Still life of a camera

This is painted from life, done in class. Textured, incomplete palette knife strokes over a burnt sienna underpainting.

This piece marks several transitions; it is the first to wear my “mark” (really Still life of a corner is but I put this one on first), it is also, for now, my last work using linseed oil, OMS, Liquin, etc. Coming works are to be done solvent-free, in walnut oil and M Graham paints.

There’s a lot of debate over the best oil to use when painting and as with most highly debated topics, there seems to be a lot of bullshit out there. Allow me to contribute mine:

Walnut oil has been shown to yellow less over time than linseed oil. Some argue that the paint film created by walnut oil is “not as strong” as linseed oil. Based on my limited painting experience and extensive life experience, I believe most if not all cases of non-adhesion are due to improper handling of the medium itself. Mediums will all act differently, the challenge is to learn them. I have yet to see proof that the walnut oil film is inherently weaker than such produced by linseed. Similarly people cite Da Vinci’s works falling apart as evidence of this, yet he painted experimentally, often on untreated, incompatible surfaces like paper and plaster. I also prefer the longer drying time (the student paints I was using took forever to dry anyway), and I am really enjoying the colors and look of the walnut oil paints. And there was very little change to my process to go solvent-free, it just simplified things drastically.

I’ll keep track of the integrity of these paintings down the line and try to learn more. Maybe I have to do my own color test.