Background

I have been wanting to experiment with oil and cold wax in abstraction because I find myself often drawn to other abstract artists’ work using these specific media. For example, a local artist from Bristol called Julia Maleeva. Below are examples of her work.

Julia Maleeva – Belfry 100x150cm. Oil and cold wax on canvas:

Julia Maleeva – Lemon shadow in love 100x150cm. Oil and cold wax on canvas:

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METHOD

The objective of this exercise was just to experiment and try out how the oil and cold wax work together, applied using palette knives. I also wanted to add elements of collage to give additional texture.

Oil paint and cold wax mixed in 50/50 ratio, with a twisted paper strip to see if the paper would stick or if adhesive would be required:

More strips of paper was added:

More experimentation in different areas:

Each area explained (background is oil and cold wax mixed):

1 and 2: colour blocks of oil and cold wax mixed in 50/50 ratio.

3: pure oil paint was added to see how it appears on top of oil and wax background.

4: Blue area was oil, cold wax and solvent mixed to a thin and runny viscosity.

5: A twisted strip of paper stuck on the paint without requiring adhesive.

6: Strips of origami paper stuck on without adhesive.

7: Paper strips stuck on/half buried without adhesive.

I tried doing some Chinese style painting using oil paint as a top layer.

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REFLECTIONS

I was pleased with the experiment of oil and cold wax. I felt at ease working with the medium and it was a pleasure applying it onto canvas. I noticed the colours remained true but the wax did make the paint more matt. The solvent worked well to thin the viscosity and I can imagine using this mixture if I wanted the paint to run down the canvas with a dripping effect.

The paper collage stuck well to the medium although I expect additional adhesive would be required for larger pieces.

I was not happy with the Chinese painting using oil paint. I couldn’t use ink on top of oil as the ink would pool rather than be absorbed. Hence I used oil and the finesse of the typical Chinese brush painting was completely lost and the depiction was poor. So this is an area that needs further investigation to achieve the desired effect if I wanted a Chinese style painting as the top layer on top of oil in my multimedia layering work.

In addition to trying out cold wax as a medium, I wanted to return to exploring abstraction as a way to be more expressive in my work. In exploring my style through multimedia layering, I find myself often being drawn into being too illustrative or repetitive in my expression and I wanted to investigate my deeper thoughts through abstraction and this is the first experiment in this series.

LEARNING

This initial experiment with oil and cold wax was positive and it is a medium that I want to explore further in addition to just using oil. The cold wax would enable me to give more texture and structure to my painting. Also it would allow me to scratch through the paint/wax as an effective way of mark making. Adding paper strips could add interest but I would use that only on a small scale; I can imagine it coming loose in the long term if larger pieces of collage were used in this way.

I am still searching for the ideal way to paint a Chinese style painting on top of oil to help me to express the transcultural nature of my style – the challenge is to find a medium that delivers the finesse whilst being compatible materially with my preferred western medium such as oil. I will revisit research that I have previously done on an artist who has successfully achieved similar to the style that I am looking for – Fiona Rae. She was able to achieve Chinese style brush strokes using oil.

NEXT STEPS

– Continue to explore oil and cold wax and do another painting to build experience in this style of abstraction.

– Research further into Fiona Rae’s work and see how she achieved her Chinese style brush strokes using oil.

– Keep experimenting with oil and cold wax.

– Keep searching for ways to paint with Chinese ink on oil paint.