Scott Anstett's helpful art tips and creative musings. - SCOTT ANSTETT FINE ART

SCOTT ANSTETT FINE ART

Matting panels & paper oil paintings

10/16/2022

Matting paper and panels can be incredibly simple. #1. Create your work. #2. Take your work to a frame shop and have them professionally mat it. They can even install it in a frame of your choice. The problem with this, for me, is that I am a small business that struggles to maintain a good flow of revenue, and professional framing services can be quite expensive. These are some of my methods for making your work more presentable while keeping costs low.

Preparing Paper for Oil Painting

10/15/2022

Living abroad forced me to scale down the size of my paintings. I had very little storage space and my production level rose to the point that I was creating paintings faster than I was selling them. I started using paper for experimental works, but after developing a suitable prep method with what I had available to me, paper quickly became a viable option for smaller works.

Why you won’t find prints of my paintings for sale at gallery shows.

6/2/2022

Back in the 2000’s when I was just starting to exhibit work I would make prints of my paintings available at gallery shows just trying to make a few extra bucks. I felt if my paintings were too expensive for some then it would be prudent to offer a lower priced alternative. 99% of the time it was that alternative that was chosen. Eventually I came to realize that I was loosing money, short changing the gallery, and under selling myself as an artist. I struggle, as most artists do, at upselling myself and my work.

Kicking the Solvent Habit

3/2/2022

I, like many artists who paint with oils, became dependent on mineral spirits and Turpentine for cleaning and thinning. This is how I kicked the habit.

Temp Storage and Production System

2/8/2022

Having trouble managing your paintings in progress, drying, and done? Establishing an effective system doesn't have to be difficult, complicated, or costly.

Setting up your studio space

7/29/2021

Your studio space directly effects your ability to produce art. These are some of the most important factors that you should consider when designing and creating your art studio.

Getting Started with Oil Paints

7/22/2021

If you intend to begin creating oil paintings these are the essential things you will need to have.

Studio Setup
First you will need a space to paint. You can create a mobile setup, so this may equate to multiple spaces, but you will need somewhere dedicated to your work where there is little distraction. In the same room as the television is an example of somewhere that is not conducive to painting. Look for someplace that is out of the general flow of traffic where you can set up a table or easel with a chair and good lighting. A well ventilated area is not needed unless using solvents (which are not necessary).

Creating Art with Un-Inspiration

1/23/2019

It can be difficult enough to find images or ideas that inspire an artist to create art. Commission work can supply the inspiration, but what if the image itself has an emotional aspect that interferes with the creative process? This is how I moved forward on one such piece.

The Value of Viewing Art

1/14/2019

Follow me on a small part of my adventures in Berlin and Potsdam as I check out some local museums for a few different types of inspiration.

Color-Toned Background Experiments

1/8/2019

Check out some of my early painting experiments with different colored backgrounds. Although these seem a bit crude and cartoonish, in retrospect they have influenced much of what I do today in establishing an overall tone or "feel" to my paintings.