I've been using oil sticks on and off for a few years. Most of my work is representational but impressionistic. I love using these with palette knives. I can get a fantastic texture and recognizable image. I have used Shiva as well as Sennelier and I really like R&F the best as it can be used with a brush and medium or as the stick or palette knives. Great overview. Thanks
Thanks for a great review. I like to use R&F pigment sticks to accent areas in my paintings. I have painted with acrylics and these are great on top of those. I’m now working primarily in oil and cold wax medium and these sticks also are wonderful in these paintings, both on top and in the various layers underneath. I was interested to hear that you paint with acrylics over the pigment sticks. I wonder if the wax in the pigment sticks aids in adhesion of the acrylic layers on top? I have a piece I did almost 20 years ago, highly textured (DAP spackle underneath - had no idea about Golden molding paste) and painted on top with oils. I loved it too much to sell. Maybe a year ago, after it was well and truly dry, I thought I’d try to make the piece a bit lighter so smeared a really thin layer of iridescent white acrylic paint around the edges, not even thinking about acrylic over oil. To my delight it’s adhered perfectly. I’m guessing it’s because the oil had had time to truly cure. Anyway, thanks for the review. I’ve subscribed to your channel. 😊
Hi. I found you while looking for some process vids with r &f. The long dry time is what ive been a oidinng but also figured out how to use galkyd gel with them. I have been using Shiva Paint sticks which dry bery fast, 12 to 24 hrs. They have always kept their pigment numbers secrete but i recently found them published in the Jerry's listings. I was not thrilled and see why it was a secret. A lot of their colors are mixed. Im going to try making my own with beeswax and tube paint and maybe pigment dust. But in the meantime I'm looking forward to using the ar&fs Thanks for the review!
I create realistic portraits and other subjects. I tried mixing pigment sticks with mediums for spreadability ( small amounts of Liquin and oderless mineral spirits ) to paint the initial layer of a large painting. This is how Ibuse paintbfrom a tube. It dried within a days to a lovely hard surface. I found that when I added more layers of paint over this layer ( sticks or tube , plain or mixed with medium) for more detail these layers of paint very easily scratched off the initial stick layer. I do not know if this happens with a stick that has not had mediums added to it.
@cinderblockstudios No, the layer of paint sticks with added medium was not brittle. It was hatd as nails. None of the layers were brittle. The over layers were done using high quality tube oils and Liquin they would not adhere well to the paint stick layer. I always paint in layers with tube paint mixed with Liquin and never had this problem in 20 years. Just posted this so people would know not to add these mediums if you plan to paint on top of such a layer with tube oils used with Liquin. I did not try using the paint stick mixture on top of itself.
I think paint sticks are the best to use in the latetrst staged to make marls, lines, shadows, ripples or whatever, rather then then for initial layers. When you use them for all the detail work, you don't need to go over them again.
I am new to this medium. With that said my medium primarily is that of soft pastels. I am interested and excited to try R&F pigment sticks. Because it is a less fragile medium and cost effective especially when it comes to framing the finished painting. Essentially, with soft pastels they are more fragile as a medium, and needs to be placed under glass right away. But my question is have you used sennelier oil sticks? Is it recommended to mix oil sticks? I am thinking about mixing sennelier oil sticks with R&F pigment sticks. If you suggest that I work with them seperately, I will. I look forward to your response. Really enjoyed your video very informative and helpful. Thank you
I haven't used the Sennelier sticks, but I would certainly caution you on mixing them. From what I know about the R&F knockoffs, they all seem to have slightly different consistencies based on the wax to oil ratio. If you're coming from soft pastels I would actually recommend oil pastels before you dive headfirst into a paint stick. They should allow you to get a feel for a wetter media without breaking the bank.
@@cinderblockstudiosGrom what i saw on youtube from other artists, oilsticks from different brands mix wel without problems. Btw Senellier was the first to make these oilsticks ever, they were made for Picasso itself. R&F is pretty new in the game compared to them. I wouldn't say Senellier is a knockoff compared to R&F.
Any varnish that works for regular oils should work. I would recommend an isolation coat on the acrylics first before switching to oils as well (for better adhesion).
It would have been better if you had used the same color in all brands, because it's a known fact that browns and earth tones dry the fastest, mostly in 2 days and the reds are one of the longest taking to dry already without taking brands in to consideration.
I've been using oil sticks on and off for a few years. Most of my work is representational but impressionistic. I love using these with palette knives. I can get a fantastic texture and recognizable image. I have used Shiva as well as Sennelier and I really like R&F the best as it can be used with a brush and medium or as the stick or palette knives. Great overview. Thanks
I've been meaning to play with more knife work with them myself.
Great review. I had been considering these and just placed an order for a set of 5. Thanks for the detailed info.
Thanks for a great review. I like to use R&F pigment sticks to accent areas in my paintings. I have painted with acrylics and these are great on top of those. I’m now working primarily in oil and cold wax medium and these sticks also are wonderful in these paintings, both on top and in the various layers underneath. I was interested to hear that you paint with acrylics over the pigment sticks. I wonder if the wax in the pigment sticks aids in adhesion of the acrylic layers on top? I have a piece I did almost 20 years ago, highly textured (DAP spackle underneath - had no idea about Golden molding paste) and painted on top with oils. I loved it too much to sell. Maybe a year ago, after it was well and truly dry, I thought I’d try to make the piece a bit lighter so smeared a really thin layer of iridescent white acrylic paint around the edges, not even thinking about acrylic over oil. To my delight it’s adhered perfectly. I’m guessing it’s because the oil had had time to truly cure. Anyway, thanks for the review. I’ve subscribed to your channel. 😊
Hi. I found you while looking for some process vids with r &f. The long dry time is what ive been a oidinng but also figured out how to use galkyd gel with them. I have been using Shiva Paint sticks which dry bery fast, 12 to 24 hrs. They have always kept their pigment numbers secrete but i recently found them published in the Jerry's listings. I was not thrilled and see why it was a secret. A lot of their colors are mixed. Im going to try making my own with beeswax and tube paint and maybe pigment dust. But in the meantime I'm looking forward to using the ar&fs Thanks for the review!
I create realistic portraits and other subjects. I tried mixing pigment sticks with mediums for spreadability ( small amounts of Liquin and oderless mineral spirits ) to paint the initial layer of a large painting. This is how Ibuse paintbfrom a tube. It dried within a days to a lovely hard surface. I found that when I added more layers of paint over this layer ( sticks or tube , plain or mixed with medium) for more detail these layers of paint very easily scratched off the initial stick layer. I do not know if this happens with a stick that has not had mediums added to it.
My best guess is the mineral spirits are breaking down the wax in the pigment sticks, causing them to be more brittle
@cinderblockstudios No, the layer of paint sticks with added medium was not brittle. It was hatd as nails. None of the layers were brittle. The over layers were done using high quality tube oils and Liquin they would not adhere well to the paint stick layer. I always paint in layers with tube paint mixed with Liquin and never had this problem in 20 years. Just posted this so people would know not to add these mediums if you plan to paint on top of such a layer with tube oils used with Liquin. I did not try using the paint stick mixture on top of itself.
I think paint sticks are the best to use in the latetrst staged to make marls, lines, shadows, ripples or whatever, rather then then for initial layers. When you use them for all the detail work, you don't need to go over them again.
I am new to this medium. With that said my medium primarily is that of soft pastels. I am interested and excited to try R&F pigment sticks. Because it is a less fragile medium and cost effective especially when it comes to framing the finished painting.
Essentially, with soft pastels they are more fragile as a medium, and needs to be placed under glass right away.
But my question is have you used sennelier oil sticks? Is it recommended to mix oil sticks? I am thinking about mixing sennelier oil sticks with R&F pigment sticks. If you suggest that I work with them seperately, I will. I look forward to your response. Really enjoyed your video very informative and helpful. Thank you
I haven't used the Sennelier sticks, but I would certainly caution you on mixing them. From what I know about the R&F knockoffs, they all seem to have slightly different consistencies based on the wax to oil ratio. If you're coming from soft pastels I would actually recommend oil pastels before you dive headfirst into a paint stick. They should allow you to get a feel for a wetter media without breaking the bank.
@@cinderblockstudiosGrom what i saw on youtube from other artists, oilsticks from different brands mix wel without problems.
Btw Senellier was the first to make these oilsticks ever, they were made for Picasso itself. R&F is pretty new in the game compared to them. I wouldn't say Senellier is a knockoff compared to R&F.
I'm hoping to use oil sticks (R&F) over (dry) acrylic paint, do you know which kind of varnish I would be able to use?
Any varnish that works for regular oils should work. I would recommend an isolation coat on the acrylics first before switching to oils as well (for better adhesion).
@@cinderblockstudios thank you ❤️
There isa substantial drying times based on pigment (NOT THE BRAND).
yes, but also no
It would have been better if you had used the same color in all brands, because it's a known fact that browns and earth tones dry the fastest, mostly in 2 days and the reds are one of the longest taking to dry already without taking brands in to consideration.
Yeah that would have been the most accurate but a terrible choice for my wallet
@@cinderblockstudios lol okay, understood.
I have no idea why UA-cam recommended this to me, but hey I watched it! It was a little too long though.