masterpiece - Bob Ross Instructor and Workshops in Hampshire | Hints & Tips
Hints & Tips
Upcoming Workshop
I teach some of these hints and tips within my workshop classes, why not take a look at my upcoming workshops and see if there is anything you would like to paint.
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Oil Paint Drying Time
Paint drying time depends on amount of paint, colour, temperature, humidity, etc. Most wet-on-wet paintings will touch-dry in 5 - 7 days!
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Bob Ross Finishing Spray Varnish
A non-yellowing spray used to put an even sheen, enhance and protect the oil painting. The spray can be applied even when paint is wet.
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Ovals and Shapes
Contact paper, which is sticky on one side once the release paper is taken off, can be purchased at stationers. The cheaper material is easier to stick as it's thinner.
You can make your own oval, or if you are a student of mine then you can borrow mine for a template.
Trace the outline of the template on the topside of the contact paper.
Using a razor blade or scissors, cut out the oval. Save oval "holes" for making smaller templates later.Carefully remove the backing from the backside, align and stick oval to the canvas.
Seal the inside edge well to prevent paint from getting underneath. Sometimes it goes down beautifully, other times it can be difficult. -
Oil Paint Medium
Oil paint medium is used in florals, as a lubricant for the brushes to make the paint flow easily. It is also used to cover the whole canvas in florals. As it is not tacky, oil paint medium gives a smoother finish desirable in flower painting.
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Liquid White, Clear, Black and Opal
These are all slow-drying & used sparingly to provide the "wet" surface on the canvas. Liquid White will be used on many paintings in florals and landscapes. Liquid White is opaque and other colours blended on top will become lighter in value.
Liquid Clear, being tacky, provides a surface for the wet-on-wet landscape paintings when used over black gesso only on landscape paintings. Use very little, scrub into canvas and wipe off with a paper towel. Liquid Clear is transparent and therefore, when you add colour, you will not change the value. Use liquid clear or thinner to thin down highlight colour because liquid white changes value too much.
Liquid Opal is used mostly in florals to obtain a "wet" opal shade and is opaque.
Liquid Black is used very infrequently to darken areas and is opaque.
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About Gesso
Bob Ross Black, Gray and White Gesso are water-based, quick-drying acrylics.
Do not use Bob Ross oil painting brushes to apply as they are allergic to water! Apply with a foam applicator, or old brush that is easily cleaned in water before it dries.
Gesso can be used as an undercoat on canvases to obtain special effects. Gesso should be allowed to dry completely (15-30 minutes) before over-painting.
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Special Effects with Gesso
Black Gesso can be used to darken desired areas of the canvas (trees, limbs, foliage).
Gray Gesso can be used to paint more distant features (trees, bushes, foothills).
White Gesso can be used on top of black gesso for lighter objects such as birch trees or can be added to black or grey gesso to lighten them.
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Painting Landscapes
To tighten canvas, spread small amount of water very evenly on back of canvas with paper towel, and the canvas will tighten when it dries.
Oil paints go over acrylics/gesso, but do not put acrylics/gesso over oils.
Liquid White/Black/Clear creates the wet, smooth surface on the canvas. Have harmony throughout painting, carry base colour through painting.