Tips and Tricks

Twin Cities Decorative Artists Guild

Surfaces

If your goal is to replicate a certain artist's technique or look, use the
brushes and supplies they recommend. If you just want to paint something
that looks pretty, substitute the brushes and paints you already have.

If you want to freehand a design onto a medium to dark coloured
surface a chalk pencil, a soapstone pencil or a white watercolour
pencil all work well.
To lighten transfer lines gently roll a kneaded eraser over your piece.
Roll it as if you were making a Play Dough snake.
To remove transfer lines, dampen a paper towel with Mineral Spirits
and gently wipe it over the lines you want to remove. (Cindy gets
credit for this one too.)

Brush Care

Supplies

Freezer paper works well for palette paper.

Transferring
Patterns

Using a photocopier to make a copy of your pattern onto vellum can save
time and provide you with an accurate tracing. However, it's good to
familiarize yourself with the pattern by taking a stylus and following all the
pattern lines once or twice before you start to transfer it. This is especially
important for complex, intricate patterns.

Paint

The tips and tricks are supplied by members who have tried them and have had success
using them.
Please feel free to e-mail your tips and/or tricks to jan@richieresource.com

Miscellaneous

Empty Swiffer Wipes container: An inexpensive plastic box that seals
together and could be used as a wet palette or to store items.