Let's Clean my Teaching Palettes & Restore Brushes! (yes, this is as dull as it sounds.)
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Well, you asked for it, a palette clean-up video where I dispense bits of advice on teaching, setting up a travel art studio, making the most of your art supply budget, and restoring brushes that have seen better days. Let's hang out and have a relaxing cleaning sesh. I wish I took before picks of the brushes and palettes, I always forget to do that! LOL!
I mentioned some useful tools and supplies for teaching watercolor, I will link what I think of below but feel free to ask questions in the comments. *Affiliate links used at no cost to you, thank you for your support:)
The tote I use to transport my tools is by Crop n Style and it is no longer made but I found a product made by any companies called a rolling teacher's bag that would work perfectly. Amazon has many to choose from. I have not used any of them because my Crop n Style tote has been perfect. This XL scrapbooking tote from Crop n Style is still available tho: amzn.to/4bkWok3
Rolling teacher bags on Amazon: amzn.to/3UGrc9J
Watercolor palettes:
A good option would be to purchase some empty palettes in bulk like this 12 pack of folding plastic palettes: amzn.to/4bhChDt which holds 20 colors. Still, I would only put paint on the bottom wells as 10 colors are more than enough. I would do split primary set of 6 of DaVinci watercolor because the 37ml tubes are a great value and professional quality: shrsl.com/4ieut My recommended colors are:
Hansa Yellow Light (Cool primary; PY3)
Arylide Yellow (Warm primary; PY97)
Red Rose Deep (Cool primary; PV19)
Vermilion (Warm primary; PR188/PO62)
Phthalo Blue (Cool primary; PB15)
Ultramarine Blue (Warm primary; PB29)
Burnt Sienna (Pbr7)
Yellow Ochre (PY 43) or raw sienna
Sap Green (PG7, PY42) *this is a convenient color but great to have!
If you want a premade palette I'd recommend:
This is the Aquafine set I have, I think they are discontinuing it tho: amzn.to/3JHcxos *I am happy with it for the price I paid but I wouldn't recommend it if it cost over $15. I have also used the Cotman sketcher box amzn.to/3UIXHEk and I still think it is a good set and less intimidating color wise but for the price, I'd still go with either the Davinci or Pretty Excellent if I had to do it again.
Pretty Excellent/ Meilang 36 set, these watercolors are better than Aquafine and usually cheaper, watch for sales! amzn.to/3y7mFnE
*36 is a lot of colors so you might want to put magnets on the back of the halfpans and only put the essential colors in the tin for students and refill with Davinci as you use up colors.
Paper:
An affordable cotton watercolor paper is Bee: amzn.to/4aZ4RK0 I have use this a lot and you can't beat it for the price
I also use Watercolor cards for many classes and they work well with the student grade paint.
Canson Montval: shrsl.com/4ievi
Strathmore: shrsl.com/4ievl
Brushes:
This is tough, I like to have a #4 and #8 round and a 1/2" flat asa minimum for classes. The aquafine sets have the #4 round. Dynasty makes a nice brush: shrsl.com/4ievl and so does Royal & Langnickle: shrsl.com/4ievt but I have a hodge-podge of brushes and they work fine too. Just try and keep them in good working order.
Other:
I get the masking tape from Dollar Tree, it has the perfect amount of stickiness. I get bulk pencil sharpeners and pencils there too. That is also where I found the brush hanger and washer.
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I know you think this is boring but I love long videos like this. Have you ever hung out with a friend drinking tea while they did the dishes and just chatted? This video is like I'm sitting in your kitchen with you. But the lack of excitement warnings made me laugh.
Exactly this!
Aww, that is so sweet:)
Yes - this 🙂
@@thefrugalcrafterYou always make me laugh.
Yup. Agreed.
Lindsey, you know how those fancy cooking shows always show you only the cooking part, never the shopping, the prep, and certainly never the cleaning up part, and they claim it's all so easy? Well, it's easy when you have a whole staff of minions who's doing all the shopping, prep, and cleanup! My point is, it's refreshing to see the back end of your life, where it's not just all basking in the painting and appearing to have it all together in an edited video, but also the dirty work after the painting and filming is done. Also, your backyard is just as I pictured a Maine backyard would be. ❤️!
Well said!! I totally agree. I actually think these videos are a somewhat cathartic, behind the scenes moment of an artist. And I always pick up good tips from Lindsay. She's a wealth of useful knowledge
Thank you so much!
This was not boring at all. It was nice to see a little bit of Frugal Towers.
One woman’s dull is another woman’s fun😊
Lindsay...you ARE the frugal crafter! I LOVED this palette cleaning video. Felt like I was sitting at your kitchen table, gossiping as you painstakingly nursed these paints & brushes back to life. This was very relaxing. Thank you for sharing even what you consider the mundane, with all of us.
I'm so glad!
I always like the kind of videos where you are going through and talking about your supplies. Very interesting and entertaining to me as an art supply hoarder. 😁
I always enjoy cleaning and organizing videos !! 🙂
Me too!!
Million mercis, Lindsay! While, you were washing palettes and brushes, I was fixing a pair of sandals, and you really helped me get that job done!!!
I really like your craft trollies, and the way you've managed to pack everything into them so neatly. I've looked at them in the past, but i'd have to unpack it and repack it to get it in and out of the car, so I've continued with my currrent set-up. It would be sooo nice to be able to get to everything without having to take things out to reach what's beneath, but ... yeah, over all, it works, and this time, common sense has overcome the Want Monster and wasting time looking at the craft trollies. 😄😄😄
It's good to use what you have!
Easiest way to remember left and right if you’re English and you struggle like me is that your left thumb and forefinger make an L. The right makes a back to front L so that’s not left.
I always enjoy your enthusiasm and chatting about art supplies ❤
Good one!
Great tips for restoring and reshaping brushes. The leave the soap tip Is fantastic.
Glad it was helpful!
Oddly satisfying.
Edit: I cannot believe I just sat here watching get wet & paint dry; but I did, and I enjoyed every second of it. What's happening to me lol
😆 🤣 😂
Yay! I have been looking forward to this ❤❤❤
Hope you like it!
Hi Lindsay....this was great. I appreciate the idea on how to reshape brushes.😊
You are so welcome!
I watched the whole thing and I didn’t get bored at all. Thanks for the tip to use soap to restore brushes, I think it’s what I’ve been missing. Will give it a try
Glad it was helpful!
I’m doodling and listening/watching. Love these types of videos! Also thank you so much for the tip on how to repair brushes!
You are so welcome!
This was such a chilled out shared time. I enjoyed the tour around your teaching setup. I was doing things around the house while I watched / listened. Thank you! Good tips about the soap and restoring brushes too. Here in 🇩🇪 I find van Gogh has an unbeatable deal of 15 half pans and a tiny brush for around 16€. Good quality, sturdy palettes with 6 mixing areas. Plus, van Gogh tubes are only €3 so they are easy to refill. Cotman is around the same price but only 12 ( incl. white 🤷🏾) Aquafine is around 21€. Thanks agaon. Your Sat Chat is coming up soon today, so I will have you around for the afternoon. Have a great weekend!
I like van gogh, good tip!
Thank for this video. The tips you shared are so helpful.
You are so welcome!
I love the Royal and Langnickel Crafter's Choice line. I use them for my acrylics. I love their Filbert and their fan brushes.
They are a good value!
Hey Lindsay,
Not sure how practical it would be for your class stash, but I crocheted (lemon peel stitch) some sleeves for my watercolor tins so that they would stack without sliding and protect them from dents and scratches. It works so well, and they stack perfectly now. I used cotton yarn as well so if I get brave or desparate enough I can use it in place of paper towels while painting. Not sure how many tins you have but a sleeve every other tin would also help a lot because I have stacked on a tin that doeant have one and it still stacked well. Im sure one sewed could work if it had lofty enough fabric that wouldnt be too prone to slipping.
That's a good idea, but I'm not up for it 😆 but shelf liner might be good!
Now, this is quality content 😂. Watched the whole thing AND stayed awake!!
Wow, thanks!
They say not everything that glitters is gold and I'd add that not everything exciting is entertaining! "Boring" stuff can be very interesting it just depends on if your mind is open to it. It's all about perspective! I really enjoyed this, very useful tips and suggestions (especially since I'm not that knowledgeable on paints or cleaning brushes.) Seeing your case and your stash was really cool and the process too. I'm honestly not 100% certain if I'm going to be a painter but I have some (mostly cheap) supplies. It's also reassuring to know that clean-up isn't just time-consuming and messy for me, it's time-consuming and messy for everyone. That's easy to forget if you're going it alone and currently self-teaching. (I've taken art classes all throughout school but that was over 20 years ago and I haven't picked up any random classes at say a store or a community center.) Thanks for sharing this with us! I'm also glad that it helped you feel happy about getting such a massive job well done too. You should definitely be proud of yourself even though it's such a "simple" task that people do every day (certainly having so many palettes and brushes to get through made it take forever lol I don't blame you for finding it a little overwhelming before and putting it off until you made this video.)
I totally enjoyed watching you showing us all your teaching set up stuff even though I don't plan on teaching. There's just something about handling art supplies. Or even just watching someone handling art supplies. (I'm still trying to get an appointment with a specialist, but my insurance doesn't want to cover the cost. Apparently, they don't think my problem is dangerous. So far, it isn't even listed in the DSM!🤔
That stinks. Good luck:)
Thanks Girlfriend now you're making me feel guilty that I haven't cleaned my palettes in a while. Although I do clean my brushes after every use to ensure they last long. Thanks for making me feel guilty in a good way. BTW I love that Stamping case you use for your classes.
You are so welcome!
Oooh! That's what happened to my large pan of Blockx Prussian Blue. I tried hot water but it's still rock solid. I wonder if this only happens with Prussian Blue?
I don't know, but I just tested them and now they are all fine! It's so weird. I guess I needed to threaten them lol!
You are so organized! I'm so curious about how you pack & what you take for classes overseas?
Not much, actually, supplies are brought in locally. We all bring our basic travel palette and brushes. Everything else will be there when we arrive:)
I just love that your Mom had just what you needed! Like a Mary Poppins
Satchel!
Yup 😆
Severaly of my brushes got the very tippy tip bent (like a little crook on the end) when I took them in my bag. I haven't been able to fix them with any of the tricks I've seen. I'll try hot water and soap! thanks
Good luck
Looking forward to watching this. (I ask myself) Is it weird that I look forward to this? (I answer myself) NOPE. 😊
Keep the awesome videos coming. When you talk about anything dealing with arts/crafts I always learn something cool and interesting👍
Thank you!
I got so many ideas from this video! Thank you.
You're so welcome!
Lindsay, please let me know if you ever do a short retreat in the tri state area or in your home state. I live in NJ and always looking for watercolor retreats. Thanks for everything.
Will do!! I am thinking about upstate New York in the fall.
That will be great! Let us know in advance so that I can take time off work and ask a friend to join for the drive and experience.
Yes please. I come from Rome and would give me a reason to go back to NY.
After spine issues I can't squat like that. I would be numb from the waist down and have tons oftrouble trying to get up.
Thanks for making this video ❤ It was just what the doctor ordered😊
You’re welcome 😊
I needed some Lindsay hang out time today. ❤
Thanks 😊
Love the soap tip! I have decent Escoda travel brushes and unfortunately one of them got trapped! Now I have a way to try to restore it! I also loved the comment from someone who felt like she was sitting with you in your kitchen. Lots of other channels seems to spend time with their subscribers- it was fun! Thank you. 🖌️
Good luck with the brush!
Wouldn't it work to have one of those digital boards whenever you start classes or any other present screen that can be used for casting? Only extra than is a camera for recording. That way you can paint right side up and students would bennefit from a bigger screen. Better for your posture too, I can imagine your back being sore after a class when painting upside down. I only do that if I doubt I have a straight line,lol
Good idea!
@@thefrugalcrafter You can always ask local library or comming vancation to france if they can borrow a digiboard from local elementary school; I always feel sorry for your sore back when I watch you do that :) If they have a conference room surely they will have a digiboard present :P At least that way you can take the burden of your back when you have painting sessions indoor due to weather conditions. Don't neglect your body. That will come at a costly price; while you cant do a digiboard plainair, indoors I would highly recommend you ask for it. If not a digi board than a TV with casting option. Im sure they're happy to set it up given the bookings you give them,lol, don't feel guilty for asking either; there is always a hire option for your location, specially in the EU since covid and zooms :) my kid had a digi board at highschool I thought is was a brilliant thing to have in the classroom.
@@thefrugalcrafter added bonus; you wouldn't have to settle for less on your own work caus with a digital board you can do that as slow or as fast as you can and even pre edit in extra steps for beginners and more advanced; that way you can have the benefit of doing an alround class for each level without anyone student feeling leftout ; options are endless; you can even make it a zoom session with us who can't join you in france :P All Hail Internet. PS if you notice extra tension in the EU Its election time and people get to vote on the EP in June i thought it was. There always is tension during campaign and short after elections. Just be aware of that; safest tip; dont do politics and ignore the news; Unicorns. Rainbows. Painters Lalaland, :):):)
Hullo Lindsay, I was surprised at the Lava soap! I have used it to clean so many different things! It has the pumice "grit" so it gets into all those hard to reach spots too! I combine it with the greenie scrubber sheets and it polishes stainless steel sinks just like the one in your kitchen! I use Masters Brush soap bars or the round "tins" if I run out of the bars. I will join the chorus and tell you I enjoyed this cleaning session and watching the palettes -n- paints dry! Listening to your chat was also very enjoyable too. I have only taught a few classes where I had to bring the supplies, I was so grateful to have discovered the DaVinci 37ML tubes! I got colors I use already and so if I did not last out the "season" I would end up using the paints in my own artworks! I did last the first summer and only half of the 2nd summer season and I had plenty of supplies I could use. I did not find good cheap palettes, so I used 6x10 inch porcelain trays with blobs of paint on the edges. These were leftover from a sushi party and I love them for keeping a limited palette dedicated to a particular painting and not have to make notes on paint colors or brands!
Thanks! I love the masters brush cleaner, too, but I have a case of lava from a sponsorship deal I had with them years ago, and it works great!
Lindsey, I too suffer from not knowing my right from my left. I have always been like that and often wonder what causes this. When I was in elementary school and we had to learn a dance for a program by teacher marked my shoes with L and R in chalk!! Never knew anyone else say they have this affliction!!!!
I'm not sure, I look for my wedding ring to know it's my left!
Occasionally I find myself doing the pledge of allegiance stance to remember right from my left (I am 67, so you youngsters don't know what I’m talking about). I am left handed, so many that is why I get mixed up🤓. Glad to hear about the Lava soap.
This was fun video to keep me company, thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have also had left-right issues for my entire life. Pointing is the best option for me. LOL! Someone once told me that that issue is called "cross dominance".....
Maybe put a drop of oxgall on the Prussian blue. I have the aorta synthetic and I do think it makes cheaper paints rewet easier
It's weird, the paints were all fine when I tested them.
I saw in my country that W&N reintroduced the original travel palette ( Not sure if that is in the US as well) wich is awesome. Lindsay can verify; I painted with that one for a good 7 years prior to updating to a professional paint. If you're a beginner; don't worry to much on lightfast; just get colortheory down. If you want artist paint; just use single pigment colors; those wont create mud unless intentionally.
Thanks Lindsay for the great information. I did enjoy this video. 😊
Great video. I had no idea how to fill the pits and restoring brushes. Thank you!!
Happy to help!
I have one of those brush holders from the dollar tree and I love it! Dimple is better in this case
This gives me such satisfaction watching cleaning! ❤
I'm so glad!
PS: I did help--I wiped the edges of the palettes clean and fresh!
Thanks!
Nice
I have some synthetic brushes that have a little curl at the tip. It drives me nuts. Do you think the hot water method will help? It certainly couldn't hurt, right?
It should!
Love this video. I'm watching it again while I organize and wipe down my full and half pans...great video for slow casual work around the studio!!! Thanks again for sharing❤
Love that!
Ok. You mean to tell me you aren’t perfect while painting upside down? Lol. Lindsey you could paint standing on your head and it would be gorgeous.
Awww schucks:)
Lindsey, I loved your video… I felt like I was visiting my friend while she cleaned her art studio. You spoke about cutting the brushes down. I have professional brushes and don’t use them or take them out because they are too long. Please do a video on how you do this and seal the wood. Also, how can I protect the brush bristles. A plastic straw does not fit all brushes. Any ideas? Thanks again!
Great idea!!
Hi, Lindsay. Thank you for your video. ❤ Have a good Friday.
You too!!
I must like boring videos. Brush info was interesting and I relearnt a few things, yep sometimes you get lazy and forget steps when cleaning especially restoring brushes. Thanks for this boredom fun video.
Thanks for sharing!
Lindsey, I have the same problem with right and left. I tell people I am dyslexic with right and left. My husband learned quite early whenever I am giving directions to not listen to what I say, but watch what my hands do, which way am I pointing :). I thought when I got married it would help because I would have the wedding ring on my left hand, but alas it has not helped.
Thanks for sharing!! I look for my ring!
Thanks Lindsay!! This was interesting to watch. And it looks like I do some of the same things to clean my brushes and pallets. I don’t leave soap on my brushes, but I will now. I only have 3 watercolor pallets I use. I did learn something as well.
You are so welcome!
I got a great deal on Royal Knight round size 8s from a local store that I think were superseded by the Zen range. Excellent brushes that I bought lots of and worth keeping an eye out for. Alas the new Cotman aren't a patch on the old ones but again I was also able to pick up a good deal in old stock of the large tubes. Maybe it could be helpful to show a pic of the old packaging so others could snap up a bargain? I really enjoyed the quotidian video. Many thanks.
Thanks for sharing
I really enjoyed this :) If your husband does cut those brushes your mom gave you, with the angle on the handle, they will have a lovely scraping tool (I like to scratch branches into the paper sometimes a la Bob Ross!)
Yup, that's why I would want them cut on an angle:)
Lindsay…when you get back…White Nights has (two different) sets with full pans of granulating paints in portable palettes that expands a bit. Might be worth looking at?
Thanks for the tips!
This was a great video to watch while doing a little art journaling this afternoon. 🙂I love the boiling water and soap tip...I have a couple of brushes that need fixing.
Awesome! Thank you!
This is a fun video. I'm just hanging out sorting beads.
You are always a joy Lindsay!
Oh thank you!
I'll try that restoration trick for brushes. I got a nice fancy set of Jack Richardson field set and the first time I used it they all started to curl. Ugh. Grunt work is not very exciting but necessary.. ha ha.
Good luck!
Watched the whole thing until 1 am and was intrigued. I sure hope your hands recovered, I could see the pruning at the end. Lol
Lol, all better:)
This was very interesting and I am going to try the brush restoration technique on my well worn brushes at school.
Wonderful!
in addition to saving $ by reusing plastic containers, its also good for the environment, less plastic in the waste stream!❤❤ . i love the case, it really holds alot, i use a similar one when i teach, really saves carrying supplies around. have fun on your class
Thanks 😊
Thank you! I love your chatty videos! I learn so much!
You are so welcome!
I put my phone on my window sill over my sink and got my dishes caught up and did a drain cleaning and sink scrub while I was watching and listening. So you weren't cleaning alone even though this was a replay, and the time flew by for me. I've saved the styrofoam trays from veggies and fruits to repurpose for various things and I wonder if they would be thin enough to cut out the thumbhole area and dimensions to put between your pallettes? Just a thought. Thanks for all the tips. You have a nice back yard. Great video!
I think it would add too much thickness for everything to fit. It's a tight ecosystem.
@@thefrugalcrafter Maybe thin felt, but that might be too thick, too. It looked like it was a pretty snug fit.
Lindsey, when you say you are using lava soap to clean your brushes are you speaking of the brand of soap called Lava or does the soap contain lava? Thanks
Yes that soap, not sure if it really contains lava ash tho.
@@thefrugalcrafter Thanks. I was considering using baby shampoo as I have heard that was good for cleaning as well.
such a satisfying video ☺☺
Glad you liked it
Hey Lindsay, Question #2 today...can you charge for the classes at the library? I was just at mine, looking into using a meeting room there...
You will have to ask your librarian. The library pays me but they do charge the patrons a $5 donation.
Thanks for taking time to answer...you're the best 😊
Still getting a handle on how to teach. So you always supply the paints for your students? Do you do that with acrylics too? I have a Pittman trolley & love it.
I supply the paints if it's a one-off class. If I do a series, I give students a supply list.
Thanks!
I remember when I first found your channel and I went back to watch older videos and you did your painting lesson painting upside-down using your your phone. I was flabbergasted. "How does she do that ?" I thought. 🎉
😆
Is there dish soap in the sink?
Yup, nothing fancy:)
Thank you. I really enjoyed this whole thing. I was drawing while I watched and listened. You showed me how to correctly clean my palettes and brushes. Have a nice weekend.
Glad it was helpful!
Is that fabriano block a teacher buy? I never saw that one.
No, you can get it in stores. It's the watercolor fat pad.
@@thefrugalcrafter Figured as much since I use fabriano quite a bit and have not seen it. Pitty though bc with wc you learn most by error and then those pads look awesome. seems like an inbetween studio pad with their new line of wc cards :)
One hour of meaningless blather
Woohoo
Don't say I didn't warn you. The video was exactly what I said in the title 😆
🙄Did anyone force you to watch it?