Solvent-free oil painting

the medium is the message

The day before yesterday I started to feel less tentative in my oil-painting endeavour. I found a brush that I like (a tiny round one and I’m really trying not to ruin it) and a way to make marks with it. I realized I should just return home in terms of how to put a painting together — basically following the steps for how I put drawings together, but with oil paint instead.

for this painting-in-progress I’m using Gamblin’s solvent-free mediums

With oil paint paint in mind, for this month’s Art Space I’ve drafted a little overview of my experiences using solvent-free oil painting mediums. I use this method because I paint inside my home, and I’m hoping to avoid affecting the air quality with evaporating distillates (paint thinners, turpentines, etc.) If you have used solvents, glazes and varnishes in the past, it is an adjustment — but I think it’s worth it if you want to work in your home and don’t have a dedicated studio space with ventilation, or if you are sensitive to solvent fumes.