One of the few benefits of the experience of Covid-19 lockdown and home confinement, is the opportunity to learn new things, develop new skills and find new techniques. Bob Ross BBC Covid
One of the few benefits of the experience of Covid-19 lockdown and home confinement, is the opportunity to learn new things, develop new skills and find new techniques. Bob Ross BBC Covid
This has been my experience with watching and following the American artist Bob Ross on BBC 2 most evenings of the week.
His style is simple and straightforward but not as easy as he makes it appear of course. That is the usual case with these things. But with some perseverance and patience, some semblance of how he creates his paintings can shine through.
I’ve used acrylics rather than oils. Far less expensive and I find easier to apply. You can get a good range of these cheap paints at places like WH Smith. Colours: just go for the essentials and mix; so red, yellow, green, blue white and black. Beyond that it would be your call whether you want to spend more or just rely on mixing.
His tools I’ve found for myself: fan brushes and 2″ and 1″ decorators’ brushes are essential. Then a thick and thin stipple brush, thick and thin ordinary artists’ brushes. Pallet knives are also most useful but you only need a couple.
Then of course there’s your pallet. I’ve a wooden one that I wash off after each session, but you can get paper ones that you peel off each layer after you’ve finished. Alternatively, use a piece of old hardboard, suggest not MDF as that’s too absorbent and your paints will dry out too quickly
I have rags at the ready, tissues and towels to clean my brushes and knives. A plastic waste-paper bin half full with enough water to keep the brush cleaning more or less untainted with old colours.
An easel is useful, standing or desk top. It’s not a good idea to paint on a flat surface as you can get the proportions and perspectives all wrong.
With the paper canvas, I use 350gms. That’s heavy and it doesn’t buckle with the wet paint. A MDF support board and the paper masking taped all round. Excellent material and far less cost that traditional framed canvas, so you can experiment and make ‘happy little accidents’ (not mistakes) without worrying about cash wastage.
A sheet on your floor and table with plenty of newspapers spread out so you don’t have to be too cautious about paint and water splashing on your carpet, tiles or furniture.
Ok, now you’re ready to complete your masterpiece. And I emphasise, it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. That’s for the professionals. The most important thing is your enjoyment of the moment of creation. You’ve created a work of art. You’ve expressed yourself. You’ve divorced yourself for a while from the trials and tribulations we are bombarded with. You’ve relaxed and taken yourself into a different dimension for a short time. You’ve lived for the moment, all the better for then dealing with the 6 ‘o’ clock news.
Bob’s style and techniques: BBC2 weekdays and 7.30pm. Or of course You Tube. Far be it from me to describe how he does it-you have to watch for yourself.
Enjoy.
