FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What medium do you use?
I always oil out my panels with a 1/2 stand oil-1/2 liquin
(alkyd resin)
mixture. This means: apply the mixture to the panel, so
that it is just moist, ie. in a very thin layer. I then
paint into this layer of medium (Also called: 'painting into
the soup'.) This has the effect that
the paint flows onto the panel well.
Also, the paint seems
to have a more constant and homogeneous consistency on the panel in this way. Firstly, the
paint won't sink into the gesso layer here and there,
preventing it from getting dryer in some spots. The film of
paint will stay liquid all over the panel, so that it can be
manipulated easily (ie. moved around with a dry brush).
Furthermore, the oil prevents the liquin from drying too quickly, so the
paint has more 'open time', and can be manipulated well into
the painting session. I also use this medium on my
palette when I feel a paint is to thick for what I want to
do.
I don't use
mineral spirits in the medium. As these evaporate quickly,
the consitency of the medium (and paint, painted into the
medium) also changes quickly after
having applied it. I like the consistency of the paint and
medium to be constant as long as possible.
Occasionally I do use a drop of mineral spirits on my
palette, when I need a thin paint to draw a line or
something.
When the layer of paint is not too thick (no impasto), this
medium stays open for about 1 day. I can usually add the
next layer after 1 day of drying. When I do want to apply
thick paint (highlights) I use some impasto medium
(thickened alkyd resin).
Lately I have been using a more fluid
mixture consisting of 1/4 stand oil, 1/4 linseed oil and 1/2
liquin.
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