Studio Materials
Gesso Prepares a Painting Surface; White Paint Supplies Colour
Choose a suitable painting ground, test it on a spare surface and understand why a white colour layer does not automatically replace gesso.
COLOUR, CRAFT & A LITTLE PATIENCE
The craft table
Stitching Practice
Adjust the Embroidery Hoop Before Blaming Your Stitches
Set embroidery-hoop tension on a scrap first, then check the fabric again as you work so pulling stitches do not distort the design.
Drawing Practice
Draw the Gaps Around a Still Life to See Its Shape Again
Try a small drawing exercise that uses the empty spaces around everyday objects to check proportion and arrangement.
Paper Studio
Turn the Paper Before Forcing a Craft Knife Around a Corner
Improve paper-cutting control by planning corners, repositioning the sheet and keeping your hands clear of the blade path.
At the Craft Table
Leave a Border Around Watercolour Before You Choose the Mount
Test the visible border and window mount around a watercolour before trimming the paper or committing to a frame.
Paper and Craft
Fold a Paper Sample Before Committing to the Final Card
Test paper direction, scoring pressure and fold quality on a spare piece before making a card, booklet or paper decoration.
Colour Practice
Acrylic Paint Looks Different When the Test Patch Has Dried
Make an acrylic colour reference that includes a dried patch, the actual painting surface and the medium you used, rather than relying on a wet palette.
Craft Techniques
Three Things a Dried Stamp Test Can Reveal
Test a stamp on the actual paper, then let it dry before checking edge detail, smudging and how the next layer behaves.
At the Craft Table
Remove Masking Tape With the Paper in Mind
Protect a paper craft’s edge by testing masking tape, supporting the sheet and removing the tape according to the materials involved.