AJR #33: Working with Pigment Sticks, Oils Sticks, and Oil Bars.

[@DebRowley]

What a wonderfully concise and informative video. It’s the first time I’ve found one of your videos and I’ve just recently bought some R&F sticks, so I’m feeling super lucky. Subscribed and looking forward to viewing more.

[@evelienwit8929]

Thank you!!

[@viv2089]

Thank you Jerry. That was a really comprehensive explanation. I now have a much clearer understanding.

[@lauraseligman7808]

This was super helpful. Thanks.

[@colettebegg1946]

Really wonderful explanation of the different types of oil sticks. I have some Kama oil paints in my studio but have never tried their oil sticks. I'm now going to give them a try. Thank you for sharing this info!

[@nancyloomis3046]

Thanks for this very helpful info! I have some of the Shiva oil sticks and a trial set of R&F. For my birthday or Christmas, I think I’m gonna ask for one of their Painter’s Dozen sets. I’m glad I found you too since I want to learn more about cold wax painting and encaustic techniques. I do have 3 different sets of oil pastels (Paul Rubens, Mungyo Gallery & Sennelier) that I enjoy. For any work done with them that I plan to display, sell or just want to make non-smearing, I use the Sennelier spray made for that purpose and it works terrifically (and Sennelier’s oil pastels are much beloved.) But it is not a casual spray….not to be used inside without some fancy ventilating system 😊that few people have access to. I only spray outside and then let it sit for a good long time to “gas off.” So yes, it is a very chemical heavy product that should only be used very carefully and with following instructions. I want to use up what I have of the oil pastels and may or may not buy anymore after that due to the drying issue and all. Thanks again!

[@paulah317]

Thank you. This is so interesting as I just went down the rabbit hole this weekend and made my own oil sticks from a vintage collection of Bill Alexander oil paints I inherited. I watched 2 YT videos on making oil sticks and did not understand the chemistry of drying oils. ( I'm a watercolor artist, btw]. So instead I used castor oil that my daughter used to make chapstick, beeswax ( not bleached) and the oil paints. Interestingly, I got fairly decent formed sticks except for the cad yellow. But now I realize they won't dry but oh, well. I'm experimenting with new mediums and having a blast. I'll just spray them with one of my fixative sprays......I sure don't plan on my creations to be archival.

[@dianahunter3555]

I'm thinking that Richeson's oil sticks must be like water soluble oils yet with more binder. That's too bad because they were what I could afford at the time. Thanks so much for the videos, and I love the book. Happy Holidays for you both and yours as well. Ciao. Diana

[@valeriachilders]

Wonderful explanation. thanks.

[@markchandler7089]

Very helpful! Layering or even combining cold wax/oil paint with oil sticks now seems like a great technique, something I want to try. Any thoughts on Caran D'Arche Neocolor wax/pigment products and cold wax media?

[@gusmarrero]

I’ve used them all and now paint almost exclusively with Paul de Marráis, but I’m still using up dozens of R&F, Sennelier and Shiva sticks I still have. I might be in the small category of painting non abstract paintings with oil sticks. Mostly landscapes and still life.

[@katherinewhitehouse5839]

I have a question. How do you apply the fat over lean method with oil sticks? I have made som gesso backgrounds and then drawn directly on top af that with my sennelier oilsticks. Now its dry and i want to paint next layer, but can just draw directly on top of that, or shouldnt there be added more oil. and if so, how?

[@jorgeromero8640]

So helpful!!!! thanks!

[@vikmat5145]

Thank you!

[@woodsiastudio]

Recently been studying Richard Serra’s drawings with paint stick….he melted purchased ones and melted them to make bigger blocks…i am trying to find out if these sticks presumably oil sticks are made with linseed oil? Or what oil…i can only assume these are drying and drying better than the ones i am experimenting with made with liquid paraffin… Do you have any more information about his work?

[@kikkom2548]

Can I use oil sticks together with oil paint and/or acrylic paint on a regular canvas?

[@howlingwind1937]

Thank you for this video it was very interesting and informative. However, I use oil pastels, and have no problem with them rubbing off once the have cure/dried. I've a number of paintings that I've had for years and there is no stickiness, or greasness, I can run my hand over them and no pigment comes off, like wise with one's that have been sitting for a month. I find that overnight you can add more layers, and after 7 days they are dry enough to touch and after a month no smudges. I don't use fixative because the fumes are not nice, and I think they look better framed behind glass and probably all paintings should be to protect them from the environment. Well, that's just my little soapbox moment 😊, I do thank you for the video and I've learnt a lot about what these types of products are made from. Cheers!

[@AllGrowing]

I have some Van Gogh oil pastels that I haven't used a lot due to their strong smell, and when I now heard that they don't dry either, I thought that's the end of them. But after reading your comment, I've decided to give them a last chance! Thanks

[@howlingwind1937]

@@AllGrowing oh! That's great that you're not going to throw them out, and they get a second chance. I don't have any of the van Gogh oil pastels, to buy the big overseas brands its really expensive for me. But there are quite good Australian brands that I like, and can afford, however, my sister got me a big box of extra soft mungyo for my birthday and they are lovely to use. Pentel oil pastels are very cheap here but they're very hard and feel more like children's ones for colouring in with but there are some artists on KZbin who use them. I find them very smelly like a petrol type smell, so they're banished to the back of the draw. I have recently experimented with spray on varnish, I managed to get the krylon on sale and it did make my paintings look really nice, so I may do that again, but the spray is also very smelly too, I still like putting them behind glass though, I've got a number of them that I'm saving up to get glass for. Thank you for your videos and a reply. Cheers from Tasmania!

[@AllGrowing]

@@howlingwind1937 All the best, greetings from Spain!

[@howlingwind1937]

@@AllGrowing thank you for a reply and sharing your video. Cheers from Tasmania! 😊

[@EmmaMorgan09]

I was given a large pack of Windsor and Newton oil sticks. I notice you didn’t cover this brand … was there a reason for this? Thanks

[@MendeJanco]

They were discontinued.

[@yeshuaiscomingbackrepent2357]

I bought 2 Shiva oil sticks...(black) I tried them...they and they were like using a crayon. They went straight to the trash. That's all I have to say about Shiva.

[@terikidd]

Shiva is a fairly hard oil stick. I like them for drawing and shape/line work.