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What to wear while painting?
Some artists wear old clothes they don’t mind messing up. Others wear an apron in beige, black or white purchased from an art store. Aprons leave quite a lot open to splotching. If the artist studied the sciences, an old lab coat may be given a second life. Mine doesn’t fit anymore but would make a nice coverup. I know one artist who, while visiting Paris, purchased a vintage style French painting smock complete with the yoke, front pleats and buttonfront.

When I was a youngster, we did not have paint at home. (We did have lots of music🎶🎹 )  In kindergarten, I do remember excitedly going to the coat room area where 3 very small easels were set up with newsprint paper.. We were asked to bring in baby food jars which the teacher filled with paints: Red, blue, yellow, black and white.  In addition to the babyfood jars, children were asked to bring in one of their father’s old shirts. These were put on backwards and buttoned up to protect our clothes. 

My Dad was  a full 6 foot 2 inches and long in the body. I was 5 years old.  The sleeves rolled way up and the hem dragged somewhere past my knees. Good coverage😊

I remember creating the painting every kid makes at some point:  your family and your house.  A triangle on a box made the house and stick figures for the people.

Today my art getup still consists of a  man’s dress shirt purchased from a thrift store for about $1.50. A short sleeved shirt serves the purpose for summer. I think of my Dad when I put my painting shirt on, and my Mom who ironed his shirts.

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