A long time ago I bought what I believe are the original version of oils in stick form, the W&N Oil Bars. I mean it was so long ago I could probably sell them as “vintage art supplies”, definitely last century. I probably used them a couple of times, and they are unlikely to be usable now.
A lesser time ago, earlier this year, I collected a few Sennelier Oil Sticks. I have some of the mini ones that are the trial set type thing, and a few of the full-size sticks in colours I thought would be useful. Obviously that includes a turquoise and a magenta because Hello.
I have taken them out and looked at them a few times, and then tucked them away for another day, because of whatever goes on in my head about not being ready. Today was the day they got unwrapped.
I primed one of my A1 sheets so it could take oils – I guess we’ll see if it can as I’ve never tried with this paper before, I’m just going in the principle that priming works on other papers – so I have a large working surface, because I felt like the large oil sticks warranted space.
I really wasn’t going for a great outcome, I was just playing with them, testing colours, and seeing how they move around. Once the oil in down you can use anything you would use for oil painting to move the paint around, so I was trying out brushes and palette knives, and getting all swirly.
I had a lot of fun, and things got a bit overdone, but I’m in love with these sticks and I’ll be priming more of this paper to have another go.
Very, very messy, and gloves are a must.
Til the morn,
Suzanne
645/700
Thrummie Bizzum 
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