelet") is the cap, usually metal, that strengthens the handle and holds the hairs in place. A good ferrule shouldn't rust or come loose.  
• handle: it's frequently made of wood, sometimes coated wood, but can come in bamboo or plastic/acrylic. Short handles are generally used for detail work while long handles are used for canvases. Either way, you want to find one that feels comfortable in your hand. 
• crimp: the part of the ferrule that secures it to the handle along with the glue
• size: not every manufacturer puts the size on the brush but i really like it when they do. Another thing to note is that these sizes aren't necessarily the same from manufacturer to manufacturer. They can vary. 
• company name &/or designer series: you may see just the company name, the designer series, or both. For example i have some brushes that read "Catalyst by Princeton." This lets me know the specific line with a company that has many different lines. 
• shape/style: again not every manufacturer puts this on the handle. You can usually tell the style of the brush by looking at the hairs. We will get more into the shapes/styles of the brush on another post. 

 We will take a deeper looking into paint brushes in upcoming blog posts!  

 

 

Create Daily: Letting Go

Unfortunately i am still sick but on the mend. i appreciate all your kind words about Anthony & becoming a grandma.  So while i am recovering on the couch, i thought you would enjoy seeing the process of this layout using my new stencil called Persian Gate. Letting go is an important part of creating art. You have to be able to let go of control sometimes and trust your skill to know it could lead you to something great. Of course there is the flip side and you end up hating what you created but i guarantee you learned something in the process. i also look for opportunities to take something i hate and turn it into something i love by pushing myself to keep going. i know that even if i don't like the whole piece i can cut it up and turn it into something different.  

i started this layout with that premise of letting go, playing around, having fun, and just keep creating.  i used Dina Wakley's Media paint on the watercolor paper. i then added some journaling and stenciled images using my 12 x 12 Geometric Art Layers stencil.  

Persian Gate (TCW 472)

i then broke out my new stencil called Persian Gate. i love this simplistic form of a quatrefoil with the nice sized openings. Lots of possibilities with this one and i am going to show you just one technique you can use with it. 

i placed the stencil over the painted page and added a layer of clear medium over top using a plastic palette knife, scraping through the stencil.

It's slightly opaque when wet and translucent when dry.  Depending on your climate, it may take a while to dry.  i usually let it set for an hour or two, sometimes more if i put it on really thick.  

After it is dry, i painted over it and wiped down the stencil bits to have that color pop through. i love this technique a lot. In fact you can see a variation of it on my Rose Window Video HERE. 

 

 

 

Create Daily: Layers

i absolutely love layers in my work.  For me, it's not just about the finished piece, but i love the journey of building each layer.  Laying one layer down and then adding the next, affecting each other, bringing the piece to life, and telling a story and evoke emotions.  

The slow build just starts with adding texture to the background.  It sometimes includes wiping leftover paint onto the page and letting it sit for awhile.  i will add things here and there and see what strikes me.  i know that if i don't like the way a piece is heading, i can always add more layers.  I get to decide how many layers there are in my pieces and to push myself.  

Sometimes just journaling my thoughts really helps focus my directions and makes the next layers so apparent to me.  It could be color choices, techniques, texture, or tools.  Funny how those thoughts really spur those layers. 

Nothing makes me happier than seeing those first layers peek through and seeing the relationship of the layers.  It feels like a reward for taking the leap and being ok with losing layers to gain layers.  i love seeing how they come together to tell my story or express my emotions.  

 

 

Create Daily: Travel Art Journal

 Even when i travel, i cannot help but to do something creative.  So while we've been hopping around the Olympic Peninsula, i've been breaking out my art kit to create on the go.  Sometimes when i am creating this way, i included bits & pieces of my travel.  It can be simple things like the local newspaper or items i use daily.  It's a fun way to incorporated tidbits from your holiday.  Here's a look at a few pages i created along the way.  

i prepped the backgrounds before leaving like i talked about in this previous post.  This gives me a jumpstart on my journals without having to bring lots of supplies with me.  I always carry white & black pens with me on my journeys to fill in those little touches.

i really love the colors with the subdue top layer of white over the rose window stencil.  i doodled into the window a little each day.  i decided not to fill in the whole piece and break up the page with journaling vertically on the page.  The butterflies were leftover punched pieces i threw in my travel bag to use as "fillers" on my pages.  Love the pop of color they bring to this page.

If you know me then you realize i drink tea every day.  The Anglophile in me enjoys tea morning, noon, and night.  On this trip i brought a box of one of my latest favorite blends. It became a ritual to steep the tea, take a sip, and then read the words of wisdom the tea tag offered me each day.  i laughed and loved how poignant each tag was and had to use some on my pages.  

 

Create Daily: Art On the Go

Last week i shared a couple different ideas about traveling with art journals and an artsy travel mini album.  i hope you realize you can always be creative on the go.  Today i want to share a couple ideas about how to carry these items with you while you travel and what i actually have packed in my mini tote.  

i bought this tote years & years ago from Creative Memories.  It is one of the best crafting purchases i have made.  i bought a second one and use them both frequently.  i use it for crafting supplies, to carry my art supplies to class, and when i am traveling.  i searched the internet for something similar since these aren't sold anymore (you can still find some on ebay) and the closest i could find is this tote from Storage Studios.  Don't be afraid to shop at home stores or office supply stores to find solutions outside the craft industry.  An inexpensive toiletry case is great for supplies.  Another good option are those plastic zipper cases sheets or bags that shower curtains come in that you probably already have in your house. 

This little case measures approximately 10.25" x 6.5" x 3.5" and fits perfectly in my carry-on tote or my travel backpack.  i love it for it keeps all my supplies together and holds a lot of items.  i keep my larger items "loose" and place smaller items in a zipper pouch.  A couple things to note:

• Make sure the water bottle is empty before boarding a plane
• Scissors need to have less than a 4" blade in the US
• make sure your waterbrush is empty too 
• a plastic baggie (or two) can be very useful

i like bringing a plastic bag to collect ephemera for your art journal, mini album, or even project life pages.  i place items in the bag, sometimes marking the date on the piece if i am going to cut it down to help remember what happesn when.  i like to keep rubber bands around my inks to keep the lids in place.

So here's what i have in that one small tote and what i am bringing on my trip.  

• 4 watercolor brushes (Flat, Filbert, Round, & Spotter)
• Sketch Pencil (2HB)
• Black Pen (Waterproof)
• White Pen (Waterbase sharpie)
• Compressed Charcoal
• a few hand-carved tiny stamps
• Label Stamp
• White kraft mini Jotter Labels
• small scissors
• 5" x 8" Journal
• small moleskin "mini album" with decorated pages
• Travel NeocolorII set
• Sakura Travel Watercolors with Waterbrush
• two washi tapes
• small punch
• gluestick
• Tim's tiny attacher
• Date stamp with plastic block
• Plastic baggie
• Mister Bottle (small water bottle)
• Grey Stamp Pad
• Empty plastic container for water

Quite amazing isn't it?  All that fits into my bag & can go on the plane with me.  i'm packed & ready, now if my vacation would just hurry up and get here!

Art on the go could also mean just embroidery supplies.  i usually throw mine in a plastic baggie & go.  In this art on the go kit i include scissors, smaller embroidery hoop, floss on a ring, and a plastic needle carrying case.

Or maybe my art on the go is a knitting or crochet project.  i like to keep it simple by bringing one or two small projects.  Again i just use a plastic bag to hold my items: crochet hooks or knitting needles (both are allowed on planes), small scissors, yarn, & instructions (not pictured).  

Not going anywhere soon?  Use these tips for Staycations to the park, swimming pool, and other favorite local passtimes for your art on the go.  

Julie joined me at Rocky Mountain Memories this past weekend for my make & take.  While driving Julie to the airport, we hatched some plans for an art retreat here in beautiful Colorado in September.  Once we work out the details, we'll fill you in, but we are seriously super excited about the whole thing.  Doesn't a weekend making art with Julie and Ronda sound like trouble the most awesome thing in the world?! ;)

 

Create Daily: Travel Art Journal

Can you believe it is June already?  It's Summer time here in the States and i have vacation/holiday on my mind.  i am so excited to take time to relax with my friend Martha on our trip coming up at the end of the month.  Since i simply cannot stay away from creating daily, i will be bringing my art journal on the trip.  Today i want to share with you some tips to make it easy to create while traveling.  

The hardest part of creating daily on the road isn't finding the time, it's choosing what to take with you.  Simply put, Keep It Simple Silly or KISS.  First figure out what journal you want to take.  Do you want it larger or smaller? Is it a sketch journal or a daily art journal? 

i picked up a few of my journals to show you some possibilites.  The largest journal here is 5" x 8".  It fits neatly in a backpack or suitcase.  The rest are smaller all the way down to a pocket journal.  

1. Dylusion Journal -- Bristol paper 5x8, made for mixed media
2. Sketch Journal -- plain paper, better for sketches, ok (but not great) for wet medium
3. Global Arts & Moleskin Watercolor Journals - landscaped & watercolor paper
4. Terraskin Journal -- made of stone, slick, very good for wet art
5. Pocket Sketch Journal -- thick paper, great for mixed media
6. Pocket Watercolor Moleskin - Perfect for mixed media
7. 7 Gypsies Pocket Sketch Journal -- less pages than #5 but similar

Think about your vacation and what will work for you.  Don't let this overhwelm you, just make a decision and go for it.  

Once you narrowed down the journal, next is setting yourself up for success during your holiday.  A great way to do this is to create backgrounds on your pages before your trip.  Add color however you like, acrylic paints, watercolors, spray inks, paints, india inks, acrylic inks, washi tape, etc.  Create without thinking too much about it.  

You can keep it simple with just one or two colors.  Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.  i love monochromatic pages and maybe your travel journal is the place to try them out.  

You can also add a few more colors if you want.  This is the 7 Gypsies small journal and i just added a few splatters of spray inks, washi tape, & masking tape.

Insert leftover paper to your pages like in this journal where i added a piece of waterfolor with washi tape.  It flips open for more journaling and makes it interesting.  

Or how about a small tag?  i used Ranger's Color wash on the background for that splash of color.  Love it.  i then scored a tag so it bends and attached it to the page. 

This watercolor journal is fun because of the landscape direction.  i like to add masking tape or washing tape to the spine to make it stronger.  On this page i used mostly acrylic paints with some spray inks & stamped images.  Now start building a couple pages a day at a time so you don't have to drag out all of your supplies. 

Or keep it really simple & leave it blank so you can make it a sketch journal.  

Your sketch journal is a recording what you see & do each day.  In the above watercolor journals i sketched out things and then used watercolors to fill it in.  i journaled out some thoughts on the side pages.  i like doing this for capture places & people i see along my adventures. 

Next pick one medium to bring with you.  Keep it simple & pick just one.  i have lots of mediums in travel sizes so i am not weighted down when i am on the go. Just one.  Is it watercolors?  Watercolor crayons? Watercolor pencils? Colored pencils? India Ink pens? Or dual brush pens (these react to water)? Just one and go!  

 

Create Daily: Looking Back

Some times it is important to take note of where you have come from to know where you are going.  One of the things i like to do from time to time is to look back through my art journal pages.  This allows me to see the stories i told, to see how my art has change, to remember techinques i love, and really reflect on what i've done, focusing in on the positives.  Sometimes we get frustrated that we aren't where we want to be.  When we we look back we see all we have done and know the future is filled with possiblities.  

I use to art journal just on watercolor paper cut down to 5.5 x 9.  I have stacks of them laying around and would pick them up and play.  i love the layers of leftovers in these pieces. 

Take Note: the rub-ons & the wax layers.  Might have to break some of those out again. 

Overwhelmed is from 2010 and is still one of my favorties.  Monochromatic with strong greys and blacks.  i think this piece speaks volumes of what i was feeling at the time.

Taking Note: Love the simplicity of the piece and the stitches around the page.  Time to break out the sewing machine again. 

Find your Direction Art Journal page playing around with Dylusions, Maya Mists, & gelatos.  Big title on the page with an even bigger arrow. This page evolved from me feeling lost at that moment.

Taking Note: Simple color layers that are playful.  Love the touches of white in those cirlces.  The complementary colors really make that arrow stand out.

One Step is a page in my landscape art journal album.  I love that moleskin journal.  I first drew the leaves on the page with a stadler marker and then colored everything in with NeoColorII crayons.

Taking Note: Love the drawings with the watercolor background.  Need to just doodle more in my journal.  

Blue is layers upon layers of acrylic paints, maya mists, stablio marking pencil, and black pen.  I cut the blue "flowers" from a leftover tag.  

Taking Note: Love the mixture of the see-thru mists over the acrylic paint.  Need to break out the stablio pencil again.

23 is an art journal page about the loss of my sister and how her birthdays are really hard.  There is something powerful about this page.  Maybe it's the meaning and maybe it's the bold colors.  

Taking Note: Loving the journaling on vintage ledger paper and all the little bits & pieces around the page.  Need to play with paper a bit more on my pages

Hello Goodbye is a two page spread in the smaller dylusions art journal.  Two pages are rare for me but i love the way this one came together.  This page has lots of journaling along with that awesome quote.

Taking Note: Need to break out the gelli printing plate & play around more.  i think i need to stretch myself by doing more two page spreads. 

Things is a smaller page in the small dylusions journal.  I was playing around with "less is more" in my journal, craving at that time a simplistic page.  

Taking Note: Loving the typed letters.  These pages really pushed me creatively seeing how far i could take white space in an artistic way.  

Again is a really recent peice with just acrylics, white sharpie, and india ink.  Quite a change from my older style.  Playing around with techniques like dry brushing over layers and really pushing my journaling to become design. 

Taking Note: This art journal page is a reflection of who i am as an artist.  It reminds me to keep pushing, to really engage in my art.  

Have you created something this past week?  i love seeing other people's creations & being inspired by you!  Share a link at the bottom of this post with the inLinkz button.  Just leave a link to a specific blog post or image on flickr, rather than a general url. This way we can see your stellar creation.

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up