Painting advice

Even though oil paintings are one of the most appealing types of artwork, mastering this technique is very hard to do especially for those who do not have past experiences in doing this art. Before moving on to the actual mastery of techniques for oil painting, it is important to be aware of the basics and the not-to-do in this area. One basic advice on painting is to always start on oil artworks with an acrylic under-painting. Using oils for underpaint is not recommended because their initial layers are very slow to dry. If acrylic paints are used, however, then the drying time of the paints are sped up, giving artists faster time to apply other layers of paints.

Also in doing paintings, one must make sure that the painting is done in a place with good lighting conditions. Having sufficient light is very important because it brings out the true hues of the colors used and also creates lesser strain to the eyes. Painting outdoors is more preferred by professional painters though artificial indoor light can also be used. Another advice is to always have good ventilation on the studio or outdoor setting. This is very important in oil painting

because oil materials, thinners, and cleaners dry fast when put on a room without proper ventilation. Moreover, most of these products also have toxic fumes which can cause health problems to those who inhale them. When choosing oil paints, having the water miscible ones are a good option because water can be used in diluting them instead of the usual harmful solvents.

One basic technique to master oil painting is the fat over lean method. ‘Fat’ oil paints are paints straight out of the tube which are added with more oil. Thus, this kind of paint requires a long drying time. ‘Lean’ paints, on the other hand, are paints which are mixed with white spirits or turpentine to have fast drying periods. The fat over lean technique is simply all about putting the fat paints above the lean ones. This is a very important advice on painting with oils because if the lean paints are painted over the fat oils, the upper lean layer will dry first than the fat lower layer. Once this happens, the lower layers will absorb the oil from the upper layers which may cause the cracking of the upper layers of paint. Thus, each layer of paintings should be fatter than the ones below them.

The last vital advice on painting is to always choose the best quality brushes. Even though cheap brushes are more affordable, their quality cannot be relied on because they have brittle bristles which shed and stick to the canvass when painting. Hair brushes are good choices but those made with real or synthetic sables are also recommended. Brush care is also very important especially for the expensive types. Brush preservers and cleaners should be used to maintain the quality of these materials. When it comes to using them, brushes should never be held the way pencils are held. Brushes for oil paints are really made with long bristles so practicing holding brushes on their middle or ends should be practiced.

Painting over wallpaper

Oh the debate – “Should I use wallpaper or paint on my walls? Every one has their own personal preference. Some strongly side with wallpaper; others staunchly stand-up for paint and painting. Each has advantages.

Paint

Paint is one of the most common forms of decorating walls. It is simple and comes in a wide spectrum of colors. Every shade you can think of is possible. The variety is truly astounding with shades within shades and subtly different hues. Perhaps, this can become a problem: too much choice. Even among the whites, there are various shades: pearl, off-white, cream, eggshell, chalk, Queen Anne’s lace. One book listed some fifty different shades of white for a would-be decorator to choose from.

In addition to the shades or hues, painters are allowed a selection of types. This applies beyond interior and exterior paint and extends to glossy, matte and flat and anything in between. Glossy captures the light and reflects it, enhancing the color; matte is dull, neutral, letting the color speak for itself.

All these characteristics of paint must be factored in. You need to decide the purpose of painting a room, the colors required to best present your theme or intention and whether painting is a practical means of accomplishing your decorating task.

When considering painting a room, do not forget the tools needed. Rollers, trays and brushes are the very basic means of getting a room done. Step ladders and/or scaffolding (in rooms with high ceilings) are also part of the necessary equipment. Preparatory work requires sponges, putty knives (to fill in holes), scrapers and sanding blocks (to smooth down the putty-filled holes). You can sanely do anything without a drop cloth or two or three. The cost of these items can add up, but, except for some expensive brushes for fine work, you can always purchase the rest at dollar stores.

The cost of paint can very. Sales and end-of-lines can reduce costs and, for a small area, you might be able to pick up paint at disposal sites.

Besides price, paint is easy to apply, durable and not difficult to clean.

Wallpaper

Wallpapering used to be a very messy and frustrating job. Sheets of easily torn paper had to be pasted and then held up to the wall. If the paste was applied to thickly, there were lumps under the surface; apply the paste to lightly and the paper would slide off the wall.

Today, much has changed and it is all for the better. Wallpaper, now referred to as wall coverings is made of a variety of different substances. It is vinyl, fabric, grass cloth and foil as well as paper.

The new paper does not tear or rend as easily it did in the past. A plastic coating ensures it is both durable and easy to clean. As with paint, there is a myriad of different choices. You can decide what to pick based on suitability, both to the location and you and your family’s preferences.

Like paint, the quality will vary according to price and manufacturer. Unlike with painting, however, wallpapering is really not a solitary chore. You do need that extra pair of hands and eyes, the latter to inform you whether you are hanging the piece straight.

Wall preparations for papering are similar to painting. Flaws must be removed. The walls must be sanded and all holes filled. If the wall is already covered, strip it. And do not forget in either papering or painting to remove or protect the wall plates.

Painters

Painting landscape has been a popular art form in many cultures for centuries. While most of us cannot afford original masterpieces, modern reproductions and print allow us to bring them into our homes.

Painters of Landscape

While few of us can afford paintings by the greatest landscape artists like Monet and Constable, reproductions give us an affordable access to their works to enhance our decorating schemes.

Amateur painters often chose landscape as a subject matter as they may not have access to decent studio space and therefore can more easily paint in situ. This was not always the case and the first Impressionist to take their easels outside were viewed as rather unconventional, as artists before them would have painted inside from memory or sketches.

Painting landscape is an art tradition common to many cultures, and it goes hand-in-hand with the popularity of the genre. This was especially the case in Japan, North America, the Netherlands, France and Great Britain until the latter part of the twentieth century as other forms of artistic representation, such as Surrealism and Cubism, for example, grabbed the artists and critics’ attention. Nowadays with the advent of video and installations landscape artists are becoming a rare, rather obsolete breed.

With all this being said, let’s note, however, that most people still rather like landscape paintings. They usually convey a sense of emotional connection to the subject matter, which does not necessarily occur when one looks at a portrait or still life. This is particularly the case when the painting in question reminds of times past.

A number of very famous landscape artists became well known for concentrating on specific areas. In some cases it could almost be tantamount to obsession if you consider that Paul Cézanne, for instance, painted around eighty versions of the Sainte-Victoire mountain located near his home in Provence, France. He wanted to represent it as it looked to him throughout the year, with different weather.

In the seventeen century Holland saw the first European painters representing seascapes, Vermeer and Rembrandt. Since this time there has been a noted recurrence of sky and water themes for some landscape painters, like for instance the well-known English artist JMW Turner. Turner was fist noted for his representations of the sea and skies in violent storm conditions. This said his later works point to the future development of abstract painting by blurring the previously clear line between the water and the sky. French artist Claude Monet’s developed his technique for painting landscapes involving water by doing so in close proximity to his subject matter, which would sometimes involve painting from a small boat. American painters Homer and Wyeth, both renowned landscape painters, were also noted for the admirable way they managed to represent the effect of light on water surfaces.

Interior paint contractor

Some people tend to stick with traditions and feel safer if they do not have to deal with changes. Others, though, crave change and are always chasing after the latest and greatest things.

These attitudes can also come into play with your paint contractor. Some people keep their contracted painter coming back every time their exterior home painting needs completed, even if the paint contractor does not always do an outstanding job. Other home owners may have had a good experience with a contracted painter, but think there might be someone better available so they hire someone else to complete the exterior home painting. So the question ends up being which is better – sticking with a painter you have hired in the past or trying to find someone new? Unfortunately, there is no cut and dry answer to that question.

It basically comes down to which option feels right to you. If you have worked with a contracted painter in the past and were happy with the exterior home painting that was completed, it may be a good idea to stick with them. Unless you felt that they charged too much the last time they completed the painting, or you have another compelling reason for not wanting to hire them again, it may be more beneficial to rehire them again instead of going through the process of finding someone else that is professional and reliable. If your reason for not wanting to rehire the paint contractor was because you thought the charged too much for the house painting, one

option is to contact them and try negotiating on the price. You can try saying you think their price may be a little high and ask what all of the charges are for, if they are willing to negotiate, then the problem is solved. If they are not willing to come down on their pricing and come up with an explanation for the charges, then it is up to you to decide whether to pay what they are asking or look elsewhere and hire someone else.

If, for some reason, you want to try someone new, maybe because you though the paint contractor did not complete the house painting at a professional level or you simply did not like the painter, you will probably want to do some research before selecting a someone new. It can pay off to do some research because if you select a random painter without checking their company’s credentials, you may be stuck in a contract with a less than professional painter. One way to research a potential paint contractor is to ask them for references and then contact those references to ask how satisfied with the painter’s work. Another way to research the painter is to ask them for samples of their previous work, be it photos or a website where you can view homes they have painted.

Home improvement painting

I would like to cover every aspect of this topic. In order to keep things short I have only included the major topics elaborated as good as possible.

Now before you begin to tackle any of the other home improvement jobs that are ready and waiting for you, you might want to see about the task of repainting your home. Since this is one of the more significant jobs, not to mention very messy especially if you are a novice painter, you should get this over with as soon as you can. Home improvement painting can brighten up a dark and dingy house into a spacious life area. The main items that you will need are an vacate house, otherwise you will need to cover all of the piece of furniture or move them to another room. This is another home improvement task altogether so let’s start with an empty room just like an artist start with an vacuous canvas.

Now select your color scheme. Yes this is home improvement painting but you do need all of the colors in your house to match. Try picture a little bit of the color somewhere on the walls or the ceiling. This way you will get an idea of how the color actually looks on the surface.

The other items that you must take are your picture tools. Some people like spraying picture the integral surface of their home. Other people like to use rollers to cover large areas at once. You will also get the creative set. This set of people like to use paint brushes to get their jobs done.

Now that you have all of the tools that you need ready, you will need to prepare the surface. Buy a non water based primer or sealer. Utilize this sealer equally all over the various places that you want painted. Try doing one room first before you paint the whole house. After the sealer is dry and you have no dusty surfaces to care about, you can begin your home improvement painting.

Make sure that you cover the whole ceiling equally in one coat. Let this coat dry full before you paint any more. Over painting will give you a lumpy looking ceiling. Now when you are full satisfied with how the ceiling looks you can start on the walls. The best place to start this section of your home improvement painting is in a corner but at the very top of the walls.

Now Taking your time and being very measured not to get paint everywhere cover one wall with your chosen color. You will be able to get an idea of how your home improvement painting will look once it is all done. With your first wall painted you can then start house painting the rest of the house in one color or the various coordinated colors.

At the end of your home improvement painting your whole house will look altogether unlike and you will feel a sense of pridefulness whenever you look at the walls and ceilings. Michelangelo Buonarroti eat your heart out. There is a new painting genius in town.

Residential painting contractor

Whether you are a commercial company or an individual who needs construction work or renovation done, there are contractors available to meet your particular needs. The completion of a remodeling or building project requires careful planning and implementation. Contractors will have the proper training and many years of experience. They have developed a network of reliable construction supply contacts and skilled workers who can get the job done on time and on budget.

The best place to obtain a quality contractor is through a referral company or service. Before enlisting a contractor's services you need to know what kind of contractor you will need for your work project.

Commercial Contractors: There are many aspects of commercial renovation and construction contractors that are different from residential contractors. Commercial contractors specialize in industry and business related buildings that can include: retail, hospitality, industrial, government, and apartment improvements. Commercial contractors must adhere to legal regulations instituted by the government and town or city. For instance, they have commercial codes that must be followed regarding commercial construction that includes plumbing, electrical wiring, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, emergency exit points, structural additions, renovation, repairs, and much more. Restroom requirements and restrictions are another consideration for commercial building plans. Commercial contractors will provide an estimate before you sign the work contract.

Residential Contractors: A residential contractor provides home and renovation services. They have the qualifications and experience to complete any home project such as: roofing, adding a room, renovating bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms,etc. After the job is complete, they will take care of the clean up. They will provide an estimate before you sign the work contract.

Commercial and Residential Contractor referral services differ according to the targeted business. A commercial referral service will only list referrals who are involved with commercial projects. A residential referral service will list contractors who are involved with home based projects. Many referral services will offer both types of contractor referrals.

Online contractor referral services will provide verified, insured, and licensed contractor quotes for any type of project. Bringing homeowners and businesses together with contractors on a referral site will insure that both are dedicated to getting the job done accurately and at the best possible price. Homeowners and businesses can check the integrity and quality of a particular contractor by reading job evaluation responses from former customers. Contractors will bid on your project so that you can get a number of quotes to help you make a final decision about who you will hire. It is a great tool that will ensure you are getting quality and value for your money.

If you have a project that is either commercial or residential, all you have to do is post your project on an online contractor referral site. You will then start to receive bids from local contractors. Some sites also have an advance search feature that will allow you to locate the best contract for your particular new home construction, renovation, or commercial project. One of the best features of the service is that most online referral sites do not charge a fee for customers to post their projects.

Paint a house

While planning the job and coming up with the query of how to prep stucco house for paint, the first issue that comes up and is to be resolved is what is not to be painted. Whether it is a stucco house or otherwise, this aspect transcends all such issues and has nothing to do with what sort of wall finish exists in the house that has to be painted. Masking the areas or spots that are not to be painted is therefore the first step when preparing stucco house for paint.

One other universal fact remains, that it is only the surface that has to be painted. It is, therefore, necessary that the surface to be painted has to be prepared for this task. The key factors that would ensure a long lasting paint scheme are a drywall and a clean wall surface.

It is generally opined that using pressurised water to clean the surface is the best way for the surface or wall cleaning. However, this process also has demerits which need to be considered. The stucco itself could get loose due to the pressure applied upon it. Water could also ingress under the surface of the stucco if care is not exercised. For this reason, in case this option is being used for cleaning, the surface suitable distance and correct angle of spraying the water needs to be borne in mind.

Cracks and small gaps should be sealed with sealants. This would prevent ingress of water under the existing stucco layer. Longevity of the applied paint is also ensured in this process. The application of paint on wet surface as advised by professional painters needs to be considered for its demerits prior to accepting this recommendation.

It is a good practice to take steps that ensure the surface is level for the paint to be applied. Existing damage to the surface needs to be repaired and loose stucco to be removed in the preparatory steps.

In order to ensure that the repaired patches match up with the rest of the surface area professional help could be of use. Applying two coats of the patch up work is also an advisable step as the surface being level all through and matching texture being the end result would be ensured.

Caulk could be applied for cracks small in dimension. Where the crack is of larger dimension, and it is felt that the material may move, application of elastomeric caulk would be more suitable.