5 Essential Studio Hacks

I have always geeked out over art supplies. The rows of color, sharp pencil points, and full jars of paint waiting to be opened… it never gets old. As I continually refine my practice, I’ve realized there are some tools I simply cannot live without while others collect dust on my shelf. What are my tried and true tools of the trade?

  1. Angle Brushes

    When I first started painting and used round brushes, I always would end up with too much paint on my brush and a muddy mess. Enter Angle brushes. As I’ve worked small to large scale, angle brushes allow for me to apply paint in detailed areas with little paint. This lets me have control and create crisp lines and color separation.


  2. Matte Paint

    Regardless of where I am painting, I prefer to have a matte finish. It drives me crazy to see a large mural that can only be seen at a certain angle because of glare due to gloss finish. I always buy flat paint from the hardware store for murals. For fine art pieces I like to work with gouache, flashe, or acrylic with matte medium. All of these achieve similar results with a velvet matte finish.


  3. Mixing Cups / Paint Palette

    Personally, I like to mix my paint before applying to a surface. I use anything from take out containers, butcher trays, to a glass palette. It depends on the paints viscosity and where I am painting. I’ve found butcher trays to be one of the most versatile options.

  4. Bluetooth headphones

    I have had a few different pairs, but it’s hard to beat the Airpods from Apple. I love the noise canceling feature, it allows me to focus no matter where I am. If I am working on location and on a ladder, I prefer to use a speaker for safety reasons. You’ll typically find me listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts.

  5. Excellent Light

    I finally have an overhead tripod with a built in LED light that is truly a dream. It has a spectrum of lighting features along with brightness adjustments. I’ve found the higher quality lights I work with, the easier time I have reading color and value shifts in my paintings. While it is an investment, it is certainly worth it.

Rachael NerneyComment