Question 1

Is acrylic paint environmentally friendly?

Accepted Answer

Painting ResponsiblyPeople often ask whether acrylic paints are environmentally friendly. The honest answer is that they aren't.  No paint is and acrylic paint is a plastic-based product, and while there are many claims about "greener" alternatives, I believe there are no perfect solutions at the moment.What I can do is use my materials as responsibly as possible.Here at Long Eaton Art Room we do have a sink in the classroom that has a filter that makes the process of pouring dirty water away much easier.  But I would never pour pure paint into the sink even with the filter.  Dirty water only.  However not all sinks have this facility and in those cases I allow the dirty water to settle in the water tub and as the paint particles drop to the bottom I can either reuse the cleaner water or pop it into a big bucket where it can go through an evaporation process.  The sludge can then be disposed of with household waste instead of entering our waterways.I also try to use only what I need, minimise waste, and make the most of every tube of paint and every canvas.You'll notice I don't make claims about "eco-friendly" or "plant-based" paints. While some alternatives may have benefits, they can also come with their own environmental impacts, including land use and deforestation. I prefer to be honest about that and focus on reducing my own impact in practical ways.Creating art will always have an environmental footprint, but I believe every small, thoughtful choice helps. This is simply my way of doing the best I can with the materials available today.Thank you for supporting both my art and my efforts to work as responsibly as possible.

Question 2

What types of paints do you use?

Accepted Answer

I use acrylic in all my work with the odd exception when I use either watercolour or gouache for sketching.

I favour Winsor & Newton but will also use Daler & Rowney.

Question 3

What paint brushes do you use?

Accepted Answer

Acrylic paints can be harsh on paint brushes so I tend to use nylon brush packs.  I like the mixed packs as they have a little of everything I would use (round,  flat edge, angle edge, fan, filbert etc).  As I am a big fan of using anything to create a painting it makes sense to ensure I have a little bit of everything. I don't have any preference for any brand.

Question 4

Do you prefer to paint on paper or canvas?

Accepted Answer

I mainly paint on canvas.
Deep edge canvasses for large paintings.  These don't need framing.
Standard canvasses for medium to small paintings. These need framing.
Canvas boards for small paintings.  These need framing.

I paint on acrylic paper or gessoed watercolour paper for sketches.

Question 5

Do you use other tools than brushes?

Accepted Answer

Yes I do.
I love to use palette knives, old credit cards, sticks, feathers, cloth, foil, clingfilm, plastic bags, pen lids etc.  My favourite tool is my fingers.
On some of my contemporary style paintings I finish them with drawings using Bosco pens or paint pens (I mix my own paints).

Question 6

How do you choose what to paint?

Accepted Answer

This used to be a very difficult question for me to answer because I wanted to paint everything.
However, as my work has become more established I have found that painting a subject you are passionate about is vital.  Also the process of painting is important (more about process in the Q&A)

I am passionate about woodlands.  My paintings capture the structure of the woods and the colour captures the way I feel in the woods.

Question 7

Where do you buy paints & other art  materials?

Accepted Answer

I usually buy locally from The Range, Hobbycraft & Patchings Art Centre.
Online I use Cass Art & Jacksons.

Question 8

Where do you get your ideas from?

Accepted Answer

Every day I walk the dog in the woods.  Its easy to be inspired by nature and the changing seasons.

Question 9

Are there any artists you are influenced by?

Accepted Answer

Yes I am.

David Hockney
He is my colour guru and a wonderful contemporary artist who has given time to talk about art.

John Sargent
A wonderful portrait artist whose confident brush strokes take my breath away.

William Turner
His ability to create atmosphere in his paintings is beautiful.

Quentine Blake
His magnificent scribbly illustrations for the Roald Dahl's books are full of character and confidence.

Question 10

Do you trace?

Accepted Answer

First of all lets clarify what tracing may mean.

Tracing another persons work to recreate their painting is morally wrong and illegal.

Should you have created a sketch that you would like to transfer to a canvas, you may need to trace it to get it right.  I prefer to call this mapping than tracing.  As a painter I only need to transfer across the component parts such as where the eyes, nose or focal point is.  Once I start painting over the marks made from the mapping process all the lines will disappear.  If you trace every signal line and then colour it in like you would a colouring book, then that is not a good method and will hinder your painting.

However, you may join an art workshop or online class where there is a drawing that the teacher would like you to transfer to a canvas or appropriate paper.  This is permissible as you are learning a painting process and it is sometimes easier for the teacher to give you an outline drawing they have created for you to use.  In this case you are not doing anything wrong, you are learning.

If you use tracing as a way of avoiding learning to draw, I wouldn't recommend it.
Practicing how to draw will always make your work better even if you are primarily a painter.

Hope this helps?

Question 11

What is your process?

Accepted Answer

First of all lets clarify what process means.
It's simply the recipe of the mixing and layering method.  A bit like making a cake.
For me my process is usually the following:

Visit woodlands - usually locally with my dog Ella.
Sketch woodlands - its important I get the structure of the landscape
Paint ideas onto paper
For bespoke sizes I will construct a canvas
Prepare the canvas with a layer of gesso
Choose the colours I wish to use that represent how I felt in the landscape e.g. at peace
Lay down a layer of background colour using my fingers, large brushes, rags or feathers
Start to build up the composition of the background trees using small brushes
Work on the midground, increasing the size of brushes
Work on the foreground using large brushes, palette knives and/or old credit cards to add texture
Standing back and ensuring the composition is correct throughout the process
Details are added
Ensure edges are completed
Sign it on the front
Add details to the back
Finished and ready to sell or hand over to a client

Other artists may start with the foreground first and then fill in the background or they may draw an elaborate sketch and use it to guide them like a more sophisticated colour in book.  Some will throw paint at the canvas/surface until they get something they like, usually for abstract work.

The process is individual to the artists and what makes art so fascinating to look at.  Each artists interpretation of their subject plus their process is why art is so unique.

Nicola Crook

Artist

Is acrylic paint environmentally friendly?

What types of paints do you use?

What paint brushes do you use?

Do you prefer to paint on paper or canvas?

Do you use other tools than brushes?

How do you choose what to paint?

Where do you buy paints & other art materials?

Where do you get your ideas from?

Are there any artists you are influenced by?

Do you trace?

What is your process?

Do you have a question that I haven't covered yet?
If so, please email me on nicolacrookart@gmail.com

Is acrylic paint environmentally friendly?

What types of paints do you use?

What paint brushes do you use?

Do you prefer to paint on paper or canvas?

Do you use other tools than brushes?

How do you choose what to paint?

Where do you buy paints & other art materials?

Where do you get your ideas from?

Are there any artists you are influenced by?

Do you trace?

What is your process?

Do you have a question that I haven't covered yet? If so, please email me on nicolacrookart@gmail.com

Do you have a question that I haven't covered yet?
If so, please email me on nicolacrookart@gmail.com