My Favorite Art Materials...

As an artist, I'm constantly being asked about my favorite art-brands and materials. There are so many wonderful products on the market today that it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming just to search through the many stores, catalogs, and websites, to find what I need. I've found however that doing personal research -and ultimately testing the materials for myself- is just about the most beneficial method of making choices that I can feel good about where my art supplies are concerned. 

Another great way of getting started though is to find out what products other artists are using, and give them a try. So, here I've compiled an updated list of what I use to make my art...

 Please note: I'm not the final authority on the subject of art-materials by any means (nor am I endorsed by any of the companies mentioned here), and my own list has certainly evolved over the years. But, I wanted to share with you a little of what I know, in the hopes that you'll take it -and perhaps adopt parts that you need from it- and expand from there.

Due to the number of emails I receive daily, I'm no longer able to answer them individually. Please read through the list below and contact your local art supply store, or the companies mentioned, with questions regarding the materials listed.

 Enjoy!

~Paints~

Windsor & Newton

~Alizerin Crimson

~Cadmium Red

~Cadmium Yellow Pale

~Permanent Rose

~Terra Rosa

~Yellow Ocher Pale

Rembrandt

~Cadmium Lemon

~Cadmium Yellow Deep

~Cadmium Orange

~Cobalt Blue Light

~Transparent Oxide Red

~Transparent Oxide Brown

~Ultramarine Blue Deep

~Viridian

Lefranc & Bourgeois 

~Titanium White

Other recommended brands:
Holbein, Gamblin, Old Holland

~Canvas~

 I use canvas made by New Traditions Art Panels www.newtraditionsartpanels.com 

 L600 primed linen is very smooth and is available on birch or gatorfoam boards. It's also available by the roll.

~Brushes~

My favorite brushes come from Rosemary & Co! www.rosemaryandco.com 

 I use the following series' in all available sizes:

 2025 "Chunking" bristle, long flats

 

"Ivory" filberts and flats.

 

"Mongoose" series' 272 (rounds [smaller sizes]), 275 (angular), 278 (filberts), 279 (flats)

~Medium~

I make my own medium using three ingredients and a ratio of 5-1-1: Rectified Turpentine (five parts), Stand Oil (one part), and Damar Varnish (one part). 
Mix all three ingredients in a lidded jar (using the 5-1-1 ratio), and use as needed to thin paints while painting.

Artists on Art - Digital Magazine

Be sure and visit Artists-on-Art.com to subscribe to what I feel is the most insightful and innovative digital art magazine available on the web today. It features timely and well written articles by some of the best known artists and collectors in the country, including Casey Baugh, Susan Lyon with Scott Burdick, Daniel Sprick, Libby Whipple, Carolyn Anderson, and more! Also look for my article "NO RULES".

 From the Artists-on-Art website...

Master Artists & connoisseurs share their ideas and techniques through in-depth, interactive articles.

No fluff. No Ads. Just great articles with video, high resolution images, step-by-steps, and other interactivity.

 A preview of my article...

About Artists on Art

Artists on Art magazine connects readers to master artists, their work, and the connoisseurs who embrace it. Readers enjoy a direct, thought-provoking, connection with today’s top artists; learning their techniques and hearing their ideas. Each issue contains at least ten robust articles richly illustrated with high-resolution photography, step-by-step guides, video, and interactivity. Our digital-only model combines the best of print with the power of the web, giving you constant access to your subscription from anywhere, on any internet-connected device.

June 2012 Workshops Announced!

Two Workshops: Two Opportunities to Paint in Cape Cod

With Daniel J. Keys

~

JUNE 12 - 13 & 14 - 15

Location: The Beach Rose Inn

17 Chase Road

Falmouth, MA 02540

508-540-5706/800-498-5706

~

Participants will have the option to choose one of the two-day workshops described below or to combine the two for a four-day workshop experience. See registration, pricing and accommodation information to follow.

Workshop I

"Capturing the Light of the Cape”

June 12 & 13 
 

A two-day plein air workshop, exploring the vast beauty of local gardens, inns, homes, and seascapes, and the ways with which to paint them accurately and artfully.

During each of the two workshop days, students will set up out-of-doors, at locations pre-selected by Daniel, and paint alongside him as he describes how he approaches the ever changing light and atmosphere of the Cape.

Topics covered in this workshop:

The basics of painting: Drawing, values, color temperature, edges.

Painting outdoor light: Dealing with constant change.

Composition: The importance of selecting and omitting.

Art philosophy.

~

Workshop II
 

“The Art of Still Life”

June 14 & 15 

This workshop will take place inside a local artist’s studio and also span two full days. Each day, Daniel will demo for the class, and then instruct students throughout the day offering one-on-one critiques as they paint their own still-lifes using the “Alla Prima” method.

Topics covered in this workshop:

The basics of painting: Drawing, values, color temperature, edges.

Composition: Composing the still-life like music.

Art philosophy.

~

Rates & Workshop Packages...

For a 2 day participant not staying at The Beach Rose Inn

$250 includes lunch

$49 additional for 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner

$299 total

For a 2 day participant staying at The Beach Rose Inn (includes room, breakfast, lunch, and one dinner)

Single Occupancy: $675 plus room tax $38.80

Double Occupancy: $475 plus room tax $19.40

~

For a 4 day participant not staying at the Inn

$448 includes lunch

$98 additional for 4 breakfasts and 2 dinners

$546 total

For a 4 day participant staying at the Inn (includes room, breakfast, lunch, and two dinners)

Single Occupancy: $1298 plus room tax $77.60

Double Occupancy: $898 plus room tax $38.80

Deposit amount: 30%, $100 nonrefundable. Nonrefundable full payment required 4 weeks prior to workshops.

The Beach Rose Inn is located on 1.4 garden-filled acres in West Falmouth, Cape Cod—just a mile from Buzzard Bay beaches, marshes, and cranberry bogs and 200 feet from the Shining Sea Bikeway. All Guest Rooms have private baths and feature upscale amenities.

For more information www.thebeachroseinn.com or 800-498-5706

American Art Collector!

Look for my work in the October 2011 issue of American Art Collector Magazine! The feature is a preview of my upcoming show with West Wind Fine Art, in Cape Cod, opening on October 29Th with a still-life demo on the 30Th.

American Art Collector, Oct. issue

Check out www.westwindfineart.com soon for more info, and visit your local Barnes & Noble to purchase your copy of the magazine today!

-Daniel

Downloadable Video Collection: Now Available!

The second set of instructional videos

in my Downloadable-Video Series...

"Lauren Painting"
A FIGURE IN THE LANDSCAPE

Four Short Videos

"Lauren Painting I"

Now Available!



"Lauren Painting II"

Now Available!



"Lauren Painting III"

Now Available!



"Lauren Painting IV"

Now Available!

We've added lots of much needed close-ups to this series, so it's even more informative and detailed!

Also, because the goal of these videos is to inform, and educate, we're offering them at the special price of only $15.00 apiece!

Painting in Carmel CA.

In these quick instructional videos (approx. twenty-minutes apiece) - filmed in plein-air in Carmel California - you'll learn the basics of painting, such as...
Drawing
Values
Color Temperature
Edges
Composition

...along with the various techniques of plein-air painting, including...

Dealing with changing light and atmosphere
Blocking-in the landscape
Brush stroke techniques

...and much more!

Painting Detail

Here's how it works:

Over the next few weeks, a new twenty-minute video will be made available on this blog as well as www.danielkeysfineart.com for only $15.00. From there you'll be able to buy and download the videos right to your home or office computer. Then you can watch and re-watch the teaching videos as often as you like, grasping the information necessary to grow as a representational painter. It's that simple! And the videos will always be available for purchase, even if you don't order each one right away.

Plus, if you purchase each of the four "Lauren Painting" videos, you'll receive all four videos on DVD, along with a bonus "Q & A" session video (+ S & H).
The bonus video has answers to a few frequently asked questions, some free advice, and information to the resources that will aid in deepening your understanding of painting.



"I'm so grateful for the technology we're privileged to use today. Because of the internet, we can get information out there faster and more efficiently than ever before, and my hope is that you'll take these videos, watch them, and see for yourself what representational painting is all about. It's a truly rewarding experience!

This has been a labor of love for me and my team, and I'm so excited to be sharing it with all of you!

Look for the next short video, next week!"

-Daniel

Fall Workshop @ The Salmagundi Club

"The Contemplative Still-life"
DANIEL J. KEYS
October 24Th through 27Th, 2011

Artist's Reception:
Sunday, October 23
7 - 9 p.m.

Artist Demonstration:
Tuesday, October 5Th
7 - 9 p.m.

REGISTRATION FEE:
$750 (Salmagundi Club Members)
$800 (Non-members)

For more info, contact:
Chris Ivers @ christine_ivers@yahoo.com
Or (203) 235-1417

Salmagundi Club . 47 Fifth Avenue, New York City . (212) 255-7740 . salmagundi.org

Final Video in the Summer Composition Series!

~Edges and Composition~
The forth and final installment in the
"Summer Composition" Series

Four short videos:

"Summer Composition: Drawing"
Available Now!


"Summer Composition: Values"
Available Now!


"Summer Composition: Color Temperature"
Available Now!


"Summer Composition: Edges and Composition"
Available Now!

Note: We have found that all of the videos play best on VLC Media Player and that this last video will only play on the VLC Media Player. We recommend downloading this software on your PC...

(http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Media-Player/3000-13632_4-10267151.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody;1d)

...or your Mac

(http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Media-Player/3000-2139_4-10210434.html?tag=mncol;1)

...as a means of giving you, the viewer, the best experience possible. The program is only 20 MB on PC and 31 on Mac, so it should download in between one and four minutes, depending on your connection speed. If you have any questions or comments, our support team will be glad to help you. You can contact them at supportteam@danielkeysfineart.com.

In these quick instructional videos - filmed in my personal painting studio in California - you'll learn the basics of Alla-Prima painting, such as...

Drawing
Values
Color Temperature
Edges
Composition

...along with the various techniques and "secrets" that I use in my own works everyday, including...

The drawing block aid (a personal favorite)
monochromatic under-painting
Brush stroke techniques
My favorite art materials

...and much more!
If you have any questions or concerns about these videos, please contact pur support staff at supportteam@danielkeysfineart.com

November Scottsdale Workshop

"Developing a Critical Eye for Still-Life"
~
Nov. 7Th - 11Th

"Apples and Roses"
2011
20" x 16" Oil on linen

Register now for my five-day still-life workshop at the Scottsdale Artist School, in sunny Scottsdale AZ, November 7Th - 11Th.

Tuition: $585.00

Level: Intermediate - Advanced

Status: Available
Begin Registration

From the SAS site: "Each day, Keys will do a demonstration while discussing the skills necessary for creating beautiful still life paintings using “Alla Prima”methods. Following each mornings demo, the students will set up still life compositions of their own, and paint them from life, while receiving one on one instruction. During this intensive course, the students will receive insight into learning to see correctly, and develop an adeptness in the following areas: Composition, drawing, color, value and edges. This class is intended for intermediate to advanced painters. Class limited to 14 students. www.danielkeysfineart.com"

"COLOR TEMPERATURE" The Third Video Installment!

"COLOR TEMPERATURE"

The third video installment in the
Summer Composition Series

"Summer Composition"

Four short videos:

"Summer Composition: Drawing"
"Summer Composition: Values"
"Summer Composition: Color Temperature"
"Summer Composition: Edges and Composition"

"Summer Composition"
2011
16" x 12" Oil on linen

iPad compatible versions are now ready for download!

Click here to purchase the video:

Note: We have found that all of the videos play best on VLC Media Player and that this last video will only play on the VLC Media Player. We recommend downloading this software on your PC...

(http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Media-Player/3000-13632_4-10267151.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody;1d)

...or your Mac

(http://download.cnet.com/VLC-Media-Player/3000-2139_4-10210434.html?tag=mncol;1)

...as a means of giving you, the viewer, the best experience possible. The program is only 20 MB on PC and 31 on Mac, so it should download in between one and four minutes, depending on your connection speed. If you have any questions or comments, our support team will be glad to help you. You can contact them at supportteam@danielkeysfineart.com.

In these quick instructional videos - filmed in my personal painting studio in California - you'll learn the basics of Alla-Prima painting, such as...

Drawing
Values
Color Temperature
Edges
Composition

...along with the various techniques and "secrets" that I use in my own works everyday, including...

The drawing block aid (a personal favorite)
monochromatic under-painting
Brush stroke techniques
My favorite art materials

...and much more!

Here's how it works:

Each week - for the next four weeks - a new twenty-minute video will be made available through an e-newsletter (like this), and on www.danielkeysfineart.com for only $20.00. From there you'll be able to buy and download the videos right to your home or office computer, Ipad, Iphone, Droid devices, or any device that has Window's Media capabilities. Then you can watch and re-watch the teaching videos as often as you like, grasping the information necessary to grow as a representational painter. It's that simple! And the videos will always be available for purchase, even if you don't order each one right away.

Plus, if you purchase each of the four "Summer Composition" videos, you'll receive all four videos on DVD, along with a bonus "Q & A" session video (+ S & H).
The bonus video has answers to frequently asked questions, some free advice, and information to the resources that will aid in deepening your understanding of painting.

If you have any questions or concerns about these videos, please contact pur support staff at supportteam@danielkeysfineart.com

2ND Video "Values" Now Available!

"Summer Composition"

The second of four short-videos is now ready for download!

"Summer Composition"

Four short videos:

"Summer Composition: Drawing"
"Summer Composition: Values"
"Summer Composition: Color Temperature"
"Summer Composition: Edges and Composition"

iPad compatible versions are now ready for download!
Click here to purchase the video:




In these quick instructional videos - filmed in my personal painting studio in California - you'll learn the basics of Alla-Prima painting, such as...

Drawing
Values
Color Temperature
Edges
Composition

...along with the various techniques and "secrets" that I use in my own works everyday, including...

The drawing block aid (a personal favorite)
monochromatic under-painting
Brush stroke techniques
My favorite art materials

...and much more!

Here's how it works:

Each week - for the next four weeks - a new twenty-minute video will be made available through an e-newsletter (like this), and on www.danielkeysfineart.com for only $20.00. From there you'll be able to buy and download the videos right to your home or office computer, Ipad, Iphone, Droid devices, or any device that has Window's Media capabilities. Then you can watch and re-watch the teaching videos as often as you like, grasping the information necessary to grow as a representational painter. It's that simple! And the videos will always be available for purchase, even if you don't order each one right away.

Plus, if you purchase each of the four "Summer Composition" videos, you'll receive all four videos on DVD, along with a bonus "Q & A" session video (+ S & H).
The bonus video has answers to frequently asked questions, some free advice, and information to the resources that will aid in deepening your understanding of painting.

If you have any questions or concerns about these videos, please contact our support staff at supportteam@danielkeysfineart.com.