FAQ: Takeaway Art Kits

What if I’m new to painting? 
Not to worry, these kits will have all the items you need to get started, including videos you can watch of me painting and explaining the steps. If you can hold a pen, you can hold a paintbrush - plus, you can email us at any time with questions.

What’s acrylic paint?
Acrylic paint is water-based paint. We use paint that’s made locally in Marrickville here in Sydney. It’s non-toxic and fast drying and easy to use with a brush. Just make sure you clean up any paint you get on something you don’t want to because once acrylic paint dries, it’s permanent. 

What kind of set-up do I need?
You’ll need a table large enough for the painting, with room for you to turn the painting around as you go and still have plenty of room for the paints, your water jars and rags. We reuse brown packing paper and tape it to the table to protect the surface. We also wear clothing we don’t mind getting paint on. 

How do I hang the painting?
It depends on the set-up you have at home, but the painting can hang right off a nail on the wall, or a hook from a picture rail. You can also sit it on something like a shelf or fireplace mantle and lean it against a wall. Just a quick note - like everything else, if in full sun all the time, the painting colours will fade over time. 

Is the canvas ready for me to paint?
We use premium canvases, triple gessoed ready for you to paint on right away. 

Can I paint the sides of my canvas? 
Absolutely - we recommend painting the sides the lighter colour from the background of your painting, but you can get creative and paint the sides whatever colour you like. 

How do I send the tins back to get a discount on my next paint kit?
Easy - just make sure the lids are nice and tight and send them in the mail to: 2/18 Croydon Street, Petersham, NSW 2049. Make sure your name is visible on the outside of the package or leave a little note for us inside with your name and email and we’ll send you a coupon for $15 off your next paint kit. We’ll reuse the paint and clean the tins for other paint kits. 

What if I have paint left-over?
We’d be surprised if you didn’t - we’ve given you more paint than you’ll need and you can use this paint on anything else at all - wood, paper, canvas. We’d love to see what you do with any leftover paint, so be sure to tag #outerislandpaints and share on your social media. 

Why don’t I paint the white of the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo?
The canvas is triple gessoed and gesso is a white base. We think it looks more mod without the white paint. In the 1960’s it was all the rage to leave a bit of canvas blank, letting the white shine through. We love this aesthetic and modelled our kits after it. 

What if I get other paint accidentally on the white of the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo?
While we don’t want you to paint the white of the cockatoo, we’ve given you white paint in your kit for any touch-ups that you need. 

Do I own this image after I’ve painted it? 
You own the painting, but Outer Island retains the copyright. This means that you won’t be able to use the design to make anything like prints or cards from your painting. But you can post away on social media and any other online platform - just make sure to tag us and us #outerislandpaints 

What does limited-edition mean?
Limited-edition means that there’s a cap to the number of paint kits that we sell for each image. Each edition is 250 which means your painting is only one of 250 out there in the world. Your kit comes with the number in the edition that you receive, example: 2/250, 111/250. 

What kind of canvas is it?
The canvas is unbleached, premium cotton that’s acid free and triple primed with acrylic gesso. The canvas has staple free edges and folded corners. It’s stapled, on the back, to a pine frame and stretcher bars that are heavy duty and kiln dried. 

How long should the painting take me?
You should go at your own pace. If you paint non-stop without any breaks, the painting will take you around four hours, but we recommend you break it up over the course of a few days. 

Can I use an easel? It looks like you have a flat surface set-up from the video?
Yes - absolutely! You can use whatever set-up you’re most comfortable with, a flat table or an easel if you have one. 

Why do you hold your paintbrush so funny in the photos and videos? Is that normal?
No, it is most definitely not normal! But I’ve done it since I was little and I’m left-handed so holding it like that means I don’t put my hand in the paint to smudge it.