Christopher Kier (born Toronto 1959) is an encaustic painter who graduated from the Ontario College of Art in the year 1987. He is represented by the New zones Gallery of the Contemporary Art in a Calgary, Alberta. Encaustic painting, also known as “hot wax painting,” involves using heated beeswax to that colored pigments is added. The liquid/paste is after applied to a surface — generally prepared wood, though canvas and with other materials are often used.

His works have been obtained by corporate collections such as those of Air Canada, Westin and Nordstrom.

Myfanwy Ashmore (born 1970, North York, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian abstract artist who has been involved in information art, fresh media art, gameart, video art, interactive art, internet art since 1995. She studied at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design, in 1990, graduated from the Sculpture-Installation section at the Ontario College of Art in 1996 and conventional her MFA from York University in 1998.

In addition to being an international exhibiting artist, at present she is a technician at the Ontario College of Art and Design in the Academic Computer Centre. She has received numerous findings as well as awards from various councils and artist run centers. Most lately she was nominated and short listed for the important 2003 K.M. Hunter award through the Ontario Arts Council. 

She is known for her contentious soma/somo project, a series of networked decaying grapefruits that converse with the viewer and vice versa—for which she received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, which punctually ended up in debate in Canadian Parliament and unavoidably the media. She has sustained to make work that is hard to distribute, that sometimes exists in an indeterminate space, or has not been exhibited until much later when there are fitting venues.

Oil painting is simple, far simpler than engraving or even watercolor painting. If you could see something, you could paint it in oils. To create amazing memorable, however, you need to: 

1. Formulate what you expect to achieve, and plan a practical route to that objective. 
2. Research the market if you desire to sell the work. 
3. Approach the painting procedure in logical steps, which usually entail: 

        *Drawings to examine compositional possibilities. 
        *Blocked-out charcoal/pencil/oil sketches to position tonal values. 
        *Oil sketches to trial with various color schemes and harmonies. 
        *Preparing canvas and paint for the predictable tasks. 
        *Applying paint to canvas, either incorporating the outcome of b and c in direct painting, or by tackling them in distinct phases. 
        *Varnishing, framing and hanging the work.

There are basic tools you require for most any kind of painting job:

• Step stool or ladder
• Drop cloths
• Paintbrushes, 1” and 2”
• Artist brush for small spaces
• Angled sash brushes, 1 ½” and 2”
• Buckets
• Sandpaper
• Paint edger
• Rollers
• Roller pan with screen
• Roller handle
• Roller extension
• Paint guide
• Spackle or wood filler
• 2” masking tape
• Paint thinner – if you are using oil based paints
• Rags
• Tack cloth

There are expertise tools you might desire to use for special paint effects:

• Tape measurer
• Plumb line for marking vertical drops
• Natural or synthetic mop for the sponging technique
• Chamois for ragging
• Different shapes of rubber combs for wood grain effects
• Craft knives

There are a variety of paints suitable for use on dissimilar surfaces and for achieving dissimilar effects. It is significant that you decide the right paint for the surface on which you are painting, and to get the look you desire.

Porous surfaces and bare woods need the use of a primer to seal the wall and provide a base for the paint finishes. A basecoat on top of the primer not only protects the surface but also provides a soft base for the topcoat.

Traditional paints are water or oil based and classically come in four finishes:

• Matt – Flat finish water based paint used on essential walls. Fast drying and tends to mark easily.
• Satin – Mid sheen oil based paint that is washable and tougher than the matt finish.
• Gloss – Oil based paint with a high sheen end that is washable and durable.
• Eggshell – Faint sheen oil based paint that tends to show marks.

Acrylic paints are water based and could be added to other water based paints for decorative motifs and embellishments. Enamel paints are oil based and is used on metal surfaces and other surfaces requiring a rough finish. Both acrylic and enamel paints come in a broad variety of colors.

1. Buy a loaf (two or three loaves if the painting is large) of high-quality doughy bread–a large sourdough works nicely.

2. On a pretty day, take the painting outdoors–or work in on a large drop cloth–since this is an untidy procedure.

3. Using dough pulled from the inside of the loaf; scrub the painting using gentle pressure. You would see the soil collect on the dough. Get a new hunk of dough as the older piece gets filthy or disintegrates. Continue this process over the whole surface of the work.

4. Using a soft bristle brush– such as a fine quality house painting brush–brush the left over dough crumbs off the painting. Go systematically over the entire surface as the dough likes to stick and any remaining crumbs would be an enticement to insects.

Good luck with your spring cleaning!

When painting a room, the first step (and perhaps the most important) is preparing the surface. Poor surface preparation is the number one cause of paint failure and could also ruin your desired effect if not done properly.

1.Before you start, do not forget to put a drop sheet on the floor and cover any  furnishings you don’t desire splattered with paint.
2.Thoroughly fresh and dry the surface before painting.
3.As a general rule of thumb, anything with a glossy surface needs to be dulled before painting.
4.High-gloss surfaces should be cleaned and sanded in order for the paint to bond.
5.An oil based primer or coat of flat paint can take the shine off a surface and arrange it for the new paint.You would require a flat, smooth surface for this to work effectively.
6.Scrape off flaking paint and wallpaper.
7.Patch holes and cracks, allowing the area to dry before proceeding.
8.Sand raised imperfections, bubbles and blisters.
9.Apply a primer if necessary. Repaired, patched, stained and new surfaces need a coat of primer before painting.If the surface has been painted before, you only require to paint the patched or repaired areas.