Bill loved to paint! He knew early on that there had to be a way to capture an image on canvas before his passion for the image dimmed. He couldn't wait the necessary drying time with traditional oil painting methods and still keep his enthusiasm for the outcome. Hence, the reason for Bill's Wet-On-Wet Technique.
Applying oil color to a wet canvas is not a new idea. For centuries, talented artist have used wet-on-wet techniques to express their individual style. Claude Monet was one of the better-known artists who painted using a wet-on-wet method. In our lifetime, the founder of Alexander Art, William Alexander, developed the products and popularized this method to make it possible for anyone to successfully paint, what is now called, the Alexander Wet-On-Wet Technique.
Bill is the only artist to have won an Emmy for his television painting show.
Bob was 18, in the Air Force, and stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, when he took his first oil painting classes. What started as a hobby was soon to become a lifelong obsession. During the next 20 years, Bob painted to supplement his military income and continued to study art at universities and colleges across the country. He also studied privately with numerous artist whom he greatly admired. It was in the mid 70's when Bob met and studied with Bill Alexander who had developed the modern day technique for applying paint wet-on-wet. He fell in love with the technique and became the foremost exponent of this art form. As such, he was one of the few American artists selected to demonstrate at the 1982 World's Fair. It was also 1982 when the Bob Ross Company was founded. The rest is history. His PBS series "The Best of the Joy of Painting" has probably made him the most recognized artist of the day. Thanks to Bob, oil painting has reached more people than ever before. For more on Bob, click here.
The method we use is called wet-on-wet.
We use extra thick paints and they dry slowly.
At the end of class you will be taking home a completed painting that is still wet.
Probably the easiest way to carry a wet painting is to find a shallow box that your canvas will fit into.
It doesn't even need a top.
Something like a sheet cake box, a pizza style box or a refrigerator box cut to size will work.
Just kidding about the refrigerator box, but you get the idea.
Along this same line you can take a flat piece of cardboard that's about 4" longer and 4" taller than your
painting and fold up the edges about 1-1/2" on each side. This leaves a little bit of free space to make it easier to get your
painting in and out. Fix the corners so they stay put and you're ready to go.
Drying time will vary depending on numerous factors such as heat, humidity, thickness of paint, material painted on, etc. Another factor is the individual colors used. Different colors have different drying times (i.e., normally Blue will dry very fast where colors like Red, White and Yellow are very slow drying). A good average time for an oil painting to dry, when painted in this technique is approximately 2-3 weeks.To see if it's dry touch some of the paint that is on the side of the canvas.
Clip-It Frame Clips.
The fast, easy system for mounting stretched canvas paintings in wooden picture frames.
Clip-Its fit standard size stretcher bars and will not damage the frame or artwork.
The strong steel clips are easily removed.
Use two for a small frame or four for a large frame.
Not for round or oval canvases.
Michaels carries these in the canvas department.
Here's what they look like.
Put tape over the clips to protect walls from metal marks.
Gesso (pronounced jess-o) is a fast-drying flat acrylic liquid (water based) primer used to prepare a canvas for painting.
It serves to inhibit absorbtion while taming/smoothing the raw canvas. Several coats of a thin application work best.
Most canvas you find at the store have already been gessoed. However not all have been done
with a good quality gesso or good production standards. If you find a good canvas, stick with it. (Fredrix is my preferred brand)
The fast drying thin acrylic is also used when a particular background color is desired.
Acrylic paints may also be used however the thicker paint may cause some lose of desired roughness (tooth) and care should be taken not to leave a wavy/uneven surface.
Acrylic house paint has been used but it does have a limited life.
If you want your painting to last a long time use a good quality artist gesso.
Mediums are (oil based) products used for thinning paints for easy application.
For wet-on-wet painting (that's us) a thin specially formulated slow-drying base paint is put on the canvas first.
While other methods require colors to be prepared on the palette wet-on-wet painters can apply, mix, change and/or remove colors right on the canvas.
Mediums can also be used to thin thicker paints as needed.
Final Note. Don't confuse Gesso with Mediums.
They are two completely different things.
And never, never use your oil painting brushes to apply gesso or any acrylic product.
For gesso use a gesso brush or a foam applicator.
Never use an oil painting brush.
For acrylics use an acrylic brush or a foam applicator.
Never use an oil painting brush.
Chances are, if you ever paint a painting that you are completely satisfied with, your painting career is over.
Each painting is a learning experience, increasing both your knowledge and skill.
I paint the same painting many times.
Sometimes they have been painted in the classroom, but many are done in preparation for the classroom.
If a particular painting stands out as something I want to keep I set it aside.
The rest I will usually paint over.
This is how I do it.
I let the painting dry (usually for several weeks) and then if necessary, I knock off the high spots with some sandpaper.
Then I gesso over the painting.
After the gesso dries it's ready.
I have found that white gesso doesn't completely hide the previous painting.
That's okay, it will still work.
Or I use black gesso.
Then I'm ready for those really neat black canvas paintings that we do.
I make my ovals by using a wooden oval plaque.
I position the plaque on adhesive backed paper and using it as a guide I cut out the oval using an exacto knife.
I then apply the outer part to a dry canvas.
To help the contact paper stick to the canvas I very carefully use a hair dryer on warm to "set" the adhesive.
Paint may still get under the paper.
If that happens you can let the painting dry then paint over it with a color that matches the canvas.
Another alternative is to faux finish the outer part with a thin acrylic paint.
This can be done while the oil paint is still wet.
Carefully apply the acrylic paint.
Because it's water based the acrylic paint doesn't want to mix with the still wet oil paint.
If all else fails you can use an oval mat and place it on top of the dry painting.
This turns any painting into an oval.
Putting a finish on your painting will protect it from the elements. Products made specifically for this purpose are available at art stores. Most suggest a curing period of between 6-8 months before application. Follow the product directions or have it professionally done.
There are as many different ways to sign your painting as there are painters. And more than likely your signature will evolve over time. Some folks use their initials, some use pen names, others use their full name. The choice is yours. When you sign is also your choice. You can sign it when you are finished painting or you can wait till it's dry. I do suggest that you place the date and the name of the painting on the back side of the frame using a ball point pen. That way you will have a good reference later on.
Though both Alexander Art and Bob Ross make supplies for painting wet-on-wet, there are some differences.
Alexander paints are all thick / Ross dark base colors are thick while the warmer highlight colors are a bit thinner.
Names of some of the paints are different. All of the mediums have different names.
SUPPLIES FOR PAINTING WET-ON-WET
Bob Ross supplies are available at Hobby Lobby, Michaels and on line at www.BobRoss.com.
Purchase your Alexander or Ross supplies through me and receive a 40% discount (on most items).
Contact me for details.
USE COUPONS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
Hobby Lobby coupons are available on line.
Hobby Lobby and Michaels have coupons in local newspapers.
PAINTS/MEDIUMS
BRUSHES
CANVAS
PALETTE/PALETTE PAPER
ODORLESS THINNER
BEATER RACK
BEATER BOX
OTHER STUFF
Alexander's large brush is 2-1/2" / Ross large brush is 2".
Alexander mediums are thin / Ross mediums are thick.
Some of the colors are a bit different and Alexander has a few more colors.
ALEXANDER COLOR
Titanium White
Phthalo Green
Phthalo Blue
Prussian Blue
Ivory Black
Burnt Sienna
Van Dyke Brown
Alizarin Crimson
Sap Green
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre ROSS LANDSCAPE COLOR
Titamium White
Phthalo Green
Phthalo Blue
Prussian Blue
Midnight Black
Dark Sienna
Van Dyke Brown
Alizarin Crimson
Sap Green
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ochre
ALEXANDER COLOR
Indian Yellow
Permanent Red
Titanium White Soft
Burnt Umber
Deep Orange
Permanent Rose
Permanent Violet
- Mediums -
Magic White
Magic Clear
Black Medium ROSS LANDSCAPE COLOR
Indian Yellow
Bright Red
Titanium White Soft (Floral)
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- Mediums -
Liquid White Oil Paint
Liquid Clear Oil Paint
Liquid Black Oil Paint
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PURCHASING YOUR SUPPLIES | PAINTS/MEDIUMS | BRUSHES | CANVAS | EASELS
PALETTE/PALETTE PAPER | ODORLESS THINNER | BEATER RACK | BEATER BOX | OTHER STUFF
PURCHASING YOUR SUPPLIES
Alexander Art supplies are only available on line at www.AlexanderArt.com
The wet-on-wet technique requires paints that are extra thick and formulated to work with special mediums.
Traditional oils are too thin for the wet-on-wet technique.
The special mediums allow the painter to move and blend colors, right on the canvas.
The simple strokes that make the wet-on-wet method so successful require specifically designed brushes and unique broad palette knives.
Traditional oil painting brushes and knives will not give the coverage or style of stoke needed for this technique.
A medium texture, cotton duck, double-primed artist's canvas is ideal.
Portrait canvas is inappropriate because it is too smooth and doesn't "grab" the paint as well as a rougher surface. Canvas panels may also be used.
Currently I can only recommend two brands of canvas that are available locally.
Fredrix has proven to be a very good choice. It's top rated.
Second choice would be Michaels brand (brown label).
Though not as good as Fredix (in my opinion) it does work with the wet-on-wet method and can often be found on sale.
Other brands are questionable.
Sometimes they work, sometimes the don't.
The main concern is that if they soak up the medium your painting experience will be less than fun.
The Reeves brand of canvas rates lowest.
Students have experienced many problems with this brand.
A good portable easel, one that I use, is the Bob Ross Travel Easel.
For table use easels that "clamp" the painting are preferred. Here's a picture of an inexpensive 3 legged type that works well.
At home a sturdy floor easel is nice. I have a Bob Ross 2in1 and I like it.
This technique requires ample mixing space.
Rule of thumb, the palette should be about the size of the painting.
You can use an extra large palette or purchase palette paper.
However a great substitute is freezer paper that is plastic coated on one side.
Also known as "fish paper" it can be cut to a generous size.
Clean up is easy as you just roll it up and throw it away.
An advantage of this white paper is the ability to judge color mixes.
By scraping your paint on it's surface with a palette knife, you will see what it will look like on a white canvas.
It can also be used to practice on.
I have done complete paintings on freezer paper.
It is important that you use artist odorless thinner.
These are available where you buy art supplies.
Do not use odorless products from hardware stores.
Do not use the 'Turpenoid NATURAL' brand.
Of course you'll need a container for the thinner.
It should be large enough to clean the largest brush.
To start with a 2# coffee can works well.
Placing a screen in the bottom helps loosen paint and makes cleaning easier.
The thinner may be used over and over.
I pour the used thinner into a large container and let it settle.
Most of the paint will go to the bottom.
I then pour the clean thinner back into my brush cleaning container to be used again.
To get thinner out of a freshly cleaned brush a beater rack works okay.
Place a Ross Beater Rack or something similar, in the bottom of a waste basket or beater box.
If you beat the brush against your easel as Bob Ross did, you will understand why the cameramen on Bob's show wore raincoats.
A devoted waste basket or beater box will save some walls.
Also, at the end of the painting session the thinner that has accumulated at the bottom of the box can be poured back into the thinner container and reused.
A Steralite File Hanger plastic box works great.
It has a lid and also serves to carry some supplies.
Masking tape. Many uses.
Paper towels. Bring a full roll.
Baby wipes. The artist friend. Great for clean up.
Ruler. Makes it easier to locate things on the canvas.
Wood Dowel Rod. 1/2" x 24" to 30" long. Used as a hand rest.
Multi-purpose tool. Handy dandy gadget with pliers, screw driver, knife etc.
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