Wednesday, December 14, 2011

How to..

For the past several years, I have been painting on
gesso'd boards. I make them myself from a recipe
I'd learned  from gilding.
They are very absorbent, and would allow me to work
in the "fat over lean method of painting. 

But there's been talk from folks about oil primed surfaces.
They say it makes a difference, and to try it out.

I've had this underpainting white for many years. I stopped
using it because it set so fast. Also with the bottle of
artist medium, it set quick also.





















I went ahead and mixed the underpainting white with the medium. It mixed like taffy,
but soon had it buttery enough to trawl on with a palette knife.

I will try this oil primed surface out and let you know how it works!

7 comments:

billspaintingmn said...

Sorry about the gap between photos and post. Blogger is being difficult or I'm doing something wrog because I lost the 3rd photo!
(of a close up of a board being tralled.)

Celeste Bergin said...

well, your photos are pretty--! There is a "golden glow" to your project! I am in the market to learn better ways to prepare too. Some of the guys I hang out with use lead white! I am interested in how you like the final panel.

billspaintingmn said...

Thanks Celeste! Gold is my specialty:)
I want to give this a try, I'm told it helps to give a freshness, and vitality to the brushstrokes.
LIke Sargent and Sorolla, you know, those really cool guys.

Not all white are the same. Lead is best for many apps. Flake is close to lead in some ways
The standard titanium has its limits with color mixing.

This is new ground for me, (no pun intended)
I'm sure I'll have something to post on this.

Judy P. said...

Hi Bill- nowadays I only paint on oil-primed surfaces; Deb Pero wrote a great blog that you can use standard interior oil primer from a Home Depot on your panels. I'm using Zinsser, but you can use Benjamin Moore etc.
It makes the less expensive panels work nice like more costly brands. Oil priming makes the surface much less absorbent, so the paint sits up and glows more, to my eye.
I've also used this primer on MDF panels, that leaves the paint like enamel, but it slides around a lot too. I heard adding some pumice to the primer might help that, but I haven't tried it yet.
This is getting to be as long as a blog!

billspaintingmn said...

Hi Judy!
Although Stapes' blogghed about oil primed surfaces, it was DEB PERO's blog that inspired me to acually give this a try. She has a how to about using liquin and flake white.

I barrowed out my liquin, and never got it back, so I went with medium instead.

Deb mentioned a thin layer, well,
mine is a bit more tectured, but this is what expirementing is all about.
I'm doing the trip as I can!

I'll try the zinner also. (Doesn't that have scellac in it?)

James Gunter said...

Hi Bill,

I've seen your comments on Stapleton's blog and that's how I learned about your blog. I enjoy checking in here from time to time.

I tried to hook up with your email but couldn't figure that process out. I'll have to check with one of my computer geek friends about that!

Could I repost one of your photos on my blog?

billspaintingmn said...

Hi James!
If you click on "my complete profile" it tells about me. Click on my email, and you should be able to contact me.

Feel free to use my blog in your blog any time!
Thank James.