Oil Painting queries

[Mark Coombe]

Hi All

I have only been using oils (WOils) for a few months, and have a couple of questions.

Firstly how is the best way to store finished works prior to varnishing? I presume I am correct in waiting 6 month prior to varnishing, and I am finding that some of the paintings like to collect dust etc.. Can I store them in a plastic bag, will this effect how long before they are completely dry, anyway what do you guys do?

Secondly, what should I use to varnish the paintings with?

Thirdly, regarding painting on location, I did a trip the other day and wanted to take some oil paints, however I didn't because I did not know how to manage the drying time for the pictures and how to carry them. So what is the general practise when oil painting outdoors, and especially if you are on the road for a week or so.

I look forward to your input.

Cheers

Mark

[Mark Coombe]

Thanks Gary, Yes though that about the plastic bag, storing as you suggest against wall with painted surface down would seem to be best option. I would not be game to store them in my shed, I recon I'd have worse than cockroaches to worry about. I am yet to varnish a painting as the earliest one is not quite 6 month old, guess I will just talk to my supplier about a varnish. I get my paints etc from Rebel Paints in Kingaroy, he has a good website and is very helpful on the phone for a novice like myself.

Cheers Mark

[Gary Black]

Hi Mark,

I buy my canvases from "Flash Harry's" these are Monte Mart and are about half the price of the art shop in Bundy.

I use youtube as a reference/learning tool especially artists like Bill Alexander, Bob Ross, David Willis, Shaun Ryan. There was an Arts Festival here in Moore Park Beach last weekend; I entered eight paintings and sold one. It was the first painting I have ever sold and was based on a sepia painting by David Willis on youtube. I had set a price to recover my costs only, as being an unknown artist I thought don't have the price too high no one will buy. But another artist told me add a hundred to the front of your prices as no one will buy a low priced painting as they assume there is no value in it. So I received $150.00 and will pay 20% commission on the sale.

I have contacts in the Philippines for art supplies and these are a fraction of the costs here.

My email address is [e-mail] if you would like to contact me and I can send you some contact addresses

All the best

Gary.

[Britt Greenland]

Mark
Have you considered using a medium such as liquin to speed drying time?
This still allows for wet on wet painting, but is mostly dry in 24 hours.
When I plein air paint with oils I have a large cardboard box ready in my car boot to place the wet painting in. I put my wet palette in there as well. It does require multiple trips to the car, though.

Cheers!

[Michael Chomse]

Mark,

I can refer you to a discussion I started called "Oiling Out. What to do when you're done".

Here's the link: http://thecompleteartist.ning.com/forum/topics/oiling-out-what-to-d... 

There are some good answers on varnishing there.

I also answered another discussion regarding varnishing with some links: http://thecompleteartist.ning.com/forum/topics/help-problems-with-v...

I haven't had any experience with carrying wet oils around. That's a problem for my future. :-) I looked on the answers you received with interest.

Good luck with the plein air. 

Michael. 

[Anita Rood]

Hi Mark, firstly what are WOils? water mixable? which brand? I might be able to help. Anita

[Jen C r u d e n]

Hi everyone.   Thought you may like to visit this link to read a little on the WMO's. if unsure on them as shows a little about them generally plus makes.  

Also, for those wondering on transporting wet oils undertaken plein air, then you may like to view my blog on carrying wet oils on this. Just a way I sorted out that was inexpensive and easy.  When I have time will load some photos showing the box etc.

I used W&N and found them so dry and hard to get a handle on, so sort of gave up.   But having read more and more on this and seeing Richard and others getting 'a handle on it' as he says think will give another go.   I do love my oils, but convenience etc however, not sure on very large paintings.  But we shall see.

[Pandalana Williams]

I use a varnish called Gamvar Picture Varnish.  It allows you to varnish your oil painting as soon as it is touch dry; usually within a couple of days or so, depending on what colors you used and how much medium you used.  It is by Gamblin and it is archival and removable.  It allows the paint to breath under this varnish and to fully dry while protecting it.

 

For transporting wet paintings, pizza boxes are great.  You are probably only going to do 1 or 2 ish and you can just put them in the trunk of your car in the box and they will be safe.   You can get them online; Amazon, or Uline, etc...or if you have a friend at a pizza place :)  If you are hiking pretty far from your car, there are some great wet canvas carriers out there; here are a few:

 

http://www.raymarart.com/NEW-6x8-Wet-Painting-Carrier-and-5x7-Adapt...

http://wet-case.com/wet-caseonlinest.html

http://www.dickblick.com/products/holbein-canvas-carrier-clips/

http://www.dickblick.com/products/guerrilla-painter-wet-painting-ca...

 

The best way to store your paintings is to hang them on the wall, or to label them in a box like a pizza box, or smaller/larger box for whatever size you have and stack them on a shelf.   The box keeps the dust off of them.  Some artists, who sell theirs framed, frame them as soon as they are touch dry, and put them in their shipping box, and put them on a shelf; labeled as to what they are either by name or with a numbering system; and they are ready to go when sold.  I do get most of my boxes from Uline.

 

I believe a plastic bag is not a good idea, as the painting can't get air to it to dry.

 

Also, I use WSO as well. Winsor and Newton.  You can mix the fast drying medium with thinner to get faster drying time 50x50.  You still have to follow the rules of oil painting with these including...fat over lean, thick over thin. 

[Pandalana Williams]

http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Painter-Handy-Porter-Set/dp/B0049UX...

Here are some other ones too that are suppose to be good for carrying and storing wet paintings.

[Gary Black]

A fellow artist who paints mountain and native bush scenes in New Zealand told me he uses a camera for the scene. He then takes a small pad and records the actual colour he sees in pastel and/or coloured pencil blends. As he may be out hiking for several days it is impossible to take all the gear to complete a painting. This way he gets the scene to paint and a true record of the colour he saw when he returns to his studio.

Carrying wet paintings is a real art form in its own. I have tried it once and vowed never again.

[Linda Flanagan]

You might want to look at another on-line resource - Wet Canvas. It is a huge community of artists using all media and there are many different forums on different media, genre, etc. Here's the one on oil painting:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=10

You'll need to sign up and it will take a day or so before you can post questions, but I can pretty much guarantee you'll find what you need. Or you can just look w/o signing up. Your question has probably already been posed; you just need to find it in the threads, and their search feature is not the best part of the site. Many MANY great artists who are very happy to share their considerable knowledge. 

[MAL]

Mark,

 

I am new here and just saw your question about finishing an oil painting.  My art teacher in our Senior Citizen art class told us to use Liquin Original after about three months drying time unless the painting has a lot of white, then it would need more drying time.  We also use the Liquin Original in class as our medium.

Hope that is helpful.

aloha

mal

[Billy Camryn]

There is a free art lesson by Allen Montagues on "How to apply varnish" to preserve your painting for years and keep the canvas hydrated and making them easy to clean.

Here is a link for Video tutorial: http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-lessons/Artists/Allen-Montague/Al... I hope this helps you!