OILS

I love the whipped-cream effect of sliding oils around the canvas and the exquisite colors that are available in oil paints. For plein aire panting I truly enjoy using traditional oil paints and have a rolling cart ready to go into the woods or meadows. That is, if I an get my vehicle fairly close to the site chosen. (If backpacking is required, I prefer using acrylics due to the lengthier drying time and special carrier needed for canvas with oil paint.) Because it is very difficult for me to breathe in a closed studio while using oils, I use those requiring turpentine out doors only.

For indoors in the studio I prefer to use water-based oils which have a rich and varied selection of juicy colors for painting on canvas. The drying time is quicker and this allows me to work on more work within a shorter period of time. Also, these aqua oils have spoiled me for cleaning-up duty since water does the trick along with a little detergent to clean the brushes.

A hint for use of the unused bar soap you are given in the motels. Take it home, you artists, put it in a screw-top container and use it to clean your brushes by rinsing off as much paint as possibile and then brushing your brush across the bar soap and gently lather under running water to clean your brushes. It is a well known counsel that if you take care of your brushes they will take care of you.