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