No offense, but why do some artists give such bad advice?

Question

I have been told that gouache is oil-based, that it can't be mixed with acrylic. I have been told that all oil-based paints are dissoluble only by turpentine or linseed oil. Linseed oil cannot dilute oil paints, it is used as a medium for the product to be used. I use mineral spirits. I was told not to use a varnish on watercolor and have done so without it bleeding. I have also used acrylic matte-gel paste which is supposed to thicken the product but really just speeds up drying time and creates a more matte, opaque surface.

As well, I have successfully blended oil with acrylic and do not have to put five layers of gesso. I use a white gesso successfully instead of clear. I also have looked into buying water-based oil paints. Why so much misinformation? I have checked with art students, my art teacher, books, websites and courses and found there is a lot of stuff on here that is well, bunk.

Answer 1

artists are not perfect thats probably why

Answer 2

I always understood gouache was organic based. Oh well, I know what you mean and I think a lot of it come's from old ways of thinking. Too many artists are traditionalists when it comes to using different media and their focus becomes limited. They were taught one way and took it as gospel without trying to find out other things on their own. I've known a couple of people that mixed oils and acryilics and did some pretty cool stuff so it;s nothing new. They tried it just because people said they couldn't and they proved them wrong.

Some of what is told is from trial and error and what has worked for them. In that case it's not bad advise just going with what they know. They didn't ask or couldn't get an answer so they went out on their own. Part of it could also be (As in the five layers of gesso.) That that's what they had to do to get the look they wanted. You have to understand that only the basics of art are written in stone. After that it's open season and there is no one way to do anything.

It's cool that you came up with a way that works for you but it may not be what everyone else wants in achieving the look they want. So it's subjective at times. Most people (If they're smart) will take the basics from a learned technic and make them fit into how they work. (As you seem to have done.) Then when asked how to do something they give their answer on what works for them. Not bad advise or misinformation.

When it comes to what makes up what, well people (again) tend to just follow along with what they are told they need to do one specific type of painting. I have used mineral spirits (In oils) to thin out background colors to that they looked like water colors and I've used it to blend as well. I've done the linseed oil thing also. Whatever it takes, (or have on hand) to get the job done. Then again I'm no purest either.

Then there are art teachers. I've come to the conclusion there are two types. Those that really are what they teach and those that are limited in their abilities and what they know. I've experienced both. I've had teachers cram the, "This is the only way to do this " theory down your throat. I'd still do it my way and got the same results (If not better then what they wanted,). Then there were the I'm giving you the basics now run with it teachers. Those were my faves. If you got stuck on something they could give you a few ways to do things to help you out. But they considered their answers examples not written in stone ways to do it. So if your teacher doesn't know an answer just remember even they are subject to not knowing everything. And if they're a good teacher and you tell them what you've found out they'll take it to heart and be able to answer the question the next time it comes up. And eventually it will.

Answer 3

1. The term "artist" can refer to a 10-year-old kid working with crayola crayons and pencils or it can refer to a conservator-turned-artist with 80 years of experience in restoring and preserving paintings and art.

2. Artists are people, and people never know everything about everything.

3. There are new art materials that come out all the time that defy what has been previously known about X. For instance, I just found an acrylic paint that is formulated to be rewettable, sort of like an acrylic and gouache blend. Would all the known rules apply to this acrylic paint? No. Also, synthetic brush bristles were to be avoided for oil painting uses about ten years ago. Now there are solvent resistant synthetics that work quite well with mineral spirits and turpentine.

4. This is the internet.

If you're looking for solid technical advise, yahoo answers should be the last place you go. This can be a platform to do your own independent research, but please don't depend on the anonymous masses with no accountability whatsoever for sound advise on materials and technical information. Go with the usual mode of doing dependable research: reference reputable material (I second the Artists Handbook of Materials and Techniques by Ralph Mayer), consult with recognized experts in the field, etc, etc.

Answer 4

Probably because the Artist's you took advice were not good artists. Anyone can call them-self an artist. Art is experimentation
and people can use many kinds of mixed media. How long these
will last or how long do you want them to last is the question. If you are an illustrator they need to last until they are scanned.
If you are a fine artist you might want them to last longer. As far as new media like oils that have no odor...They have only been around
for a few years so no one can say for sure? How long does a digital file last? So the best thing is ask respected artists, teachers from respected art schools and then make up your mind as to what you want to do. Don't seek advice from arts and crafts people, seek out professionals.

Answer 5

Because many of them got bad advice themselves!Unfortunately the quality of art education is not as good as it used to be .Not to say there aren't any good schools or teachers- there are, but they are few and far between.It used to be that artist's were taught about the technical side of their art materials.Now many schools do not.And that is really too bad.A lot of people just don't give a damn either about how to construct a painting so it will last and so don't bother learning about what there using and freely dispense their ignorance every chance they get.The artist's handbook of materials and techniques by Ralph Mayer is a good reference and the info is reliable.Manufacturers are another good source of info for instance www.gamblincolors.com .As for linseed oil and turps. look up "fat over lean " rule it is true.And as for mixing oil and acrylic while it may be possible to make the two physically mix together albeit not usually easy ,they are not chemically compatible and will either not cure properly and or undermine subsequent layers of paint by preventing them from adhering or bubbling or both.Layering oil over acrylic and vice versa is not advised.This is important if you want your paintings to last.Good luck!!!

Answer 6

If you blended wet oil with wet acrylic, that slop is going to fall off the canvas in about 5 minutes. If you did an acrylic painting and put oil on top of a dry acrylic painting, then that is fine.

you are doing short cuts that might work in the short term but one of the big things in the art world is "achival" will it survive in the future. That is why sometimes the advice might seem like an extra meaningless step to you.

Answer 7

because it is more $$$$ and he gets more money

Answer 8

artist are misunderstood.

.....trust me.....i know......

Answer 9

They are trying to distract and get rid of their competition with wrong information. DUH!