Cold Wax Medium (part 2)

the birds (NFS)      4 x 9 inches      oil and cold wax medium on Arches Huile paper

We began each workshop day by doing quick 30 minute "quickie paintings" 

prepared by taping 2 pieces of 9 x 12 inch Arches Oil paper 

to the table and dividing them 

up into four painting surfaces.

"the birds" seen at the top of this post was one of those.

If you are calculating it, yes - that meant we had 20 small paintings

by the end of the week!

It was a way to learn about the medium

and to warm up for the day.

Beginning layers of paint drying (in the shade) outside the workshop venue.

My workstation and two wip paintings.
I think that small one at the bottom turned into Rainforest! (the painting at the top of my last post)

The Pacific NW Art School space.

Of the many techniques we learned, 

one of the most valuable for

me was learning how (and why) to layer.

I guess everyone has the tendency to stop or "save" a pretty area of their painting.

 We learned that you will never see how magical it can be if you don't keep going, 

- keep layering -

even if you do have a cool texture or shape or color or even line!

keep putting paint down! and then taking it off again!

One of Jerry's sayings that sticks for me is:

"It's just passing scenery" 

... it may be gorgeous but you are just motoring along, 

taking note and passing it by. 

True, it takes a bit of bravado, but if you think of that quote, it helps.

-ok-

So ... how much oil paint and how much wax? 

You can find the answer to this 

(and much much more) 

in the Cold Wax Medium book,

but I can tell you that the wax:paint ratio ranges 

from 30:70 all the way to 50:50 ... and actually

it simply is a matter of choice! Experiment!

Some of the techniques for applying 

oil and cold wax medium are -

Use:

1 - a brayer

2 - a brush (not that easy, I found)

3 - a painting knife

4 - a squeegee

5 - your hands!

Another thing to be thinking about as you consider your blank slate:

Why are you desiring to use this wax and oil mixture?

What is your Intention?

(To be honest, for me, this question should be answered 

before ANY painting, of any kind, has begun.)

The last thing I will say for now is

that you should give it a try. 

Trying new things is good for your creative brain. 

Most of all,

have fun.

I did walk around a bit in Coupeville before and after each day,

 and noticed the mussel beds out in Penn Cove (they were delicious btw),

the beautiful Pacific Madrona trees, and

during the week, the smoke from the forest fires got pretty thick. 

Note the sun in the last photo.

As I finish the paintings I started here in this great workshop, 

and make new ones, of course ...

I will post and try to talk about them.

Thank you so much for checking in!

Happy Painting! ... and let me know if you try CWM

and what you think.