COM ART paint

[PonderThis]

A few questions about COM ART if I may.

DO most of you that use COM ART dilute your paint all of the time?
I understand it is supposed to be ready to use, is it better to dilute?
How long does a 1 oz bottle last you, adverage.
Another question, if you were to place an order fo COm Art paints , with the intention of doing illustration work ( mostly practice) which colors would you get and how much of each? ( just an opinion if you would)



JC

[Whit]

Scroll to the bottom,,,
for about $20,, can get a set assort colors !!!
I just go from the bottle with it,, no thinning !!!
http://www.dixieart.com/ComArt.html
Here's Golden as well if needed,,,,
http://www.dixieart.com/GoldenAirbrushColors.html
Might try browsing around this site for other
lil neccessities that pop up,, nice to know where
and what is available when you need it !!!
Good Luck on it !!!:partyalone:

[colourshift]

I had already checked into Golden for you JC, it's 10 bucks more for the 10 pack than the Com Art is.

[PonderThis]

Ok well Colourshift already looked up the best place to buy the 1 oz bottles, but no one has told me how long it might last for a newb.(guess if you have to lol) I might go with the 4 oz bottles, Blick don't sell them in that size though, and they only have one set for sale. I was also trying to find out what the most commnly used colors are for illustration. I am going to go with the Dixie for the place to buy them , just trying to figure out if I buy all of the 10 bottle kits ot just a good number of the 4 oz bottles.


JC

[colourshift]

I personally use a ton of Ultramarine....but that's not to say you will...
I'd go with a cople of the transparent kits, a couple of the opaque kits...remember, you can always mix your own colours. Unless you're spraying a heavy background in all one colour, they're going to last you a little while...
I thought you said you couldn't do canvas on ship, as it was too big? So I gotta wonder, why get the ComArt now?

[PonderThis]

Is there a reason I can't use ComArt like I do E'TAC? It is a textile paint isn't it? I have a friend getting me a box of white cotton pillow cases, there are at least 100 cases in the box. I intend to work with canvas when I return home but do not want that to stop me from learning to do illustrations. I figure since No one else here seems to use E'TAC it would take allot longer for me to try to mix flesh tones bymyself. Can ya fill me in here?

[colourshift]

NO! it's an acrylic paint used for fine art and illustration!

[colourshift]

I'd talk to one of the t-shirt artists for a rough formula for flesh tones, using the t-shirt paint you have.... or...get brave - consult your trusty colour wheel and use steve's formula's as a rough guide....and mix away,. Don't forget to keep your old bottles and re-label them with the new colour.

[PonderThis]

I also intend to use some aluminum sheets cut down to all me to have a couple stored in my workcenter. I figure some 11X14 cuts would do nicely. Then use some epoxypolmide primer so I will have a surface the paint will stick to. How does that sound. And if the Illustration board comes in some sizes that I can manage to store then I will buy some of that, not sure how think each board is but I moved some things around and have some room to spare.

JC

[colourshift]

You could use the ComArt on illustration board (crecent 9208), you could order the 20x30's and cut them down using a craft blade and a straight edge. It's roughly 1/8" thick.
I would not recommend using the ComArt on the metal blanks, it's not really made for that, regardless of primer.
I gave you a link to gessoed masonite panels in an e-mail...they're about a 1/4 inch thick, and perfect for Illustration paints (ComArt)...
Again, ComArt is not a textile paint.

[PonderThis]

:banghead: :flames: :smashfreakB: :lick: :breakcomp: :newbie:

[Whit]

Ponder,,,
The com-art paints are an Illustration paint,,,
Not Fabric !!! You need the fabric paints for that !!!
Illustration/canvas works great with them,, that's it !!!
The fabric paints are a heavier breed of paint and
need thinning way down to do illustrating with,, but
the illustrating paints are in no way fabric paints !!!
You may think about the fabric paints and thin to
a workable consistency instead of investing heavily
in illustration colors that are limited,, at best !!!
Might try a bottle (smoke) to experiment with,, just
to see what all the talk is and see if that's the way
you prefer to go,, it will minimize the investment until
you've made a decission on avenues you want !!!
The "Smoke" is a good color to play with as it's not
black (for overkill) and has a good tonal quality and
very workable in layers to build a darker color !!!
Good Luck in your decissions here !!!

[colourshift]

Smoke is a great colour (and I'm pleased that AutoAir has it in their line as well)...it's a warm transparent dark grey.

[PonderThis]

Ok well I am over zealous, I am stuck out here on this ship. Got the bug to want to try portraits when I saw Steve Driscoll's web site and heard he had DVD's Not to mention seeing all of the other portraits that have been posted by the lot of you. If I order one bottle of paint and play with it and like it, it will only take about 2 months to get more out to me, longer depending what is going on in the sand box when we get there. not to mention even if I spend a couple hundred dollars on paint , it is not like I would not have spent that much on a hotel, food and drinks if we were ever to pull into port. I don't imagine I will see much land for the next 7 months lol. I do apreciate your concern and have taken it in concideration. I tried the textile paints and they are pretty easy to work with , I am sure at one time I will have all 3 diff types of paints and dabble here and there trying to learn anything and everything I can.

Sorry to be such a pain in the ARSE.

JC

[colourshift]

You're fine...lol, you owe me beer...but you're fine.
For practice, and just to confuse you more, cause I owe you....you could get a tablet of Bristol Board, it's fairly smooth, and gives you a decent surface to play on...with Illustration paints.

[Clinton]

If your looking for something you can use on T shirts as well as canvas and illustration board, get some fluid acrylics from Golden. If you buy the fliuds you mix it with the AB medium 50/50 for fabric and about 20/80(80% medium) for illustration board or canvas. You can also paint on Aluminium if you'd like but they are not designed with this in mind. They are a closed pore paint and will build in layers when put down on a hard surface. If you use a high build primer on the aluminum it will act as a softer surface and allow the paint to sink(bond) to the surface alot better. If you check out my site everything on it is either Auto Air or Golden fluids mixed down. They are great to spray and very versital. Oh and to answer your question on how long they last, i've had the primary colours plus black and white along with a few AB colours (shading grey<- you'll want this for sure) for 2 years and i'm just about out of white and red the rest are about 1/2 full. Thats for the 4oz bottles.

[Whit]

Just a thought,,,
you could get a set (2 oz btls) transparents
and a large btl of the smoke,,, use the smoke
to build your portrait,, then just use the colors
to tint and color it in !!!
The smoke is great for black n white portraits
and the larger bottle lets your colors go further
being as you do most of the work in the smoke !!!
Same goes for other illustrations as well !!!
For a variety,,, might try the sepia as well !!!
-
just saw Clinton's post,,, Good Advice as well !!!

[colourshift]

Whit, they're only 1 oz bottles. 1 oz and 4 oz. 1 oz is the kit size, per bottle. (I've got about 200 of em)

Cacy renders flesh tone starting with a smoke and violet mix - working dark to light - and adding more and more flesh tone mix into the smoke violet mix as the portrait progresses...I have trouble with this method myself, and have kinda crossed both Cacy's method and Driscoll's. (still waiting on Cacy's ok to post recipe for flesh)

[Whit]

Opppppsss !!! was thinkin createx (hahahah)
Yeah,, that's right,,, 1 oz !!!:partyalone:

[PonderThis]

Ok I am going with the Bristol Board, As far as I remember it is like poster board. That should work well. I don't know why I am worried about what I paint on, is not like I am actually going to paint something I want to keep around LOL. I need to make it easier to dispose of LOL. Once I get Driscoll's DVD's I plan to devote at least 3 hours of my off time to practice. As far as who's face I want to wreck on paper, that is still up in the air. Beware I can see pictures of all of you in your profiles LMAO. I am going to order the Smoke for sure, Prolly a BIG bottle. I figure I will still hold off a day or so more and see if anyone else offers more color Ideas. Once I get a good group of them I will get 4oz bottles of the most commonly used colors and then buy the 1oz 10 bottle kits just to have the rest of the colors. I placed my order for the HPC- HI Line and ordered extra needled a couple .3 and couple .2. And 2 crown caps. I also have to find out what the biggest bottle of Createx Cleaner they sell and get that shipped out here. Now all is left . MORE DVD's and books. If you think you know which might help me further please offer up the names. I will look for them.

Thank you all again and again,

JC

[PonderThis]

Ok so do I need the Trans colors more than the Op?

[Whit]

This is a horse that's literally been beat to death,, but,,,
nothing can replace PRACTICE,, PRACTICE,, PRACTICE !!!
The DVD's and books make it look sooo easy,,, and it is,,
but only after much practice,, and more practice !!!
Spray some paint,,, make some booboo's,, waste some
paper,,, but practice,, get a feel for your brush/paint,,,
and soon you see pictures in a squiggle and go with it,,
you'll see how the lighter spray appears in contrast to the
heavier spray,, etc.,,, so much,, just from squirting some
paint and playing with it !!! Just have fun,, it'll come to you !!!
Good Luck with it,, and be sure to post your progress pics !!!

[colourshift]

BE ADVISED:
I have a lot of ComArt...most of it freebies from workshops.
I discovered, quite by accident, that some - not all - of the older paint I have has divided and conquered. Specifically, Opaque Cerulean blue. It got 'gritty', even after shaking for a length of time. I honestly can't say how old this paint is... the Phthalo Blue, fine, Cobalt...fine, white...fine. Will let you all know if I find any other anomolies. All the transparents are ok, maybe this is just that partticular colour? Anyone else have a similar problem with this brand of paint?

[PonderThis]

Whit I already understand that it is going to take practice. I got that down and am not just looking for ref's thinking they are going to make me any better right off the bat. Nor do I expect a magic AB to fix all my probs.
I am a jet engine mechanic. I can take anything apart and put it all back together however I use a book a manual to guide me along the way. I have stated time and time again I am not blessed with artistic talent or skills so just slinging paint around would not be the best way to learn for me. If I could take a class I would but time and work do not permit right now. SO I ask peoples opinions, I look for the How to's and anything I think I can use to guide me as I go then try to take as much from it as I can and then push on from there. I have been here long enough for everyone to know I ask a BILLION question. Poor Colourshift has taken the brunt of them here latley and I could not thank her enough for her help.

If my repeated questions are a bother I will refrain from posting more than a simple question and a thank you after the responce. Just because the best way for one person to learn is to "just do", doesn't mean it is the best way for everyone else. I do thank you for your time and input, I am not trying to be a jerk, just working hard not to throw my hands up, the more I invest in what I want to do the more drive I have to do it.

Very Respectfully,

JC

[zackarybancroft]

Whit I already understand that it is going to take practice. I got that down and am not just looking for ref's thinking they are going to make me any better right off the bat. Nor do I expect a magic AB to fix all my probs.
I am a jet engine mechanic. I can take anything apart and put it all back together however I use a book a manual to guide me along the way. I have stated time and time again I am not blessed with artistic talent or skills so just slinging paint around would not be the best way to learn for me. If I could take a class I would but time and work do not permit right now. SO I ask peoples opinions, I look for the How to's and anything I think I can use to guide me as I go then try to take as much from it as I can and then push on from there. I have been here long enough for everyone to know I ask a BILLION question. Poor Colourshift has taken the brunt of them here latley and I could not thank her enough for her help.

If my repeated questions are a bother I will refrain from posting more than a simple question and a thank you after the responce. Just because the best way for one person to learn is to "just do", doesn't mean it is the best way for everyone else. I do thank you for your time and input, I am not trying to be a jerk, just working hard not to throw my hands up, the more I invest in what I want to do the more drive I have to do it.

Very Respectfully,

JC
Don't get upset JC. We just want to help you.:hug:

What I use for pin-ups:

Medea Com-art paints

You should buy the 4oz bottles, because you'll use more these colors below.

Right red (Transparent)
Cadmium Yellow (Transparent)
Sienna Brown (Transparent)
Ochre (Transparent)

You can buy the 1oz bottles for the rest. You wouldn't use as much.

Violet (Transparent)
Smoke (Transparent)
White (Opaque)
Kelly Green (Transparent)
Ultramarine Blue (Transparent)

If you have more questions, please ask! That's the only way you'll learn.:)

[Whit]

Ponder,,,
What I'm saying is that if an instruction book calls
for 100 lbs torq on a given bolt,,, you torq to the
required torq,, but when you've done the same torq
over n over so many times,, it can get to where you
know the pressure required,, even without the
torq wrench,, you can get it awfully close !!!
(hope this metaphore sounds right)
Ask the questions,, but,, the airbrush is a mechanical
thing,,, like a jet,, difference is,, You're the pilot
and the mechanic,,, You determine where and how
this lil piece a mechanics takes you,, and there is
where the practice comes in,,, Just Squirt Paint,,,
Take a Joyride,, Do it,, till you got it in your dreams
at night,, wake up saying,, "I think that'll work" and
can't wait to try it !!!
We're all on a big learning curve here,, each his own,, but
we're all on it,, and on it together,, so ask the questions !!!
Just remember,, so when the day comes,, that you have
the answers to the questions we ask,,, you can smile as
you explain "It's a Mechanical Thing":partyalone:

[PonderThis]

Please don't think I was mad, just a bit frustrated. I a just know how I learn and since I do not have someone to show me first hand I just know i would do better with one form of instruction on another. I am always Greatful for any and all help that is offered, Sorry if it doesn't always sound like it.

JC