Oil Sticks and Other Toys!

Today I wanted to share with you one of the products I sometimes use in mixed media pieces. I used them a lot in my Horizon Series (check out Horizons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 for examples) and with some of my earlier works. Recently I have not picked them up, but I thought I might use them again, soon. So have you ever used oil sticks? They are basically oil paint in stick form. The finish dries hard like oil paint, but they work more like oil pastels.
This painting is my chili pepper :) The background is acrylics, but the red, yellows, greens, blues, purples, etc. are done with the oil sticks...all the blurry, smeary parts. I apply these and then use my fingers to blend them they way I would like. There are several methods of application, but this is the way I am most comfortable working with them. I try to stay away from some art products due to my asthma, so this is a compromise for me.

Several companies make this product. I am particularly fond of the Sennelier brand, however Windsor and Newton and Shiva also make a similar product. You might also find some other brands, but these are the ones I know about. The range of colors has become very wide.

Here are a few of the ones I have. The one which is third from the left is actually a blending stick. As you see, I have tried using it, however found my fingers to be better for me.
Sennelier makes these in several sizes which I find helpful. Here you see me holding one of the largest ones. While I am not a small woman, I have very small hands, so that gives you an idea of the size of this red oil stick...it fits nicely in the palm of my hand.

These form a skin you need to peel off before getting to the soft oil paint. Now some of you creative people might find these "skins" to be useful in some collage work, so that might be another idea. But once you get to that soft layer you will find a very creamy product to work with. Like oil paint, these take some time to cure, but the results can be very appealing. I basically use Master's Brush Cleaner to clean up this product from my hands...yes, I know it is a bit harsh, but for me better than other solvents.

So tell me if you have had experiences with oil sticks. Do you like them?

Another product I have recently read about is waterproof ink in pencil form! It goes on like pencil, however when water is added to it you have ink. So it is like using watercolor pencils, but it is waterproof once dried on the surface! Have you ever used these? Do you like them? Do you have any other recommendations? Maybe the liquid pencil product?

Recently, Elis also was showing some of her favorite tools on her blog. You might like to visit her to see what she has been up to, as well. And if you do not know Elis' art, you are going to be in for a real adventure!

Have a Beautiful Day!