Bought my supplies

Today I went to Michaels and bought some supplies to start my creative adventure.  What I thought would be the hardest thing to pick out, the brushes, turned out to be the easiest thing to pick out.  They had a stand with packs of brushes for acrylic paints (yes I went with the acrylics).  I chose the pack with synthetic material as opposed to the real hair (for now).

The first thing I found was the paint.  They had beginner level 1 (student), level 2 (artist), and level 3 (professional) with the price increasing for each level.  I went with level 1 and bought black, brown, yellow, blue, red, and white.  I figure any other color I can mix the colors I have (green, purple, aqua, orange, etr.)

The next aisle had the ready to paint canvases and canvas paper.  My mother, who was with me, suggested getting a pack of canvas paper to start with and canvas.  What I started with getting was a pack of 5 16x20 canvases which was on sale for $11.99 and then 2 of each 8x10 and 11x14 which were roughly $4.50 each and 10 and a pack of 10 canvas paper.  Then we came across the brushes and picked up the synthetic ones I mentioned earlier.  We then found the palettes which I bought a plastic one that had different sections for mixing.  As we continued going through the store, we found packs of both the 8x10 (pack of 10) and 11x14 (pack of 7) canvases on sale for $11.99.  Being the math person that I am, I put back the original ones in those sizes and took the packaged ones.

Easels were way too expensive (I think the cheapest there was $70 or so).  I think to begin, I'm just going to use my coffee table and if later I feel I need one then have my mother make me one.  So my total came to $82.52 after taxes which was a lot better than what I originally expected, plus I saved at least $35 with the sale prices.

Initial Research on Supplies

I've started to do some research on what materials I will need to get in order to start painting.  It looks like I have some choices on what types of things I can get.  For example: canvas, paints, and brushes.

Canvas
There are so many different types.  Cotton or linen, plain or duck, prepared or not.  I know I'm going to go for a prepared/prepped canvas as it's ready to just add the paint.  Even though it's more expensive it will save me time and stress of trying to prep my own.  Maybe after a few months I will try making my own.  As for cotton or linen, duck or plain, I will probably just go with what is in stock and the cheapest.  Since I'm going to be keeping at least the first few paintings for myself, I'm really not that picky.  If I decide to create paintings for friend and family presents then I might use whichever will last longer.

Paints
It looks like there are two main types one can use for canvas painting, acrylic or oil based.  From what I've gathered, oil is the more expensive and subsequently, lasts longer as a painting.  I think while just starting out, I'm going to stick with acrylic to save money (and being a grad student, I need to save where I can!) and switch to oil based after practice and to make sure I stick with painting.  In other words, in case I decide to quit after a month, I don't have a ton of expensive paints sitting around the apartment.  I haven't really figured out what colors to get and what options I will have.  I read to get black, white, and the basic colors of the color wheel.  If I recall from art class, using the three primary colors may work as I can get all the shades in between via mixing.  Of course, that requires me to master mixing the colors first!  I also have to make sure I can mix the paints as well.  I don't see why I shouldn't be able to, though I think I've read that acrylics dry faster and may be harder to mix (if anyone wants to comment on that I would appreciate advice from those with experience in the area).

Brushes
I have not the slightest idea.  That's one area I have not researched yet.  I'm thinking that I might be able to find someone in the store to help me with that.  I would also appreciate any advice on this as well.


So here is a list of things I still need to do before diving in and painting:
Determine brushes to get
Find art supply store in area (or go to Michaels)
Buy supplies necessary
Practice on paper first (suggestion from my mom)

Change of Pace

Just to get things started, I am not an artist by any means.  In fact, I am in graduate school right now for science.  This blog will be about my entry into creating artwork for my own entertainment.  Specifically, I am going to start doing some canvas painting.  

Why the sudden interest?  Well, grad school, particularly this past semester has been rough on me.  I think it would be nice to be able to do something creative as opposed to constant math, thesis research, and SAS compiling (SAS = statistical analysis software).  I have a feeling it may reduce some stress I am feeling by doing something that I want to do as opposed to something I have to do.  I am starting from scratch.  I have no art materials with the exception of sketch paper and no background in the area. 

Why start a blog about it?  Partly because I'm interesting in blogging as I no longer keep a diary and it will be interesting to see myself progress through time.  Also,  to potentially get some pointers from those who have an artistic background who would like to offer free advice as I know this, particularly improving will not be easy especially without formal teaching.  Also, to see if someone who has been educated in the sciences can create a niche for themselves in art and seeing if any science skills can also be applied to art.

So with that background, I plan on getting some supplies this week after some internet research and beginning my adventure within the next couple of weeks.