Intro to Abstract Oil and Cold Wax workshop

This workshop is suitable for beginners or anyone who would like to spend time experimenting with oil paint mixed with cold wax medium to create interesting and exciting marks, textures and colours. No experience is necessary.

Mixing cold wax medium with oil paint allows layering and the building of different thicknesses of paint which can deliver translucent and more matt results and allows scraping back to previous layers and incisive mark making. In this workshop we will discuss colour and mark making and spend time working on oil paper using some basic techniques including using marble dust, solvent and oil sticks in combination for you to experiment with and to enjoy the process of using this interesting medium. Working intuitively on multiple pieces enables a loose approach, experimentation and will unleash your creativity!

It might be helpful to bring some inspiring ‘photos with you that you might want to use as general reference points, but it’s not essential. For example, you might have a favourite landscape or place, it might be the seaside or your garden or a favourite book cover, or a treasured object that you would like to use for inspiration on colour palette or composition.

At the end of the day you will have a series of ‘mini’ abstract art pieces and choose one or two pieces to mount ready to frame later.

What is Cold Wax Medium?
Cold wax medium is a mixture of natural beeswax and solvent and is a semi-solid paste that requires no heat to apply or to fuse layers (not to be confused with encaustic wax). As the solvent evaporates the wax hardens and dries to a matt finish adding body and texture to the paint. It is most usually used with a palette knife, spreading tool or silicone brush along with a variety of mark marking tools. The medium is also useful in helping to dry oil paint more quickly, but the drying time is still considerably longer than with acrylic paint for example.

Materials used are non-toxic but can be flammable.
Gloves will be provided to protect hands from solvent.
Low odour solvent will be used (sparingly) and there will be adequate ventilation, however please be aware that oil paint does have an odour .