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MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT I USE FOR OIL PAINTING

Updated: Oct 25

When I started painting in oils I was almost overwhelmed by the amount of "ingredients" and phases I seemed to have to consider, in fact, for a moment I thought not to start with it at all.


Everything looked very complex, expensive and unknown to me, but then I started to get informed by reading books and blog articles as well as by speaking to other oil painters. They all helped me to overcome the initial scare.


As I generally like simplicity and effectiveness in painting, I managed to get a clearer idea of what and why I need to do with oil paint as well as to understand and decide what worked better for me.


In this article I will provide you a list of material and equipment I currently use when I paint in oils, so if you are a curious art collector your wish to know more can be satisfied.


If, instead, you are a fellow artist, then, I hope this article will be informative and useful. Let me know!





SUPPORTS/SURFACES


MDF panel
MDF panel

There are many different supports available on the market but my favourite ones are the 2.5 mm or 3 mm MDF panels and they are what I mostly use for my plein-air painting.


I love their robust consistency and smoothness, which make the painting process very natural, flowing and easier for plein-air.





When I want to go bigger, instead, I tend to use cotton canvas art boards or stretched cotton canvas suitable for oil painting, because they are lighter than MDF panels.







PRIMER


While MDF panels need to be prepared to welcome oil paint on them, canvas boards and stretched canvas can be bought already primed and ready to be used. Nonetheless, now and then, according to the quality of the surface or the aim I want to achieve, I prime them again to create a better ground to paint on.


Getting the foundation layers of the painting properly prepared is the first and foremost step to do in order to facilitate the painting process itself as well as to create an artwork that will last in time.


My favourite primers are:


  • acrylic gesso primer

  • non absorbent acrylic by Michael Harding in titanium buff colour


They are both excellent and I use them regularly.







PAINT


I have been lucky enough to inherit many good quality oil paint tubes from a friend who stopped using oils, and so I have been able to establish my favourite brands:


  • Winsor & Newton, both Winton and Artist range

  • Michael Harding


Some of my oil paint tubes
Some of my oil paint tubes

They are very similar in consistency so I can use both brands in the same painting.


I do not have a rigid palette colour, so I choose colours according to the subject in front of me, even though there are basics colours I cannot stay without (Titanium white for instance).





BRUSHES


BRUSHES FOR PAINTING

My favourite painting brushes are by Rosemary & Co. a British company that provide great quality and long lasting handmade brushes.


At the moment I only have four brushes of this brand, because I wanted to test them first. After having used them for some months, now I can definitely say they have a very excellent quality that lasts over time.


Despite having a very small number of them, I can completely paint small/medium plein-air paintings by using these brushes only.


They all belong to the Ivory family, because they are 100% synthetic, vegan friendly.


They are:



(in the photo below)


I am certainly going to increase my collection but these are those I use at the moment.



A part from the above ones, I also have two other old painting brushes that I sometimes use. They are both synthetic, by Daler-Rowney and, despite being advertised for acrylic paint, I use them with oil:


  • a Flat Wash 3/4"

  • a Round 4


(in the photo below)


BRUSHES FOR PRIMING AND VARNISHING

For priming I use a synthetic flat 50 mm Da Vinci Duroplus Synthetic Bristle Mottler Brush, while for varnishing I use a synthetic flat 50 mm Da Vinci 5076 Plain wood Handle Mottler.


The first has got hard bristles while the second has very soft ones.


(in the photo below)


paint brushes
From top to bottom all the above mentioned paint brushes


Finally, I keep all my brushes in a bamboo brush roll, so that they can be stored and protected in a natural case that allow them to breathe.


paint brushes
My bamboo brush roll




ADDITIVES


Here we are with the "magical" ingredients I learnt to understand and appreciate.


Those that I use are all non-toxic, because when possible material that is environmentally friendly is always my first choice, and then because toxic and smelly chemical products are dangerous for your health too.


So, I use two things:


  • Green for oil brush cleaner by Sennelier (perfect for a quick brush cleaning when I am painting, otherwise I use washing up liquid soap and cold water for a thorough wash at the end of every painting session) kept in a glass jar that works like a brush washer (I tried two stainless steel jars but they both broke after few uses, so I opted for an economical jam jar with a removable strainer cup inside)

  • Green for oil thinner by Sennelier







VARNISH


In order to protect oil paintings from pollution and damage, I use a temporary varnish, that can be applied when the painting is touch-dry.


Those I use are:


  • C. Roberson & Co. Exhibition Varnish

  • Lefranc & Bourgeois Spray Retouching Varnish







EASEL


Field easel
Field easel

There are endless varieties of easels, pochade and painting boxes on the market and they are all such a financial investment for me now that a wrong choice would be regrettable.


For these reasons, I am using my Mabef Hammeley field easel, bought some years ago in a DIY shop in Italy at a reasonable price.


It can be folded and carried anywhere. Obviously it is heavier and bigger than a small painting box and maybe I couldn't take it on the plane with me, but it works for me now.







PALETTE


Wooden artist palettes
Wooden artist palettes


I have two wooden artist palettes that were not prepared with oil at the beginning but they have worked fine all this time. I am going to use them as long as they last, knowing now my next new ones will be treated correctly.







WET PANEL CARRIER


As I use panels of different sizes and thickness, I have not bought a carrier yet.


My aim is to build my carriers by following some instructions shared by other artists online, but at the moment I use the old matchsticks and tape method.


So, I always carry with me little matchsticks and tape, which are adaptable and economical.


Craft tape and matchsticks
Craft tape and matchsticks




BACKPACK


I am using my old high school backpack, where I can carry all the material I need. It has two main compartments, two big pockets and a lateral long one and I can extend the space by unzipping the two lateral sides.






APRON


Me wearing my apron
Me with my apron on



Painting in oil is a bit messy for me, so I always wear my apron over clothes that are not too precious.









... AND MORE


As a plein air painter I am outdoors most of the time when I paint, so the weather condition and the Season are an important guide in order to choose suitable outfits, as painting ought to be an experience as comfortable as possible.


Sunny hat, wooly hat, gloves, layered clothing, comfortable shoes, rain jacket, an umbrella are all important things I like to have with me.


Other useful items are: a hand cream (to be able to easily clean my hands after painting); wet wipes (to clean my hands); a few plastic bags (e.g. to carry back home the rubbish); a thermos with coffee or a bottle of water; a snack; a charged mobile phone for videos and photos.



These is more or less everything I can think of but I am sure there is always something more I take with me.



 

I hope you have found this post interesting or even useful.

If you have any question or you want to leave a feedback, please do it in the comment below.


Valentina.




 





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