Oil Paintings

This may be a pricier choice, but I did not want to have to bother with mounting the copper panels onto a firm backing. So I am using copper panels from Natural Pigments. They arrive already mounted and ready to use!

https://www.naturalpigments.com/copper-artist-panel-natural.html

I am using fine sand paper to create tooth on the panels, followed by garlic juice which apparently reacts with the copper and helps the oil grab a hold. We'll see! Here is a great description I found on how to prepare the copper panels for painting:

https://realismtoday.com/how-to-painting-on-copper-materials-methods-artists/

Admittedly I still don't have a feel for this concept but apparently the recommendation is to add more oil the more layers you do to avoid cracking, and use turpentine or mineral spirits in the first layers and linseed oil in the later layers. I found one blog comment that suggested Liquin as an all around alternative to make oils more like working with acrylics and reduce drying time. So far, I have still found that it takes many days for the layers to dry using liquin. The jury is still out!

The best advice I have found so far is to use walnut oil to wipe off brushes right after use, and keep them moist with walnut oil until the next use. Walnut oil, as opposed to vegetable oils, is a drying oil, so it will dry eventually even if there is a little in the paint when you go to use the brush again. Still, it is very different than working with acrylics and the brushes never quite come clean using this approach. I try to separate my darker and lighter colors to different brushes. So far it seems to be working.

Again, Realism Today has some great suggestions as to how to seal the copper so it does not oxidize. One is to use Oleogel from Natural Pigments to creat a clear couch to paint on while sealing the copper at the same time. Otherwise, I read that Conservar Acrylic Varnish is specifically formulated to be applied over copper to protect it from oxidation, especially in areas where the copper panel is not covered by paint.

I am still researching this, but it seems it is very difficult to find floating frames that are shallow enough for art panels. I found one company who sells them and have ordered some. We shall see! In the meantime I am considering mounting the panels on wood flat frames that I make myself, as the panels are pretty thin (I am trying the same thing with fixed pastelbord paintings).