Questions
Do you do commissions?
I am currently not taking any commissions.
Are your paintings framed?
Most of my oil on canvas paintings are unframed - they have extra thick sides with painted edges and can be hung as they are on the wall. Some I do have framed, especially the oil on panel paintings, and I like to have them framed in a natural timber floating frame.
What paints do you use?
I mostly paint with Art Spectrum Artists' Oil Colours which are made in Australia - I think their colours are stunning! I also have a couple of favourite Michael Harding colours - Quinacridone Rose and Cobalt Blue are especially yummy. Langridge Brilliant Green is also becoming a fave.
What brushes do you prefer?
My favourite brush is a short flat bristle brush that I buy directly from Rosemary and Co Brush company in the UK. I’ve been trialling the Ultimate bristle range and I am hooked. I’m also using a small size 1 filbert for details.
Recently I have been trialling the Ivory synthetic range of brushes by Rosemary and Co. I think they are excellent, playing a different role from the hog hair brushes, but are now an important part of my tool box.
What colour do you use for your underpainting?
Underpainting has lots of purposes; first, it helps me to establish the composition and make sure it works tonally, second, the underlying colour tends to glow through all the subsequent layers of paint, third, the colour peeks out in spots all over the canvas where the other paint colours don't cover it, giving uniformity to the work. I started out using red, just because I like red. Now, I work with other colours.
For my landscapes, I am experimenting with other underpainting colours that suit my compositions better. Langridge Transparent Red Oxide works really well for my paintings of the Australian Outback and glows beautifully through the covering layers of colour.
More recently I have been using Burnt Sienna (and playing with Burnt Umber) for the underpainting in my still life paintings. I enjoy the earthiness and warmth the colour brings to my compositions.
What is oiling out and why do you do it?
I started oiling out after having a problem with patchiness in the final painting - some areas were too shiny and some were too matt. The oil from the paint had been absorbed into the canvas in some areas but not others.
To even this out, wait for your painting to dry and then liberally apply medium over the surface to be absorbed where needed, and then wipe the excess off with a lint free cloth. I use a 50:50 mix of Gamblin Gamsol to Galkyd medium as suggested by their website.
I have some videos that demonstrate my method in my Instagram Story Highlights but the best place to go for information on this is the Gamblin Artists Colours website. They do a wonderful video which you can see here.
What varnish do you use?
I use Gamblin Gamvar. I make my own mix of the Gamvar Gloss and Satin to suit the gloss result I am looking for.
Are you teaching any art classes now?
Not at this time, no. But thank you for asking.