Diana K. Gibson

In the never ending quest to find the ultimate painting surface I often experiment by making my own oil painting canvas panels.  It does entail some work, patience and time.  While it would be much easier and quicker to buy readymade stretched canvas or rolls of primed canvas, the process of making the panels makes the artwork very personal. You are involved with its lifecycle from the very beginning even before it is painted.  And because of the time and energy invested in making each canvas panel there seems to be a bit more mindfulness involved in the painting process.  To date I haven’t found that ultimate painting surface and so I continue to strive for it experimenting and maybe one day hopefully soon the magic moment will happen when at last perfection is achieved.  But until that moment, as the saying goes “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again.”

Ever become a tasty snack for a swarm of hungry biting insects and wish you had some bug spray? Ouch! How about having a sopping brush and realizing you forgot your roll of towels or rags or better yet you set up your pochade box and go for your paints only to realize you left them next to your easel at home? Maybe some of you are nodding your head and chuckling and know too well what I am relating. Sometimes forgetting supplies can be just down right frustrating though the forgetfulness does make for some good jokes and story telling. But the lack of efficiency can take away from constructive painting time, which is no joke. Through years of plein air painting experience I have learned to carry some extra supplies on hand because I have had those days where I in my haste I forgot something at the house or left it along the side of the driveway. So to prepare for those inevitable opps duh moments, I keep the following plein air staples in the trunk of my car: Bug repellant (seasona...