lamp question

[scottjames]

Hi all,

I use a lamp for painting alot of the time, as it\'s mostly week nights when I get from work that I get to paint in peace.

I have one of these:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4310837/Trail/searchtext%3EDESK+LAMP.htm

It gets pretty hot. I wonder if it is drying the paint on my models too quickly as I am working on them, and I also find I have to water down any paint I\'ve mixed on my palette quite often to keep it at the right consistency, I wonder if it\'s the lamp drying it up overly quick? When I do paint by daylight only, I dont get that problem..

Do others here use a lamp that gets hot? Is it something I should learn to deal with, or am I just simply using a bad kind of lamp for painting under!? =)

Thanks.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

I work under halogen which get\'s REAL HOT if you get too close to it but havn\'t noticed it affecting the drying times since I don\'t work close enough to get into the hot area. Weather does affect things a lot. Also, whatever kind of heating/cooling system can affect drying times much more.

 

[StudioAcorn]

I used a similar light for a number of years, constantly scalding my forehead and wrecking my paint mixes.

My solution was to invest in one of these OTT-Lights. One of the best purchases I\'ve made in the mini world.

Aside from a new lamp, you may want to try some wet pallet setups.

 

[ktooloo]

Since it\'s a fluorescent, it shouldn\'t be putting out enough heat to effect your paint. You can try swapping out the bulb for a \"Natural Light\" type bulb, like the OTT brand ones linked above, but just the bulb. The OTT are a proprietary plug that fit their lamps and certain commercial style fixtures. Also on the market are compact fluorescent \"Natural Light\" bulbs for regular incandescent lamps too. I bought mine at an art supply store. I don\'t know if European voltages make a difference in these working though.

The OTT brand gear is really nice, but it was too pricey for me. A $17 (US) bulb and a \"free\" :innocent: lamp from work was all good for me. ; )


:beer:

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by scottjames
It gets pretty hot. I wonder if it is drying the paint on my models too quickly as I am working on them, and I also find I have to water down any paint I\'ve mixed on my palette quite often to keep it at the right consistency, I wonder if it\'s the lamp drying it up overly quick? When I do paint by daylight only, I dont get that problem..

Well that appears to be your answer right there - if you don\'t get the problem in one set of conditions but in another then it\'s likely the light. But I am surprised, as the heat output I would have thought wouldn\'t make that much difference - quick drying is acrylic/vinyl paint in a nutshell!

Anyway, make or buy a stay-wet palette. Then you don\'t have to worry about the paint you haven\'t used yet drying out during a painting session - you can literally paint for five hours and the paint\'ll pretty much stay the same as when first mixed.

Einion

 

[thegrayson]

I use this lamp from Maplin. A little bit of heat when you\'re very close but nothing to worry about, great light. I don\'t use the magnifier but the swing arm is handy.

 

[Bignastyshark]

Einion has a great point there,

I made a wet pallette using intruction from this site i cant find em now tho >.<

I made this pallette moved house with it and didnt open it back up for perhaps 3 - 5 months, i could not believe the paint was still usable bloody brilliant,

Wet pallette never leave home without it,

Cheers,

Iain
BNSminiatures.

 

[airhead]

use a cooler lamp, or mix a bit of retarder in your dilute water.

 

[DaRat]

If you are using a fluorescent bulb, it shouldn\'t be the lamp unless the bulb is very close to your paints.

My guess is that the air conditioning is running (lowering the humidity) or the humidity in general is low.

I agree that a wet palette may life easier for you. Olliekickflip had a great post on making a very simple wet palette is a Reaper Forum post.

I\'ve recently become a convert to the cult of the wet palette though I use an old sandwich keeper box (with a lid). Very handy since my paints stay wet and usable for days (with the lid on in between sessions).

 

[arogers907]

I think I\'m resolved to try a wet palette yet again. I\'ve made a couple attempts to incorporate using one into my painting but it\'s never worked out quite right. Given the dry climate up here, I think it deserves another shot.

As for lamps. Nothin\' but nothin\' can beat a good daylight lamp. I doubt one would make much difference with paint drying but mine is the single best purchase I\'ve made since getting back into painting.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by arogers907
I think I\'m resolved to try a wet palette yet again. I\'ve made a couple attempts to incorporate using one into my painting but it\'s never worked out quite right. Given the dry climate up here, I think it deserves another shot.

I resisted trying one for years because I didn\'t know it was possible to make one and I didn\'t want to invest in the commercial type in case it turned out not to work properly or whatever.

I can\'t really express how much effort and time using them saves me (I have four I can have on the go at once if necessary). All I can say is that the time I spent adjusting consistency as puddles of paint dried during painting, year after year, could have been spent more profitably... good experience in its way, but man, life\'s so much easier without that to deal with!

Einion