Cold Wax Part II Tools and Applications
Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.~Frank Borman
This is part two of my Cold Wax post covering tools and applications. Please read part one before continuing if you haven't done so. We've talked about the supports and types of wax in my previous post. Essentially, it is best to use a harder support if you want to use thicker layers of wax. Below are the lists of tools and mediums used with CWM.
Tools for applying the wax: Brayers (2",4" & 6" Speedball and Inovart ), brushes (all sizes, all types), Princeton Catalyst Blades, pallet knives, Princeton Catalyst Silicone Wedge, Dough Scraper by Wilton
Tools for drawing: Charcoal, Graphite stick (preferably soft), oil sticks, oil bars, bamboo skewer, stencils, doily, Q-tips, oil pastels, beeswax crayons, knitting needles, pottery scraper, pottery carving tool, oil pen, stamps, the above Princeton Catalyst Blades and Wedges can also be used for marking.
Tools for creating texture: Rubber basting brush, steel wool, yarn or string, plastic combs, pattern tracers, plastic wrap, bubble wrap, whisk broom, muslin, florist mesh, cheese cloth
Mediums: Following to thicken CW-Marble dust, lime, coffee, dirt, graphite powder, Gilder paste, sand; Citra Solve and Gamsol to remove layers of wax, Gamblin Solvent free Gel, Solvent free fluid and Liquin to thin mixture or glaze.
Application: Prior to putting down the first layer of CWM, prime your support with a solid color of oil paint of your choice. Let the it dry throughly before laying down layers of CWM. Take a large sheet of Reynolds Freezer Paper, tape it to a flat surface. This will be your pallet. Lay out your pallet of oil paint, take a dollop of oil paint and mix with pallet knife 30 to 50% of CWM. Then take your brayer and roll into mixture on Freezer Paper. Roll the mixture on primed support. Take another color and do the same, etc. You can lay wet into wet if you have a light touch. You can dry in between layers.
It is advised that you work on more than one painting at a time to allow for drying time. You will have different drying times for different colors of oil paint.
You can then build up by layering with larger amounts by applying it with pallet knife, squeegee, wedge etc. As the wax dries, you can start to scrape, revealing the layers below, or you can use any of your drawing tools. Drawing is much easier if the layers are somewhat dry. It is easier to mark when it is tacky and not completely dry.
There isn't one way to use CWM. I noticed through my research that each artist creates their own style. Some artist may create abstracts, while other may create landscapes, still life or figures. Some artists may prefer the squeegee, wedge, scraper or pallet knife to apply the cold wax and oil paint mixture rather than the roller or a combination of both.
Experiment and have fun, discover your own way with CWM.
Below are a couple of videos using Cold Wax Medium.
https://youtu.be/mc0NvgyLm_E
https://youtu.be/M4nwjauyMZc
EXPLORING COLDWAX MEDIUM Part 1
The true method of knowledge is experiment. (William Blake)
Lately, I had the opportunity to take a Cold Wax Medium workshop with Melinda Cootsona. It was a perfect compliment to my previous workshop I took with Martin Campos. CWM has changed my perceived way of creating by lending a process in which artistic play and experimentation occurs. Cold wax effects are created by using many layers thick and thin, transparent and opaque, using brayers, squeegees, pallet knives, etc. Through scraping and scratching you are able to discover the underlying layers of colors and affects. Adding to and taking away creates an intuitive process that allows the artist and art to reveal itself. Reduction becomes as important as adding to. What is underneath becomes as important as what is on the surface. Isn't that true about our lives as well?
Currently, I'm aware of three brands of Cold Wax Medium; Gamblin, Dorland and Evans. Evans also makes a Cold Wax Paint. Gamblin's CWM is simply a pharmaceutical grade beeswax, Gamsol and a small amount of alkyd resin. As the Gamsol evaporates out of the medium the soft wax harden, similar to the consistency of wax of a candle. The difference between CWM and encaustic is that CWM can be malleable without heat; the Gamsol is the heat substitute. There is a special medium for encaustic. CWM should not be heated. And it is wise to not mix the different brands of CWM, since the brands have different ingredients. The advantage to using Gamblin brand is that the mediums that they provide are compatible with the wax.
Cold Wax Medium can be mixed directly with oil paint; usually a mixture of 30% to 50% wax. When using CWM in higher percentages on stretched canvas it is best to first add to the wax 25-50% Galkyd Gel, Solvent-Free Gel, or for a more fluid mixture, Galkyd. These mediums aid in giving flexibility to the CWM. The more medium added to the wax the faster the layer will dry and the more wax added the more translucent the layer. When using on rigid supports you can use a higher amount of CWM. Although the rigid supports help, the more wax used the softer more dissolvable the paint layer. Using some medium helps strengthen the wax. If you prefer a gloss finish you can add Neo Meglip and Galkyd G-Gel by Gamblin to the CWM. For texture marble dust, sand, coffee, graphite powder, powdered lime, coffee ground, powdered pigment, and even dirt can be added to mixture. I'm sure there are other grounds you can explore.
CWM allows you to have a variety of layers. No longer is it necessary to have lean first you can mix the thickness of layers using different ratios of wax to paint and grounds.
A variety of supports can be used with CWM, although the more flexibility the support the more fragile the painting will be. It is recommended to use thinner layers of wax on canvas and paper. The various supports are Arches Oil Paper (doesn't have to be gessoed) and comes in two sizes, other types of paper may be used but it must be gessoed, Gessoed Canvas, Gessoed Boards, canvas boards and cradled boards. When using Arches Oil Paper it should be mounted on board and it should be framed under glass. Priming your support first with a solid color of oil paint is advantageous to prevent seeing white of support when scraping. Also, it may be better to be working on more than one support to account for drying time.
CWM is not necessarily new, but the ways in which it is being used are. Thus there are new avenues to explore and discover. Nothing is written in stone yet.
Because there is so much information I decided to have a two-part post on Cold Wax Medium. Next week's post will be about techniques and tools.
Below are some links in the mean time I think you will find helpful.
Rebecca Crowell will be publishing a book on CWM "Cold Wax Medium: Technique, Concepts & Conversations" that will be out late 2016, but sorry to say the first edition has already been presold. She did mention that there would be an additional release in 2017.
In the meantime, I found "Wabi Sabi Painting with Cold Wax, Adding Body, Texture and Transparency to your Art" very helpful, especially in techniques.
Oil and Wax Resources for Cold Wax Painting
Step by Step CW Painting by Sherril Kahn
If you have any questions please add them to comments below. I will then answer them in the next post. Thank you!
Martin Campos "Untying the Knots"
Some people can cross your path and change your whole direction~Anonymous
I had the great opportunity to recently attend a workshop by Martin Campos, PAFA (Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts) instructor, artist and philosopher offered by Melinda Cootsona. My intention prior to going to the workshop was not to learn how to paint the figure, which Martin excels in but to learn how to paint outside the lines. He did not disappoint.
I am finding even at my age the desire to learn is powerful and perhaps to unlearn is just as important; "untying the knots that have been tied".
![FullSizeRender[1]](https://janetvanderhoof.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/FullSizeRender1.jpg)
Martin Campos was influenced by his teacher Alex Kanevsky, who gives us permission to destroy and resurrect. The destruction becomes the jewels through transformation; bits and pieces left as signs of their existence.
Martin beckons us to "dialogue with painting, by eradicating and bringing it back. You have to be willing to let something fall apart to discover what is there."
![FullSizeRender[2]](https://janetvanderhoof.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/FullSizeRender2.jpg)
Martin goes to the canvas not knowing what is going to happen. This can be a fearful place for me. This is totally against my process. Although, I allow the painting to tell me what it needs, in the beginning I usually tend to know where I am going or where I prefer to go. Now after taking this workshop, I feel lost, but also exhilarated to discover a side of my creativity untouched. Instead of controlling the paint, I will allow it to control me.
Anytime I experience a teacher of this magnitude with such revolutionary thoughts, it causes me to sit and ponder, to wonder where my art will be taking me now. But, I guess that's the point; "I DON'T KNOW". What a fearful and exciting place to be!
[youtube]https://youtu.be/SmckW8iDZTY[/youtube]
Remembering Ken Auster
"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."~ Joseph Campbell
We have teachers that we know in person, we have teachers that are from the past and we have teachers from the present that have formed us without direct physicality. I have been fortunate to have many great teachers. Still, what about those teachers, which have impacted our art without us realizing it? I believe artist Ken Auster has been one of those teachers for me.
My first experience of Ken Auster's paintings was in Carmel, California in the mid 90's. I knew right from the beginning that he was special. I was immediately attracted to his subject matter, his use of neutrals and ability to sculpt with paint. His work was fresh, original, full of life and dynamic.
I never meant to be like him or paint like him, but found myself subconsciously being influenced by him, especially in his subject matter. I love painting cityscapes and interiors. Though, I haven't painted with the impasto he is known for, I am pushing myself towards that direction.
My painting above, "In Memory of Ken Auster" just happened. I found myself at the kitchen table one morning noticing the white tulips, Ken Auster's painting, "I Think They Heard What You Said" (title alone expresses Ken's great sense of humor) and the sun's reflection inspiring me to bring this painting to life. Two things out of the norm proceeded to happen; the painting is primarily neutrals and it is a still life, both of which I rarely do. It seemed appropriate to use his beloved neutrals, the opportunity to have his painting remembered in the background and perhaps a reflection of my deep respect for him.
His passing was way too soon.
Ken Auster will be remembered always as one of the greatest American Contemporary painters. I am fortunate to have met him and have his art in my home.
They are having a Celebration of Life Memorial for Ken Auster today, donations in lieu of flowers are requested for Ken Auster's Membership Fund for the Orange County School of the Arts; Visual Arts Conservatory.
If you would like to purchase this painting please contact me at jvander51@msn.com or call (408)460-7237 Thank you!
Where can you find my art?
Goals is the first step in turning the invisible to visible~Tony Robbins
If you would like to see originals of my artwork, I have many pieces currently showing at Fast Frame, 17505 Monterey Rd. Please drop in and either talk to Leah or Rachel. I also have artwork at my studio in Morgan Hill. I welcome you to come to my studio see what I am currently working on, as well as view the gallery of art throughout my home. In my studio, I am usually working on one or two new pieces at a time. I also love to do commissions. When creating a commission, I usually prefer to go to your home and get an idea of the space in which the art will be showing. You may contact me through the contact on my website or you are welcome to call me at (408)460-7237 or email jvander51@gmail.com to set up an appointment.
I also have other alternatives to purchasing my original art. Fine Art America online does a wonderful job of printing my artwork. I have used their services myself to guarantee quality, and have been very pleased. Ordering and shipping is quick and easy. Also, the selection of images are some of my finest paintings, which most of the originals have been sold.
In addition, I am proud to be showing my prints on the website Art That Fits, a Larson-Juhl Co. a division of a Berkshire Hathaway Company; known for their high quality and service. There are currently 40 images of my work to choose from.
My limited additions are being sold by my publisher Grand Image for Healthcare, Corporate and Residential.
I post my art on social media sites Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. I would love that you could follow me.
Hopefully, this will make it easier for you to locate my art and also contact me. If you have any questions, please message me through the contact form above.
Thank you for your patronage.
PS This is a page you may want to print for safekeeping.