Oil Pastels
Each 4” x 6” or 5” x 7” oil pastel is created on museum archival quality, 100% rag Stonehenge paper. A protective coating of Golden 50/50 clear acrylic gloss varnish and acrylic matte varnish is applied as a protective gesso before any oil pastel is applied. Larger oil pastels are created on French-manufactured Arches museum archival quality, 100% rag, hot press paper. The same protective gesso coating mentioned above is used. Only Sennelier high quality oil pastels from France are used.
Oil Paintings
For many years I stretched my own canvases, but today’s premium commercially manufactured canvases are so good, I decided to retire my staple gun and gesso bucket. For me, the ease and convenience outweigh the hand-crafted aspect. I use Blick Premier Professional Canvases – they feature heavy-weight, premium quality 10-oz canvas that’s super strong and able to take heavy paint application; a base coat of acid-free, ph-balanced, titanium white gesso; and kiln-dried, warp-resistant, solid wood stretcher bars. I’ve heard that more and more artists are moving in this direction.
