• Oil Paint

  Painting with oils over digital painting

  Posted by Tatiana on February 25, 2024 at 1:16 pm

  Member asked:
  Painting with oils over say, a digital painting you did and have had printed on canvas to the point you cover the surface with paint (I know there are lightfast issues with ink) A no-no, I’m guessing, because of delamination and such?
  Answer by George:
  That is a good question. There is no good answer at this time if it relates to adhesion and other issues besides lightfast, which is already well known. I have been asked by the workshop of a prominent artist to study the effects of oil paint over dye sublimation printing on canvas and other supports. I am awaiting the samples to perform sunlight exposure tests in our outdoor lightfastness testing rack. This should also give us data about your question.

  Member asked:

  Would the question of adhesion come down to how stable the ink-receptive surface is over time?

  I work as a digital printmaker in my 9-5, and work with artists who have their sketches printed onto (matte) canvas in an effort toward efficiency.

  One artist seals the surface with a topcoat of acrylic matte medium, but we honestly don’t know the long term implications. Consequently, would then proceeding specifically with alkyds and oils on top of said acrylic ground, really be wading into the unknown?

  I know, a lot of this is not exactly best practices, but I can only lead the horse…

  Is there any advice for better steps toward “painting mostly-alright practices?” Would a clear acrylic gesso be better than matte medium? Are there any clear-ish oil grounds? Or do we really just-don’t-know? And we all proceed at our own risk?

  Answer by George:

  Several factors are involved, such as the physical and chemical properties of the inks, the amount of ink coverage of the primed substrate, and the type of priming, if any. All of these factors need to be studied to determine how oil and acrylic paint will perform on this material.

  Two years ago, I received a call from Mark Golden of Golden Artist Colors, who explained to me that they had uncovered a major issue with oil paint and alkyd paints over acrylic mediums. They learned that oil and alkyd paints tended to crack when applied over certain types of acrylic mediums. They performed extensive testing and published this recommendation:

  Avoid glossy acrylic products in any preparatory layer of an oil painting. This includes products that we have recommended for sizing or preparing surfaces in the past, such as GAC 100, GAC 200, or GOLDEN Gloss Medium.

  They tested other brands of acrylic mediums and found the same issue, so it does not only apply to their products but all brands.

  So, if they are painting over acrylic matte medium then at least they can expect good adhesion and little to no cracking. An article in Just Paint from Golden Artists Colors explains this in much more detail, and provides key information on the problem and solution.

  Tatiana replied 2 months ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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