FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's About My Oil Paintings:

What kind of oil paints and mediums do you use?

The majority of my oil paintings are created with Cobra Water Mixable Oil Paints created by Royal Talens.  I avoid the use of cadmium and other potentially toxic ingredients for my own health, my family's, our pets and of course for you - my potential clients.  There are some colors I love that are not yet available in the Cobra line of water mixables. Cobra has a new medium that can be added to traditional oil paints that allows them to be used as water mixables.  This medium allows me to work without the use of solvents.

In addition, I use linseed, walnut oils, and Oleogel.

Some of my oil paintings are created using a technique called Impasto [thick painting].  Additional mediums are sometimes used to create these thick effects.

Additionally, some of my oil paintings are completed using a medium called "cold wax".  They will be labeled as such in the description and on the back of the painting when I use this medium.



What kind of tools do you use to create your oil paintings? 

I create my oil paintings using a variety of tools from paint brushes, palette knives, silicone catalysts, squeegees, skewers, and scrubbies to add and subtract paint from the substrate.

How long does it take for your oil paintings to dry?

As I mentioned, I work in impasto style in some of my paintings. These paintings can be rendered with very thick oil paint and can take up to 6 months to dry.  Most of my paintings can be dry within 2-3 weeks when paints are not applied thickly.

What kind of substrates do you use and how do you prime them?

All of my substrates are primed first with at least 3 coats of an acrylic gesso.  

I use a variety of substrates with my oil paintings including watercolor paper [left unvarnished], mixed media paper, mylar, board [either masonite or plywood], and canvas [stretched and unstretched].

How do you preserve and seal your oil paintings?

Most of my oil paintings are varnished once dry with GamVar Gloss Varnish. Some of my oil paintings on paper are left unvarnished.  I will state whether they are varnished and what was used both in the description and in writing on the back of the painting for your convenience.

FAQ's About My Acrylic Paintings:

What kind of acrylic paints and mediums do you use?

I love Golden Acrylics and use their fluid, open and heavy body paints.  I also use Liquitex Basic and soft body paints, as well as Amsterdam and Lukas acrylics. 

The mediums I use are Golden Matte Medium and Gel Medium, Golden Gloss Glazing Medium, and Liquitex Matte Medium.  


What kind of tools do you use to create your acrylic paintings? 

I create my acrylic paintings using the same variety of tools as I use to create my oil paintings -- from paint brushes, palette knives, silicone catalysts, squeegees, skewers, and scrubbies to add and subtract paint from the substrate.

How long does it take for your acrylic paintings to dry?

Acrylic dries quickly! It often dries faster than the artist would like it to dry.  By adding a retardant we can keep it open to changes longer.  I allow my acrylic paintings to dry for at least 24 hours.

How do I seal and preserve my acrylic paintings?

Every acrylic painting I complete gets a final coating of acrylic medium, typically in a matte finish. I allow this to dry for another 24 hours prior to storing, framing, packaging or shipping. 

FAQ's About My Mixed Media Art:

Where can I find your stencil designs?








My stencil designs are available through PM Artist Studios which I have linked for your convenience here.




How can I find the stamps that you have designed?

My foam stamp designs that are currently available can also be found at PM Artist Studio here in this link.


What other materials do you use in your mixed media art?

OMG!  One of the things I love most about mixed media art is there are very few limits to what one can use to create art!  I use acrylic inks, alcohol inks, Sumi ink, charcoal, pencils, acrylic markers of all brands, artist made and self-made stamps and stencils, feathers, fabrics, threads, yarn, embossing powders, embossing folders and machines, vintage papers, book pages, specialty papers made across the globe, dried flowers and plants, drift wood, vintage jewelry, rusty found objects, rusted paper and fabric, eco-dyed papers and fabric, Sari ribbons, bones, game cards and pieces, doll and watch parts, tin cans and boxes, glitter, gold leaf, jewelry findings, soft - hard - pan - and oil pastels and pastel pencils, colored pencils, water based, wax and oil based crayons, watercolors, gouache, and so much more!