process
The success of my oil pastel artwork relies on a particular blend of materials and tools. The Holbein oil pastel brand is unmatched in quality of texture and color saturation. I work with Rives BFK printmaking paper because of its thick, absorbent quality which holds many layers of oil pastel. I manipulate the medium by using in combination a razor blade, and a bondo spreader which is a tool for repairing dents in automobiles. These tools allow me to achieve both opaque and transparent passages that together create luminous work.
My acrylic paintings are made with the same bondo spreader I use with the oil pastels, along with flat, wide brushes. My brand of choice for paint is Golden Paints because of their rich color and texture. I like the density of Liquitex’s Gloss gel medium to mix with the paint, and their gloss varnish helps to retain the sheen in the paint color.