Materials & Process

I quite often get questions about what specific materials I use to create my oil paintings so I have compiled a list with links to all of the most important things I use below ↓

Surface

I self-stretch my canvases and use Frederix Knickerbocker Canvas paired with Blick Standard Stretcher Bars.  I love this particular canvas because it has a super-fine weave and works well with my style of painting allowing me to get in those fine details with less texture distraction.

Frederix Knickerbocker Canvas

Blick Standard Stretcher Bars

Primer/Gesso

I use a 50/50 mixture of Liquitex White Gesso and Grey Gesso.  I also add a small amount of Sennelier Burnt Umber Dry Pigment to warm up the mixture.  I prefer to paint with this base over painting directly on white canvas as it makes it easier to get my values correct.

Sennelier Burnt Umber Pigment

Sketch

I like to use a white graphite CarbOthello Pencil from Stabilo to get in my sketch.  I then use a natural, non-toxic fixative by SpectraFix to set my sketch.

Stabilo CarbOthello Pencil

SpectraFix Fixative

Oil Paints

My go-to paints for over 20 years have been Winsor & Newton Artists’ Oil Paints. I paint alla-prima; a method of painting in which pigments are laid on in a single application.

Winsor & Newton Artists' Oil Paints

Mediums

I use a small amount of Winsor & Newton Safflower Oil to thin my paints.  I clean my brushes with non-toxic Weber Turpenoid Natural.  I like to make sure all of the materials I utilize are non-toxic.

Winsor & Newton Safflower Oil

Weber Terpenoid Natural

Brushes

The most important brushes that I use are the Winsor & Newton University Round Brushes and Silver Ruby Satin Round Brushes with short handles.  These brushes are great for getting in those tiny details and they have the perfect snap to them. My favorite blending brush is the Princeton Velvetouch 1/4" Mop brush. For all other parts of the painting I use a smattering of random brushes. 

Winsor & Newton University Brushes

Silver Ruby Satin Brushes

Princeton Velvetouch 1/4" Oval Mop Brush

Varnish

When the oil painting is finally dry I finish it with Gamblin Gamvar Gloss varnish to protect it for years of enjoyment.

Gamvar Gloss Varnish

Other Tools

I typically paint smaller canvases and find that this U.S. Art Supply H-Frame Tabletop Easel works quite well for me. It's highly customizable for the height and angle that you prefer to work at. My preferred artwork illumination is a Full Spectrum Floor Lamp. This provides the closest light to natural light and really helps me mix my colors properly. The adjustable neck also is great for getting the proper angle of light.

U.S. Art Supply Tabletop H-Frame Easel

Full Spectrum Lighting