Oil Paint and Varnish

While painting I decided to experiment as I was applying paint to canvas I  poured thinners and liquin(medium) onto paper, I pushed the fluid liquid around, it became quite muddy looking. Not the effect I wanted! 

The paper is firstly coated in linseed oil, the washes of colour applied with linseed oil applied again. This caused the paint to flow  together,the thin lines at the edge of the paper is where the turpentine almost washes away the oil paint, the paper  is stained with paint but the oil collects across the paper. 

My Experiments

Ink and water on white oil paint 

Using ink on oil paint.

I tried using different tools to draw lines. Lines are very important to me, the process of line within my work is a recurring theme and often comes into my work subconsciously. Often the image I use to begin a painting is discarded for some time, then often when I think that perhaps I have lost what was once a painting about something, I then refer back to the image and at this point, line recovers something of what might be lost.

Panting Master Class

Masterclass by tim Johnson: Painters methods and materials.

Ingredients for rabbit skin glue!

How to make your own oil pastel!

Home made oil pastel.

Viridian pigment!

Glass muller for grinding pigment.

Sanded glass plate for grinding pigment.

Chalk ground/traditional gesso ground.

This ground is for acrylic or egg tempera paints, the texture makes oil paint appear chalky.  I find this base extremely seductive and i intend to try the process myself, I am interested in how this ground effects the painting and my work in general.

Ultramarine pigment.

Colour and Shapes from Liverpool

Painting without white

'Absence' Painting

Developing flat areas of colour: 

The more layers I apply the deeper and richer the colour becomes and the painting becomes more alive. Areas of the painting are quite busy and loaded with colour and line. The area of flat colour creates space with in the painting and the viewers eye falls towards the flat spaces looking for a line or detail which may give an explanation of  the painting.

"Absence" Oil on Canvas 160x120cms

Detail of 'Absence'

Detail of 'Absence'

Detail of 'Absence'

Detail of 'Absence'
Varied brush marks and space send the viewers eye searching the space with in the painting, trying to figure out what it is about. For me the movement, space and vibrant colours draw me to figure out what is happening in the work.

More Experiments

I layered varnish and acrylic paint beneath which was a thin wash of blue acrylic paint.

The rejection of paint from the varnish forces the paint to break up into miniature rivers which branch off in all directions. I am interested in attempting to create this on canvas.

Washes of oil paint and varnish.

In places the varnish and oil mix, this tends to happen when the thickness  is the same.

The thinness of the mediums allows the texture of the paper to come through the paint.