I’m obsessed with a new medium: cold wax

I have found a new medium to work play in. Cold wax mixed with oils and lots of additional media. Specifically I am using Dorland’s wax medium and my Van Gogh H2O oils together on wooden panel. And as any respectful mixed-media artist I am adding in as much additional media I can get away with

It has become a bit of an obsession now and I am filled with ideas and potential works that I can barely contain myself long enough to stop and create a daily painting in acrylics.

I’ve almost added acrylics to the pieces several times now. Getting confused between one paint type over another is just a hazard of too many loves in my studio. I remember when I first discovered the H2O oils I contemplated tossing or giving away all of my acrylics. At some point though I realized that I could keep both and live with another duality in my artistic adventures.

I am head over heels though for this cold wax. The only bit I get frustrated with is time. I have to let layers dry or cure and that is where the acrylics save me. I can set the wax painting aside and paint a couple of acrylic works while the wax sets up. And I am learning that there is a period of time to wait to add texture which differs from the time needed to add a new layer. Which is different again from when I should add straight oils. The learning and the process are as much if not more rewarding than the completed works.

Once complete I just want to move on to the next one. I have only a very few works that I am tied to. Most I am happy to release into the world. Nothing more fulfilling than to send them off to someone / somewhere that they will be loved and appreciated. And to know I am free of them and can begin anew! Art is my addiction. Painting my preferred drug!