Q: Are you planning to teach a workshop in (my city)?
A: check the workshops page
Q: What materials do you paint on?
A: For large or more complete paintings I paint on either linen which I stretch and prime myself, or cradled wood panels also primed myself. For small works and studies I use Arches oil paper and small cradled wood panels.
Q: What medium do you use?
A: 50/50 odorless mineral spirits and oil (I try different ones.. safflower, walnut, lavender- all artist grade) When I paint on the arches oil paper, I first wash it with this medium and a tiny bit of paint to tint.
Q: What easels do you use?
A: https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-heavy-duty-h-frame-easel/
Q: What do you prime your canvas with?
A: Acrylic Gesso, several thinned coats, and maybe sand a bit to smooth at the end. When I use the Arches Oil Paper I do not prime it, it's made for oil painting and does not require it.
Q: What palette do you use?
A: If you mean paint colors- Ivory Black, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalocyanine Turquoise (Michael Harding), Phthlo Green, Brilliant Pink (MH), Cadmium Red, Cadmium Orange, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellow, Bright Yellow Lake (MH), Transparent Oxide Red or Burt Sienna, Titanium White. I will also add and subtract new colors depending on the painting in progress or whim.
If you mean Palette, I use New Wave Palettes, the POSH model with the grey enamel being my favorite. I think they do not make this one anymore.
Q: What types of brushes do you use?
A: Princeton Ashley 5200F series bristle brushes. Sometimes I’ve purchased a lot of brushes from eBay and enjoy experimenting with new shapes and textures. Usually leaning hard on long flats/bristles and switching to other types if I get bored or inspired.
Q: Do you have an instructional video?
A: Yes. there are some videos free on my You Tube Channel. And I release new videos via my Patreon. These new videos are about the subjects I deal with in creative coach, like finding our voice and building bodies of work.
Q: How do you mix your skintones?
A: There is no easy answer to this, every painting, every portrait is different. If you do not wish to have formulaic paintings you must use observation and logic each time you mix a color.
Q: Where are you based?
A: San Francisco, CA
Q: Where did you study?
A: The California Art Institute (now closed), The Art Student's League of New York, and mostly for many years on my own.
Q: Do you have prints available?
A: For the 2019 BP Portrait Award I have collaborated with The National Portrait Gallery in London on a series of three prints which are now sold out.
Q: Do you draw with pencil or paint to start a painting?
A: 99.9% of the time I start with paint.
Q: Do you work from life or from photos?
A: I do both.
Q: How long does a painting take you?
A: Three hours is the minimum amount of time I complete a painting in, like an all prima portrait or still life sketch. But I have spent days, weeks, months or even years on a painting.
Q: Do you varnish the arches oil paper?
A: Yes, with Kamar spray varnish usually.
Q: How do you frame work painted on arches oil paper?
A: Either by having the painting mounted on a stronger support and framed as you would any painting, or matted and framed under glass.
Q: What is your studio lighting set-up?
A: I have a C-Stand with extension arm and a soft box light (with the cover both on and off depending on how bright I want my light), like the ones I’ve linked here. I use large, stong 5000 kelvin Bulbs, to give cool Northilght-like illumination.