Jack Richeson

How–to Guide

Painting with Paintstik^® Oil Colors

Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors are real paint in solid form. They are not crayons, oil pastels or soft pastels, but highly refined drying oils blended with durable pigments and then solidified into stick form. Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors perform beautifully with all conventional oil paints. All of the same techniques that you are accustomed to using in oil painting and more can be successfully performed using Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors.

The Basics

For the professional artist, art student or amateur artist, Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors are an effective medium to think out shape, composition and color, without a palette or mixing cup. They are also a useful aid to the art teacher to help students grasp fundamentals of oil painting without using classroom time for mixing paint and clean–up. You can actually paint “wet into wet” with a solid oil stick, allowing a feeling of free, spontaneous expression.

Direct Color Blending

To draw directly on paper, wood, canvas and other surfaces, simply apply the color—holding the stick as you would a pencil. You may wish to use the Paintstik® to rough in your work and then, using the Colorless Blender, smooth the outlines and blend the colors. You may use a paint brush dipped in turpentine or Signa–Turp® Odorless Thinner to make your strokes become a wash or to achieve a watercolor look. To create a “built–up” effect in a specific area, simply apply more pressure to the stick. The colors can be spread or blended with a finger, paintbrush, rag or with turpentine. A palette knife can shift the color around in the same way as conventional oils.

Color Blending on a Palette

A slightly abrasive palette, such as varnished wood or a disposable paper palette, works best with Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors. Glass or enamel finish palettes tend to be too smooth and remove less color from the end of the stick.

Advanced Uses

Stamping

Stamp bright, colorful patterns quickly and easily on fabric, walls, canvas, or household decorations with Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors. You may use commercial rubber stamps, or try stamping with coins, buttons, silk flowers, lace, leaves and other objects with a textured surface. Apply the Paintstik® directly to the stamp object. Dip a brush in Signa–Turp® Odorless Thinner or similar solvent and blot it on a paper towel or paint rag. Stroke the brush over the color you have already applied, allowing colors to blend together and form soft edges. If you are stamping with an object that is highly absorbent, you may need to increase the amount of thinner.

Stenciling

Always make sure the surface that you are stenciling is clean and properly prepared for stenciling. Prepare your stencil by spraying the side of the stencil that comes in contact with your painting surface with a repositionable adhesive. Allow the adhesive to “set” a moment, then press the stencil evenly onto the surface to be stenciled. Rub the Artist’s Paintstik® onto a palette to deposit the amount of paint desired. Then pick up the paint from your palette using a stencil brush. Hold your stencil brush at a 90° angle and, using a circular motion, apply the color onto the surface to be stenciled.

When stenciling with multiple colors, start with the lightest color first, then progressively use darker colors, finishing with the darkest color. Use a separate brush for each color.

Fabric Decorating and Heat Setting

Before applying Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors, wash the fabric to remove sizing. Do not use fabric softener or detergent that contains fabric softeners or bleach because these will reduce the paint adhesion. Some ready–made items such as napkins and tablecloths are treated to be stain–resistant—this makes them paint resistant too! Check the labels carefully and experiment on a scrap of fabric whenever possible. After applying the Paintstik®, let the paint cure for 3–4 days before you heat set and wash the fabric. The longer you wait before washing the fabric, the more permanent the color will be. Use the iron setting recommended for the fabric. Place waxed paper over the design and iron for a few seconds to set the paint. Launder the fabric as usual, then line–dry or use a low dryer setting. Dry cleaning is not recommended for Artist’s Paintstik® Oil Colors.

Preparing Metal, Glass and Glazed Ceramics

High gloss enamel surfaces should be sprayed lightly with a matte varnish before painting. On non–porous surfaces, such as glass, glazed ceramics, polished metal or plastics, use an up and down stippling motion to apply the paint to the surface.

Walls and Floors

When painting on walls and floors, make sure the painted surface has a matte finish. Allow the Paintstik® Oil Color to dry for three days, then spray lightly with a coat of clear acrylic. Wait 36 hours, then coat the area with vinyl acrylic or polyurethane varnish.

Wood

When painting on wood, make sure the wood surface is sanded to a smooth finish and then prepare as desired by painting, or leave the surface raw. If the wood is stained or painted a dark color, paint it first in white, let it dry, then go back and paint the design in color. Allow the Paintstik® Oil Color to dry for three days, then spray with a clear acrylic spray to set it, and finish with a varnish of your choice.