I did another flower painting today outside just as the sun was coming out.  I'm really excited about these new paintings and I can't wait to do a bunch more!
 This painting and one from yesterday have an elongated format because I found some left over Fredrix oil ground canvas in my basement and it was a long shape so I stretched two canvases in that format.  I have to say that Fredrix oil ground canvas is my favorite.  I've used other pre-made oil ground linen before, but what I really like about Fredrix is that it has very nice texture (not too smooth) and it has a light gray tone to it.  I just ordered a new roll of Fredrix Kent 125 DP (double-primed) from Dick Blick and I'm planning on stretching some larger canvases once it comes this week!
  I also want to say that I encourage everyone to test out a bunch of different materials including canvas, brushes, mediums, paint, etc.  I've tried many different supplies and these are my own suggestions, which I share with everyone as a suggestion.  Go out and paint this week!

  I set up my easel outside yesterday and did a painting of the flower pots outside my house.  I was so hungry to paint after returning from Spain so it was really satisfying to do some painting outside in the sunlight.
 I'm planning to do more of these and I'll put them up for sale in my SHOP in case anyone wants to own one!  This painting is currently for sale in that shop!

"When an artist begins to count strokes instead of regarding nature he is lost. This preoccupation with technique, at the expense of truth and sincerity, is the principal fault I find in much of the work of modern painters." - Sorolla

This is a step-by-step guide for anyone looking to learn how to stretch a canvas!  The steps are written out along with corresponding pictures.  I'm making an 8" X 10" canvas, but these steps work for any size canvas, big or small.

Materials needed:
  -Canvas
  -Stretcher Bars (assemble by fitting together each piece to form a square/rectangle)
  -Steel Cut Tacks
  -Staple Gun
  -Hammer
  -Canvas Pliers
  -Ruler
  -Pencil
  -Scissors

  Did some compositional sketching and stretched a new canvas for this commission.  I'm using Claessens double oil-primed linen, which I used previously on the portrait of my girlfriend (pictured in gallery below); I really like the Claessens and put a tone down on it with some earth colors and Gamsol.  The tone will be dry by tomorrow so I can sketch in the underdrawing and then get to work!