Ahhh… White Horses

untitled arabs in progress, originally uploaded by erinsartjournal.

I said I was gagging to paint some more white horses, so here I am, I have to put 3 heads into this painting. It’s on the largest canvas I’ve ever used, as well. This painting measures 3′x4′.

Big painting, three horse heads (a first for me), I’m sure these are both symptoms of my excitement about painting horses again.

I normally use Winsor & Newton Griffin alkyd oil paints. I prefer them for their fast drying properties.

Last year, a friend gave me a small suitcase full of tins of Spectrum oil paints. Well hey – big painting, means more paint. I thought this was a great opportunity to try the Spectrum oils.

I was concerned about the drying time for normal oil paint (patience is NOT one of my stronger points). I bought a large tin of Fast Drying Oil Painting Medium from Jacksons Art Supplies. This medium is an oil modified alkyd resin. Which means it speeds up the drying time. Hopefully resulting in the conventional Spectrum oils drying as quickly as the W&N Griffin oils.

Also treated myself to a long handled Winton fine bristle brush, size 14. Another new product for me, I normally use hog bristles or prolene brushes for the first stages of oil painting.

So, having painted a Burnt Sienna acrylic wash on the background, I loosely plotted out the head shapes with a White Charcoal pencil.

Mwahahahah – I went in with this luscious paint, the beautiful paint brush and oil medium. I loved how this paint went onto the canvas. I loved the beauty of the brush, the fine bristles blended my delicate colours so perfectly. I was in heaven as I applied this initial wash of paint to my canvas.

I found the medium absolutely gorgeous!

No,neither Winsor & Newton nor Jacksons have not asked me to blog about this. I’m just a materials snob, I love quality art materials and I love talking about products I enjoy.

Back to the oil medium – the paint went on beautifully when I mixed in the medium. I didn’t need to add turpentine at any point. I found the medium perfect, for my preferences, as it came out of the tin.

I applied this paint about 11 hours ago. Some areas are touch dry, the rest is just tacky. (the shiny bit on the centre horses forehead is the slowest to dry, clearly the last area I painted) I’m VERY impressed with the fast drying medium and I definitely recommend!

I’m sure it’s clear that good materials enhance the entire painting experience for me. Quality art materials is a MUST!

On a roll now, I’m off to prepare a smaller canvas for another white horse painting…

Shalom
Erin

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