How to Paint Perfectly Straight Lines - A Simple Guide

A rare instructional post on Memoirs of a Visible Man.

Getting a straight line when painting, without any bleed or messiness is an extremely useful skill to have as an artist or for general DIY purposes.

With the creation of 'Here Comes the Sun' (pictured below - high quality prints available via artbylukebennett.com!), and through lots of trial and error, I perfected the art of painting perfectly straight lines on a canvas, using nothing more than regular masking tape and paint.
The technique applies equally well to painting perfectly straight lines on a wall or any other surface too.

No smudging, bleed or leakage, just nice straight lines.

First of all you will need just three things:

- Paint, the colour you want the line to be.

- Paint, the colour the line is being painted on to.

- Masking tape.

There's no need to buy special tape or sealants. They're unnecessary and in the end, no quicker than the following technique.

The only thing to be aware of is some masking tapes are better than others. Some have a habit of not peeling off very well, leaving bits behind, so it's worth using a test piece first before applying any paint - Mask off an area, leave the tape for an hour or two, then remove it. If it peels easily without any residue or ripping, excellent! If not, you might want to try a different make. Don't say I didn't warn you.

So with those warnings in place, you're ready to begin.

1.) Apply your tape, masking off the area that you don't want to be painted with the new colour. Be sure to smooth it down as best you can.

2.) The cunning bit - paint along the edge of the tape, but with the underlying colour - ie the colour that is already there. 

This will bleed under the tape, but since it's the same colour as what is already underneath the tape, it doesn't matter! It's what you want to happen because it will seal off any gaps in the tape.

3.) Wait for that to dry. You will then have a perfectly sealed piece of masking tape, ready for a coat of the paint the colour you want your line to be.

4.) Apply the new colour and wait for it to dry.

5.) Once you've applied as many coats as you want and need and it has dried, remove the tape to reveal a perfectly straight line!

And if that wasn't easy enough to follow, I've created an illustrated "How to Paint Perfectly Straight Lines" guide version below -

I hope this is of use to some people. Please share and leave a comment below if it was. Good luck.

Pet Cat Portrait Painting

Here is a scan of a pet portrait I completed and sold in the run up to Christmas. It is acrylic paint on box stretch canvas measuring approximately 16 inches wide by 12 inches high and about two thirds of an inch deep (406mm x 305mm x 14mm), glossed and ready to hang or place in a frame.

To commission your own artwork, pet portrait, family portrait or anything else, please get in touch via the contact form here or over at artbylukebennett.com.

Obligatory Winter 2012 - 2013 Snow and Frost Photos

Once again, snowfall has hit Britain. Once again, the media has decided that we haven't quite noticed. Once again the country is divided between those who love it - embracing the natural shimmering beauty it provides and making the most of the white stuff while it lasts - and those who hate it, cursing its very existence, lamenting the good old days when they didn't have to drive carefully around bends or walk like a  windup 80s toy robot to avoid slipping.

And once again, I'm firmly in the Love It camp. Out of all the different types of weather, other than uninterrupted sun, snow is my favourite. It provides a nice change of pace, visually, physically and mentally, forcing you to mix up your regular daily routines and interrupting the usual monotony of rain and grey skies.

The only problem with this year's batch being that the skies have been mostly grey throughout the snow's presence too, which makes taking photographs more difficult. Seamless.

Without much sunlight getting through scenes are obviously much darker than they would be otherwise. The whiteness of the snow however tricks not just your eye, but also your camera into thinking there's more light than there is. The lack of sunlight eliminates any chance of light and shadow contrasts too.

As such, a few of the following have had some pretty heavy post-processing, at least compared to what I'd normally do.
I'm usually of the opinion that a good photograph shouldn't need much, if any, tinkering with. And if there is post-processing then it should be subtle and naturalistic.

On this occasion for some of the shots of Henley in Arden further down I've abandoned that methodology.

The photos above were taken in Dorridge Park back in December 2012 when the weather was just frosty rather than snowy. Straight out of camera.

Above - Berkswell in the frost.

Above - views from the big hill in Henley during the 2013 snowfall.

Above - some icicles in my garden.

All were taken with an ageing Powershot G3. Today is supposedly the last of the snowfall for the time being, with a big melt predicted for the weekend. Sigh. I'm looking forward to the media pointing out that there are floods in areas that tend to flood.

Animation Website RIP

Scroll down for animations! To zoom in, press Control and + (Windows) or Cmd and + (Mac).

Up until recently I owned the domain, carbonscale.com, on which I hosted a website that I designed and created after completing my degree in animation. It was intended to work as an online portfolio for my animation related output as I searched for employment within the industry.

Around about the same time I ended up needing more surgeries on my lungs and so those plans got pushed back and back. I kept the website though as I quite liked it and was pleased with its functionality for the most part (- the buttons and layout and look; yes. The blog section and how long it took to upload new content; not so much).

I was also secretly convinced that at any point I'd get offered big bucks by some multinational energy company for the domain name, given how everyone was bleating on about carbon footprints and insisting everyone keep track of how much they were contributing to the death of the planet back then.
It turned out no one knew what a Carbon Scale was, or had any intention of making one (whatever it was) and that no one really cared that much about the planet anyway...

So, after years of thinking "I should probably cancel my subscription... I'll do it first thing tomorrow!", then forgetting, I've finally got round to doing so. As such, carbonscale.com is no more (at the time of writing, in its initial guise as a Flash animation website anyway). Although wouldn't it be typical if someone finally invented a Carbon Scale (whatever that is) and suddenly the entire world decided that, actually, they did care, and that that particular domain was obviously the most sensible place to look for advice, and it created billions in advertising revenue and a paradigm shift in people's attitudes towards the environment, tssk. I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I mean, it hasn't, but it's blatantly going to, sigh.

I thought it would be a shame not to preserve the website online somehow, so in the interests of posterity I've managed to embed it below. There is some distortion due to the dimension constraints of this page.

The showreel that would normally have been embedded in the showreel section within the website is now embedded further down this post should anyone wish to give it a watch.

I've barely done any proper animation since university, but I'm certain I'll return to it one day and create some funnies, if only for my own amusement.
I think Burt the flatulent cat burglar with tourrettes definitely has legs. Even if they are broken.

*Be sure to refresh this page so as to see the little introductory animation*

Happy New Year 2013! - Here's a horse pencil sketch.

Happy New Year, followers of artbylukebennett.com. Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2013. I hope everyone who ordered a commission or fine art print as a Christmas present was pleased with their finished piece, and the gift receivers equally so. Thank you for your custom!

I hope to continue taking lots of commission throughout the next year, improving my skills and furthering my artistic endeavours.

Below is one of the pet portraits I completed in the run up to Christmas, a pet horse in pencil on paper, measuring approximately 9 x 9 inches.

Small, personalised gifts are always nice to receive I think, and by all accounts the recipient in this case was delighted with the sketch of her horse.

Autumn Images in Warwickshire.

Or at least, a part of Warwickshire...

Regular visitors to my Blog might be aware of my fondness for Hay Woods near Baddesley Clinton in Warwickshire. It's a beautiful place to go for a long walk throughout the year, but particularly so during the changes brought about by Autumn. 

A Monday or two ago the sky was clear and the sun was burning down, so conditions were perfect for some autumnal photography. I put down my paint brushes and headed out, spending the best part of the midday and afternoon light trooping around in my wellies with a camera and tripod taking pictures.

The colour of the leaves and the distinct light and shadow cast through the clear, cold sky enabled some nice photo opportunities. (Pictured below.)

As lovely as the afternoon was however, there was one moment of sheer panic and terror as I jumped across a small ditch only to feel my legs slip in opposite directions, leading to a desperate and vain attempt to then shield my camera from the now inevitable crash landing into the (incredibly water-logged) mud, only to see it land, lens down, like buttered bread leaving the kitchen table, and get caked in brown stuff.

Luckily I had a load of tissue on hand (always be prepared, dib dob) and was able to clean it up reasonably successfully. The zoom makes a nice grinding noise now too, as a kind of friendly yet mocking reminder of my clumsiness.

More photos and artwork, including a fully customisable commissioning service at ArtbyLukeBennett.com.

Kenilworth Rotary Club Art and Design Craft Show 2012

I've just spent the last hour or so preparing (printing out labels and making everything presentable) for the annual art exhibition organised by the Rotary Club of Kenilworth, taking place at the Holiday Inn this weekend, 16th - 18th November 2012. As well as art from over 60 different artists there will also be lots of hands on demonstrations. 

Further details can be found via the link below.

"The Art & Design Craft Show, which is promoted by The Rotary Club of Kenilworth, is a 3-day event that will take place between 16th and 18th November. The aim is to bring the community together, help to promote local artists and encourage young talent from local schools."

I'll have three original pieces of artwork on show and a selection of giclée photographic prints for sale, including the shots below.

All lovely and autumnal/wintery respectively. Aww. So please say hi if you see me there or if you are interested in commissioning some artwork; pet portrait, family portrait or otherwise.

Hampton-in-Arden Arts, Crafts and Photography Exhibition, October 2012.

Once again I will be displaying work at the annual Hampton-in-Arden Arts, Crafts and Photography Exhibition, this coming weekend. 

Taking place on Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st of October 2012, between 10am and 5pm.

The Exhibition is held at Fentham Hall, Marsh Lane, Hampton in Arden, B92 0AH.
Entry costs just £1 and children get in free.

I will be exhibiting two pieces of original work; 'Here Comes the Sun' and 'Tiger Tiger', (more details here). Both pieces are available to buy via my website, as well as open edition prints on archival paper or box canvas.

Solihull, Hampton and Warwickshire residents wishing to commission a painting (pet portraits, human portraits or other), please feel free to approach me if you attend the exhibition! Or get in touch via the contact form to the right or on artbylukebennett.com.

New Painting - 'Here Comes The Sun' - Original 50th Anniversary Beatles Artwork

'Here Comes The Sun' 

Acrylic Paint on Deep Stretch Canvas, Approximately 16 Wide x 12 High x 1.5 inches Deep (406 x 305 x 35mm), finished with Matte Varnish. Ready to hang.

50 years ago this October (2012), The Beatles released their first ever single, 'Love Me Do'. A few days ago, this October, I released (finished) my first ever Beatles painting. Coincidence? Not entirely.

Meticulously hand painted in thick, bold acrylics on a deep stretch canvas, this original artwork features a new take on the iconic imagery of the world famous Abbey Road zebra crossing. The black and white road markings now contoured by the colours of the Union Flag, stretching out to their source, where The Sun (here it comes) bathes The Fab Four in a psychedelic silhouette.

Paying tribute to the best of British, in a year that saw pride in Britain swell with the arrival of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the London Olympics, as well as the Beatles' 50th anniversary as an established act, this original, one of a kind, hand-painted Beatles artwork is evocative in more ways than one.

A perfect collectable for any Beatles fan. Original painting (currently) available and high quality giclée prints (on archival paper or canvas) are available at ArtByLukeBennett.com.




That's the official blurb. Now for the unofficial, erm, not blurb... It's always a nice feeling to finish a painting, especially when it hasn't necessarily gone to plan, *whispers* like this one.
Who knew that painting straight lines would be so hard and time consuming? I didn't, but it turns out it really, really is.
Without going into specifics, there was an awful lot frustration along the way; painting, re-painting, re-re-painting, etc. etc. But, I feel I've learnt lots of useful things as a consequence. I may even share some helpful straight line painting secrets in a future blog post.

In the meantime, here are some more photos of the final piece. They show the painting from many different angles and in natural light. Somehow, taking it outside into the British countryside felt appropriate.

More to come in future updates. As always, for more information, to purchase my original artwork and prints, or to commission a painting, please visit ArtByLukeBennett.com.

Temple Balsall Heritage Weekend 2012 (7th - 9th September)

On the Weekend of the 7th - 9th September 2012, Lady Katherine Leveson in Temple Balsall will be celebrating the history of the Foundation and its ongoing work with a special Herritage Weekend. The charity aims to raise money to support the work that the Foundation undertakes and to provide an opportunity for visitors to experience the Old Hall, St. Mary's Church and the recently renovated Primary School.

"Charity? Heritage? Foundations? Church?! Weekends?!! Why the sudden interest in Lady Katherine Leveson, Luke, you big bloody great Solihull Pet Portrait Artist?" I hear you ask. Well, apart from me being an incredibly lovely man who loves charity and old churches, there is also an art exhibition being held over the weekend as part of the festivities, where, I will be displaying work, for sale. A significant portion of any money made will be paid as a commission to the cause. I know, I know, I'm practically a Saint.

Apart from the art exhibition on Saturday and Sunday, there will also be an Autumn Fayre, with entertainment, including refreshments and stalls, and guided tours of the buildings and grounds.

And if that wasn't enough, there's also a Concert by Cantemus on Friday 7th September in St Mary's Church, starting at 7.30pm (tickets £5.00 each) and on Sunday a performance of Evensong, sung by the Birmingham Cathedral Choir (with guest preacher Canon Fair Claringbull), starting at 6pm.

So, anyone from Solihull or Warwickshire heading down, please look out for my work- original framed paintings and high quality giclee prints. And as always, should anyone like what they see and wish to commission a portrait/painting - pet, human or otherwise - please get in touch.

The Court of Lady Katherine Leveson, Temple Balsall. This courtyard of almshouses for elderly ladies was founded by a bequest in the will of Lady Katherine Leveson in 1674 and is still in use today. Image and information shamelessly stolen from http://iancourts.wordpress.com/