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agapetos β Still Life with Clock, Book, and Keys
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#book #clock #keys #imprimatura #monochrome #oilpainting #sepia #stilllife #traditionalart
Published: 2018-03-19 13:44:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 980; Favourites: 34; Downloads: 0
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Description
Talens Cobra oil on gessoed paper, 30 x 22 cm.It's a burnt umber "pick-out" technique. No white paint used.
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Comments: 17
how do you thin the paint so much here Aljoas?
With water or with the Cobra medium?
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No medium, just plain water (or turp if trad. oil). Actually, this is the most basic traditional oil painting technique (very similar to tonal charcoal drawing). It's imprimatura +
grisaille. 1) you tone the surface (in this case with burnt umber) to value 5/10, and 2) you pull out light tones with a moist paper towel, cotton earbuds, brush etc., and build dark tones layer by layer.
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Thank you Aljosa!
I know about imprimatura and grisaille (actually this one you did is called brunaille because of the umber tones instead of the greys).
However I was mainly wondering if you used water or medium to thin the Cobra paint.
The strange thing is that I found controversal information about the use of water with the Cobras.
I heard from different sides that the use of water with the Cobras only is recommended to clean up but not to thin the paint because this would make the paint dull...??
So I am irritated and thought it would be a good thing to ask Royal Talens directly...
I'll let you know about their answer!
The good news is that your painting which is done with water thinned paint turned out really nice
well done Aljosa!
cheers
// Dominik
...
Hi again... I checked with Royal Talens in the meantime... and yeah cool... it is fine to thin the paint with water for painting and not only for cleanup... but you have to be very careful to not thin it too much because otherwise the pigment/oil ratio gets unstable...
Royal Talens writes the following concerning this issue:
"Add water to a little bit of paint to create a very thin and transparent paint with a water colour effect. If, however, a great deal of water is added, then the greatly thinned oil offers insufficient protection for the pigments. This is not a problem for a first drawing which is later painted over with a thicker paint or paint thinned with a medium. If only greatly thinned paint is used for a painting, then it is recommended to add at least 20% Cobra Painting medium to the water."
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Wow, you really researched it thoroughly. 
My approach towards art is that I'm not very strict follower of "the right way" to paint. I'm much more interested in a certain effect of the paint I want to achieve, even it it's not 100% archival. Some sources also say that zinc white paint tends to crack over time, but I love using it because you get higher saturated colors in light tones.
When I was still familiarizing myself with Cobra paints, I stumbled upon a painter Charlie Hunter . He paints exclusively in this "oil wash" method, and he makes finished gallery pieces. I think he is even sponsored by Royal Talens - Cobra.
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very interesting aspect about zinc white... was not aware of that!
Well... Charlie Hunters paintings are strong.... fantastic light he is able to capture.
However... I had an idea Aljosa... the method you used is so beautiful... I think what you can do to still get those paintings enough stable from an archival point of view (also if you sell some of them... who knows)...
You can probable bind the somewhat loose pigments with a meaningful varnish.
The varnishfilm also protects the oilpaints form a too long oxidation which just makes them hard and brittle.
Maybe you can sent Royal Talens an email to ask for varnish recommendations.
ps: Got my M Graham walnut oil paints yesterday... but sh.t... I have too much other work to do... so I can't try them out at the moment :-/
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Hi Dominik, sorry for belated reply...
I think I'll do what you suggested: a coat of varnish on top. The painting has had sufficient time to dry anyway.
Can't wait to see how your experiments with Graham oil paint turn out.
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This looks Amazing! I love how you did the pages of the book.Β
I really love the colour scheme, it makes the Painting look old, but in a good way (like antique i guess).Β That is what first caught my eye anyway.
The clock looks really realistic by the way, especially the part with the Numbers. <3
Anyway good work, i really love this.
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Emelie, thank you for your kind words! Yeah, I also like monochrome art. It reminds me of old sepia photographs. In oil painting this is usually only the first layer ("imprimatura") done in earth colors, but it can be finished art as well.
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Thank you for you rather professionell answer. Now that i googled what 'monochrome Art' is I kinda like it too xDΒ
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