How to Make Oil Pastels

“How To Make Oil Pastels” by Kenneth Leslie -exerpt from Oil Pastel: Materials and Technique for Today’s Artist What You Will Need: Pigment Turpentine Stand Oil Blended White Beeswax A large can that fits in an old pot, to serve as a double boiler Large palette knife Soft clay or homemade modeling dough (see recipe below) Plate glass or plexiglass on which to grind pigments Rubber gloves to protect hands from hot drips ——————- (Recipe for modeling dough) 1 1/2 cups flour 3/4 cup salt 1 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 tablespoons cream of tartar 3 tablespoons vegetable oil Mix Read more

Rabbit Skin Glue

Glue Size Rabbit skin glue granules Water Double boiler (or similar) Soak the granules in cold water for at least 2 hours. A guideline for proportions would be: Canvas sizing             1 : 30  (granules : water) Chalk ground              1 : 15 Half chalk ground Heat the soaked solution in the top chamber of the double boiler until the size has melted (no granules are visible). Take care not to overheat and cook the solution, the lower part of the boiler should only brought to a simmer. Apply to the support, hot for hardboard, plywood and MDF; blood temperature for canvas, Read more

Gesso ground for panels

Gesso ground for panels   Whiting Glue size (1: 15 water*) Prepare a small quantity of size by soaking the glue granules in water until swollen. Warm the glue in a double boiler or a Pyrex glass basin, until melted. Remove from the heat source. Add a small amount of whiting to the size and stir gently with a brush. Test the mixture by painting onto a piece of waste wood; it should coat it with a milky film. Allow to dry for 12 hours.   Prepare a fresh batch of size (but this time with larger quantities) and melt Read more