Art Supplies

During this economic downturn I have had to learn how to be frugal. One might say ‘cheap’. Being as I am not receiving a stimulus package from our government and seeing as I am running low on art supplies I had to make a decision yesterday in regards to frugalizing (new word) on equipment.

Several years ago I had to give up painting on canvas because I was ruining too many paintings and was spending much more on supplies than I was earning by selling the end product. Since then my ‘canvas’ supply has come from Home Depot in 8’ X 5” X 5/8 pine boards. These I cut in eight inch lengths and wind up with enough painting surfaces to see me through for several months.

Alas, the price of wood has hit the ceiling so I’ve reverted to the prehistoric canvas. These can be found in the guise of flat rocks which can be found by the hundreds or more along most any beach and are free for the taking. Yesterday Spot and I went on a ‘canvas’ search at a nearby lakefront park and came back with enough ‘flatrock canvases’ to see me through until the end of June. A sample flatrock canvas can be seen embedded besides this entry. If I can figure out how to make a link on this blog I’ll display a number of pieces that are without a doubt highly collectible and will certainly be much sought after.

If painting in the field you might want to consider taking no more that two flatrock canvases with you. Any more than two and you should consider bringing along some Nitro spray. You should also consider that though hernias are treatable they can put a crimp in your flexibility.

I have painted rocks before and find them quite a nice texture to work on. One of my faves was a piece of mine tailings I picked up from the Shania Twain Centre in Timmins a few years ago. Perhaps it is a little heavy for its size, and very difficult to frame (so I didn’t), but a nice example just the same. Slate from an old roof makes an excellent painting surface also. I painted a portrait of Spot on a roof slate from the Rodman Hall gallery in St.Catharines. It is now in a private collection and the holder could probably retire on the price she could get for it at auction.

A good feature about a flatrock canvas compared to pine canvas is that a rock usually doesn’t have knot holes, or knots that will eventually dry out and drop out of the board. Today I will probably use my bulldog as a model.