Artist's Essentials: How to Choose the Best Covering for Painting
I love a bit of research and as a self-proclaimed super sleuth, I’m always exploring the internet. But I've hit a snag with this topic. It's either super niche or just not getting much attention so here are my thoughts and experiences.
I want to discuss what you wear over your clothes to paint. There's a bunch of options—aprons, smocks, lab coats, even old tees and sweatshirts. I’d like to focus on my history, then the most common choice, and lastly how what you wear can influence your painting and what I ultimately learned and purchased.
Let’s start with some background info on why I’m so passionate about this topic.
The first smock I ever used for painting was made out of an old shower curtain that I sewed together. It was light grey and did the job until I was in a sculpture class and had a lovely mishap with silicone, a drill with a mixing bit. Next, there was the lab coat - the ultimate BYU-Idaho painting student uniform. Leon Parson, the landscape teacher, wore his navy blue lab coat religiously and it was an easy affordable option to go and pick up at the campus store. I bought one and found that I loved it and the sense of comradery that came along with it.
The lab coat is like a shield, covering 80% of your body with a neat design, complete with buttons, pockets, and vents. I love it because it saves so many of my outfits from paint mishaps, and the sun protection is a bonus. But, let's be real, my lab coat has seen better days. It's covered in paint stains, the button threads don't match due to them ripping off, and I've never washed it. Yikes! When I tried to find a new one online, I was disappointed. The options were either super cheap or way too pricey, and there weren't many color choices.
I ran a poll on my Instagram asking artists what they wear when they paint. Turns out, 55% go for a traditional apron, 10% prefer a smock, and 7% opt for a lab coat. Surprisingly, 28% either wear something else nothing at all. And of those, only 3% wear old tees/sweatshirts. It was an eye-opener to see that a quarter of the folks in the poll just paint in their regular street clothes! I would be so stressed doing that.
So let’s talk aprons! They're the go-to choice for protecting your clothes. They're super easy to find, come in all sorts of colors, weights, and materials, and usually have handy pockets. My only issue is that they don't cover my arms enough or wrap around my body completely, it’s pretty much a size fits all type of garment. Smocks are similar—but they have straps that you just slip over your head and arms, no tying required.
Let’s jump back a few paragraphs … remember the navy lab coat? Theoretically, one of the drawbacks is the color. Picture this: you're standing behind your easel, and the sunlight hits your torso, bouncing back into your artwork. Now, light is tricky—it's not just about the value, but also the local color of what you're wearing can affect your painting. For example, if you wear a bright orange shirt, you're potentially adding an orange tint to your painting. So, what color should you choose? Neutrals are a safe bet. Black absorbs light, but it shows every paint stain and gets hot. White reflects light, but it shows paint spots. Grey strikes a balance between the two.
I'd been considering getting a new protective covering for over a year now, but I kept delaying it. Even though my current coat does the job, it's covered in paint, and I avoid washing it because of that. Now, I ruled out a smock or sticking with something old, and I'm not thrilled with my lab coat choices online. So, I've decided to go with an apron instead.
After scouring the internet, I stumbled upon the Hedley and Bennet canvas apron in a crossback style and fell in love with it. But here's the catch—it's a high-end chef apron that comes with a hefty price tag $$$. I'm not willing to splurge on something that I know will end up getting paint splattered all over it, especially since I couldn't find the color I wanted available online. In an ideal world, I'd love to snag their smock in the color Yuzu for cooking, but for now, it's just a dream.
Back to aprons—I was on the hunt for something tough and durable. I need it to withstand the oils in paint so it won’t bleed through onto my clothes. That means no linen, polyester (personal choice), or cheaply made stuff for me. I'd been eyeing gardening aprons and artist-specific ones, and I'd narrowed it down to two options: A. The Cheap Joe's Maker’s Crossback or B. The Farmers Defense Canvas Workhorse.
I spent weeks agonizing over which apron to choose. I couldn't decide which one was better or what neutral color would be best. Finally, I made a last-minute decision. I reached out to some old classmates for advice, then still feeling overwhelmed went straight to the source and contacted Leon directly. He suggested a dark shade of grey and reminded me that neutral colors shouldn't affect the final colors on my canvas unless the sun is really bright. So, I pulled the plug and bought both! There goes my argument for not spending a lot of $$$.
Option A: The Maker’s Crossback in Grey. It's made of durable 100% cotton duck canvas, has plenty of pockets including a snazzy sweatshirt-style one, features an ergonomic cross-strap back with customizable waist grommet holes, and has extra long straps. I got mine for $44.99 on sale, excluding tax and shipping.
Option B: The Canvas Workhorse in Sawdust. This one's made with recycled fabric material, is waterproof, and has a tool belt-like waist, multifunctional pockets, a hanger ring, adjustable clips for flexibility, and a cross-strap back. I got it for $32.72 on sale, not including tax and shipping.
Only time will tell how I’ll feel if I’ve made the right choice but for now, I’m content.
Thanks for joining me on this journey into my thought process! When I buy something, I'm all about getting quality gear that won't leave me with buyer's remorse. 😄
I'm super curious about what you wear when you're painting! Drop a comment below and let me know what brand and type of protective gear you use. I'd love to hear your recommendations!
