How to create oil/cold wax pieces in one day

One of Joanne's completed pieces

Artist Joanne Licardo organized a private class for her and several friends at my studio last weekend.. We had the challenge of a one day class in oil and cold wax painting on Arches Oil paper. I've taught one day classes in this medium before and they are always a fun and interesting challenge.

Oil and cold wax paintings are most often a long process of building up layers, incising and scraping back and building up more layers, etc. However, oil and cold wax dry more quickly on paper than on panel, so that was a plus for us. Students also learned how to use a solvent to make the paint dry faster while still keeping the cold wax effects. We used small amounts of Citra-Solv to help the paint dry more quickly and to add drips and other interesting effects. Some students also experimented with working on flat birch panels and Terra Skin stone paper.

Many pieces were completed at the end of the day and others were well on their way. All the participants were experienced painters, but some were used to faster drying mediums, so that was a challenge for them. Below you can see some of the pieces that evolved over this wonderful day!

The first layers on paper. They were left to set up and students then moved on to new pieces.

We all declared this piece finished "alla prima" or all at once, on the first round of paitning.

More completed pieces: 

This piece and the one below were completed at one go!

This piece was created rapidly on TerraSkin Stone Paper

There were still more pieces that I somehow didn't get photos of. Thank you to all the lovely and energetic students in this group for an exciting and rewarding day!

BTW, if you would like to experience the joys of oil and cold wax on paper, there are still a few spots open in my Portland OR Art and Soul Retreat class, "Expressive Abstraction in Oil, Cold Wax, and Paper."

Wild Workshop in Oil and Cold Wax

Shelly's painting in oil/cold wax/graphite on Arches Oil Paper

Wild women met recently at my studio for "Expressive Abstraction in Oil and Cold Wax." They produced wonderful completed work and work in progress. 

Very early stages left to dry.

All the students were experienced painters but had not used cold wax before. They had to learn to let layers dry and not to overwork the pieces in the early stages, which we all tend to do when we're starting out in this medium.

The trick is to work on a lot of pieces at once to let layers dry and also to become looser.

By the second day, all the artists had loosened up wonderfully and explored a lot of options in color, composition, incising, scraping back, and texturing. Thanks to all of you for a wonderful weekend!

Adding and spreading paint and wax with a palette knife

Using a brayer to spread paint and texture

 A beautiful and dynamic finished piece.

Closeup of above

More of the lovely finished pieces from the class:

Detail from the piece at the top of the post. The piece was inspired by a painting of a young woman carrying another on her back.

Gold transfer leaf makes this piece sing, and the next few as well.

Covering over a piece in progress, then scraping and incising back produces complex simplicity.

Lively works in progress:

A Quick Question and Answer, and On To Oil/CW Part III

Student Work on Arches Oil Paper

The last installment of pieces created by my oil and cold wax class at the recent Art and Soul Retreat at Virginia Beach. First, a quick question I received today from one of my students there, and my answer.

Q. My pieces are pretty dry now. What is the final coat of clear cold wax for? Do I frame with glass?

A. The final clear coat is optional but I do it and so do most cold wax artists because:

1. It seals the surface, protecting the piece from dust and dirt

2. It gives the piece an even sheen all over

3. It looks extra pretty:) 

If you do put on the final layer of clear wax, wait a little longer. I know you've already waited a long time! But wait another couple of weeks or so. Then brush or rub a thin layer of the wax on the piece. Then wait some more while the wax throughly dries. Then buff. This makes a slight sheen, especially on the paper paintings.

If you have a piece on paper and you want the formerly taped white edge to show, just frame without glass. If you want to use glass, put a mat around the border to keep the painting from touching the glass, as oil paint doesn't like glass. If the piece is on board, don't use glass.

And now, the paintings! A long post, but if you are interested in oil/cold wax, you'll be inspired. I know I am!