My name is Suzie Baker. I am one of your OPA Board members. One of the ways I serve is to organize this blog. I’m kicking off a new, regularly occurring, feature to our blog called, “My Favorite Thing/s.” It will be a short, sweet and to-the-point paragraph or two from various OPA artists. They will share their favorite things. Most are finding it hard to narrow it down to just one thing. In the coming months, you will hear from Thomas Jefferson Kitts, Lori Putnam, and Ann Kraft Walker, to name just a few.
I’m going to start us off with a few of my favorite things. There are a few items in my collection of tools that I find indispensable. I use them for my signature in different circumstances. (Isn’t it crazy that we can do a great painting and then get intimidated when it comes to our signature).
Wipe Off Tool: I use this tool to sign my name directly into wet paint, it wipes off the paint down to the tone of the canvas. Great for Plein Air work. This tool can be found at almost any art supply store.
Ruling Pen: This is an oldie but a goodie. I’ve had this same ruling pen since I was in my 20’s. I’d panic if I lost it. On mostly dry paintings, I sign my name by thinning down my oil paint with Gamsol or similar. I deposit it into the opening of the nib with the side of a loaded brush and then write it on my canvas holding the pen vertically. Ruling pens can be found in protractor sets or online. Oh, how I love my old ruling pen!
Do you have a favorite thing to share? I’d love to hear about it. Please email me at suzie@suziebakerart.com or just comment here. I’ll watch the comments and maybe do a compilation in the future.
www.suziebaker.com
Kirk Larsen says
excellent post. I use the back of a sharpened brush handle to sign in the wet paint. Signing dry paintings using the ruling pen is great idea. I have several around and will try it!
Suzie Greer Baker says
Thanks Kirk – Great seeing you in Saint Augustine!
Joyce Snyder says
Thank you for these suggestions. So timely since I hadn’t heard of either of them before and NEED help.
Suzie Greer Baker says
Glad to help! Keep watching the last Friday of every month for more artists favorite things!
Suzie Greer Baker says
For those who have asked where to find a ruling pen, I did a quick Ebay search and found a bunch listed.
mainloop says
I’ve tried to use a ruling pen with oil paint before and it’s never worked for me. How thin do you have to make the paint?
Suzie Greer Baker says
Only just saw your question. Sorry about that! Figuring out the consistency can take a bit of trial and error. I thin with Gamasol and I would describe it’s viscosity as runny. Not thick like honey or as thin as water. Too thick and it won’t come out, too thin and it won’t hold it will puddle on your painting. The ruling pen should be clean too and held straight up and down. Hope that helps.