Paintingmatters

'M exhibition proudly presents the best of an eclectic, vibrant group of young artists who are revealing their new work in a showcase at the centre of Leeds. Sheltered under the never-before used space of railway arches, their practices range from intricate paintings to controversial, conceptual sculptures.  This fusion of various artists exploring new ideas, with materials ranging from pencil and paint to human blood and cremated remains, offers a unique and exciting collaboration of today's latest contemporaries. ' I just wanted to say how fantastic the P.V was of the 2nd year exihibtion WELL done, it was heaving. Also really great to see how the work has progressed from the start of the new year.Thank to every one that turned up for the Wednesday crits at the gallery even when fully aware of the cold conditions! link to M catalogue below. http://www.m-exhibition.co.uk/catalogue.html

I have been requested to advise on how to varnish an oil painting. It's important to make absolutly sure that the painting is dry. ( The 'experts' recomend 6 months but it really depends on the conditions and the layers / thinkness of the paint. )  It's important to use the right kind of brush and to keep one just for this job. see link. http://painting.about.com/od/artsupplies/ig/Intro-to-Art-Paint-Brushes/Brush-VarnishNew.htm Varnish is more than simply a layer to protect your painting from pollution in the atmosphere and abrasion. It will also bring out the colors to the brilliance they had when you applied them. 1.             Ensure your painting is completely dry. Allow several months for an oil painting to dry properly. Depending on the thickness of the paint, this could be up to nine months. 2.             Clean the painting so it's free from dust, dirt, and grease. Lay the painting flat, then dampen a bit of cotton wool with clean water