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Jan, please be sure to clean out safflower oil completely before using brush again.

Hello Pam!

It is a great idea! In our videos, we often discuss that some pigments are not in the best behavior, whereas some are ground beautifully. We will schedule this session.

This message was posted not by artist, but by the friend of one who bought this piece. At this time we can only guess.

I think, artist did not just use “bad” oil paint, but probably the ground underneath was wrong for that kind of application. Many artists jump into gilding, thinking that is not difficult to master.

What is your guess?

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…

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Member wrote: HI I would like information about fumes from oil paint, I am not concerned about solvents, rather just the paint. I have heard Gamblin makes the “safest”. I know cad’s and cobalt are toxic but do they produce fumes on the pallet? I have heard Gamblin makes a titanium white that is not toxic on the pallet, no fumes, (…

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Member asked:

Hi! I would like information about fumes from oil paint, I am not concerned about solvents, rather just the paint. I have heard Gamblin makes the “safest”. I know cad’s and cobalt are toxic but do they produce fumes on the pallet? I have heard Gamblin makes a titanium white that is not toxic on the pallet, no fumes, (…

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Member wrote:

Feeling a little uneasy about using this linseed oil that I ordered. Is it normal for it to be so yellow?

Answer by George:

I wish artists would understand that oil paint is a yellowing medium. There is no such thing as a non-yellowing oil paint or medium. Some oils are less yellow (lighter colored) and may yellow less but they…

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Member wrote:

Regarding NP Traditional ground and copper’s tarnishing/ reaction. I have deliberately stayed away from copper after discovering drawings loosing 50 to 60 percent of their value on another commercially available acrylic ground. I am not the only one who has experienced this either. Is there any reason to suspect this may happen with…

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Member wrote:

Hi George,

Natural Pigments, Rublev Traditional Silverpoint Ground is my favorite commerical metalpoint ground. I understand the chalk and silica content (good fillers, high Mohs hardness) and titanium (opacity, hardness) – but what about talc? I’ve added a small percentage of talc to other metalpoint grounds (synthetic…

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Member wrote:

Ceracolors encaustic question. Once again I am enjoying using these for small scale paintings. They handle well on a variety of heavy weight water media papers and even mineral paper. These can later be adhered to a panel.

Questions:

1) Can a cold wax medium/varnish be used to seal the painting? No need of glass on top?… Read more

Member wrote:

Casein & oil paint-When painting on a mixed media/watercolor hot or cold-pressed acid free paper with casein paint, I have adhered the ones I like onto ACM panels. I use NP mounting adhesive (lovely adhesive). On occasion, I like to develop the painting further with oil glazes on top. I have sprayed the casein layer 2x with…

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Based upon the numerous and varied questions in this group about how to care for brushes, I have outlined our instruction on brush care to attendees of the Painting Best Practices workshop:

• Restrict each brush to a single medium.

• When scrubbing or brushing on a rough surface, use an inexpensive brush.

• Rest brushes on the ferrule, not on the…

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Member wrote:

There have been some aside comments in a couple of threads in this group and others about the need to let acrylic dispersion ground (aka acrylic “gesso”) or acrylic paint dry/cure for some amount of time before painting with oil over the top so that there is no moisture left in the the acrylic layer that might compromise the long…

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Member wrote:

Does freezing temperature damage acrylic paint in a tub? I ordered 8 tubs of acrylic paint. FEDEx is delivering the box today. I live in Tennessee and the temperatures are way below freezing, 21F the high 5F the low. I have to leave the house today and in that case FEDEX will drop the box at the front door in freezing…

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Member wrote:

Hello everyone,

Im mixing my own colors and glazing with them. I am currently glazing with a yellow PY74 to be more specific. On the canvas I’m noticing that the glazes are separating a bit. [it’s strange in some areas when I apply the paint it seems to almost move or open up allowing the underpainting to come through. My canvas…

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Member wrote:

Do you think signing on the back of the canvas – raw linen – with acrylic markers is safe? According to my logic this dries immediately and cannot penetrate into the face of a painting. Am I wrong? Another option is with dry crayons, but I would prefer more permanent way.

Member wrote:

I have a gilding-with-painting question, not just paint – but it is on a painting so I’m hoping it is ok to post it here. I have a somewhat complex question about double gilding. I’m working on my first portraits with gold leaf. The substrate is Raphael zinc-free oil primed linen attached to aluminum panel using Natural Pigments…

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Member wrote:

This is why groups like this are so important. Was visiting a friend, and showed me this painting that he bought only a few years ago. It’s cracked and badly damaged beyond repair. The Paint is about to flake off, and it has silver leaf on it. The artist has now promised to repaint it and replace it. What a drag. He only did…

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Member wrote:

If you have a prefabricated primed linen or canvas panel on MDF, and cut it in half, what (if anything) do you use to seal the cut edge(s)?

Maybe superglue or gorilla glue?

(Obviously, normally, the canvas or linen wraps around the sides to the back). So on the cut edge (side[s]), is there any technique for sealing it so the…

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