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TRACEE'S TIPS: 10 Things I've Learned Over the Years About Painting

Don't skimp on materials! Spend that money!!!

Go BIG or go home!

Oil is King

Handmade/stretched primed canvases are the ONLY way to go from a professional standpoint

STEP BACK

Your mouth is another hand

Proper ventilation is very important, don't paint where you sleep (if using oils) 

Take breaks but stay focused

Schedule painting time/administrative time, lunch etc so you actually get the work done!

WORK HARD but don't force it! It's okay if you genuinely can't paint one day... it's okay to take time off and get your shit together to be more productive. It's hard to push creativity and that "seamless flow" an Artist lives for. In the end, the more you paint the more you'll want to. 

BREAST FEEDING TOILET SELFIE

And the Toilet Selfie legacy continues! I painted this mom-and-child portrait on an 18"x24" canvas. Jesi sent me this photo and I loved how she put up with unacceptable nursing conditions just to make sure her baby was well cared for. 

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THE OHIO HOUSE

i had the absolutely amazing opportunity to do some custom pieces for a couple with an eclectic style! They asked me to do the kick boards for the stairs, cubby hole inserts for their upper level, and an incredibly colorful Ouija Board for their kitchen island!

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CHICAGO VOYAGE FEATURE

In August 2018, Voyage Chicago wrote an article about me and we discussed everything from painting a room in my childhood home to balancing a packed schedule. I'm still thrilled when I look back on how they were able to spread the word about my art!

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SMOKE DADDY & BIG STAR

I was contacted earlier this summer by two restaurants who share a hallway and a bathroom and they asked me to create something incredibly dynamic for them. So I did a mural in the restroom and another one that stretches down the walkway. I also was able to paint some smaller details inside Smoke Daddy.

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Entertainment

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Lifestyle

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Sports

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Technology

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© 2017 by Emily Nill

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