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Advice on what I should buy please

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Jon Chester

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Thanks Alan and Sylvia, I have got everything in place to start testing, so I think I will be testing things at the week end. It was just that I saw hints and tips on youtube, and some still prime them even if they are already primed. I was just wondering if it was really necessary, but I obviously do not want more work, if not needed. 🙂

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by JonChester

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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What the others said - just bang the paint on and see what transpires.... I use Daler-Rowney White Gesso Primer when I want a really white surface to shine through transparent paint, or require a little more texture than usual. But it's rarely really necessary when boards or canvas are primed already. You can also use it as a white paint - it has its own characteristics which are sometimes quite useful, though it'll be slightly more fluid than most tube whites. I don't think you need it at the moment though - save your money for good brushes and a few more colours.

Jon Chester

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Thanks Robert, I will get a move on and see what I can produce, more than likely just a colourful mess. :laugh:

Dawn Halliwell

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Hi John, Where do you live? I am in the North West too, so may be able to suggest some places to buy from or groups to look at. I am a relative newbie to art too. I found trying some local groups out helped me. You get to try different materials at very little cost, pick up tips from other artists and make good friends too. Two of the groups I attended supplied materials so you didn't have to take your own and they were very inexpensive, £3 a session. From there, I got to hear about demos and workshops, which I have found very useful. I echo the others tho - you need to buy decent materials. The other thing I did was buy a joblot of secondhand materials from ebay, altho my budget was a lot less than your £200! Good luck and feel free to email me direct. Dawn

Jon Chester

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Hi Dawn, Thanks for all that info. Still finding my feet at the moment.

Jon Chester

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Hi Syd, Yes I have read up a little on the primed Mdf boards, and they do look like they could be better to use. But I just wanted to dabble with Canvas, just to experiment with. I can always pick Mdf board up at a later date. It is all a learning curve for me, so I am not too fussed if I mess things up as I go along. Thank you for your helpful advice. 🙂

Jon Chester

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Just been looking at mdf boards on line. I would like to try a larger size, something like 50cm x 40cm. But at that size and they get a little pricey. Anyway, still looking and seeing what I can spot. I was thinking of getting some board from somewhere like B&Q and cutting it myself.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Why not? I believe some B & Q stores, if not all, will cut MDF and hardboard panels to size for you. Give them a coat of acrylic 'gesso' and off you go. Probably make sure to buy the lighter weights: I have a couple of paintings on heavy-weight MDF - well, I had; they're in others' homes now: and I wait in some trepidation for the news that they've fallen off the wall. On the other hand, they're very unlikely to warp.

Jon Chester

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Hi Robert , I was thinking probably something like 5mm or 10mm board, to start off with. I have got my primer ingredients ready, PVA glue and paint etc.

Jon Chester

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Hi Alan, Wouldn't 3mm board get wobbly when in bigger sizes? Noticing all the backs of my wardrobes and bottoms of drawers all warped and wobbly. Obviously not helping being stuffed full of clothes. 🙂

Jon Chester

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Thanks for that info Alan, it does now make sense about the thickness of board. I can see the panel becoming too weighty. I will experiment with the boards, and see how things flow. Cheers.

Jon Chester

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Hi Pat, I will have another look at that site you suggested, and read up again. Cheers.
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