Lester, 2009-12

Soft and oil pastel on original digital print, 17.5" x 17.5"

Lester (detail)

Lester is a mixed-mediums painting I worked on for several years. It began with a free-hand digital painting I composed in Illustrator. I printed it on Stonehenge paper with a large-format Epson printer using a platinum filter and light-fast ink. Somehow, it lost its punch on paper and I put in in the reject pile. But, it's strange how some things grow legs in the dark... I had a dream about the print and decided to see if it could be altered or collaged into something more exciting. 

   So, out came the oil pastels.  First, I put down a clear mate acrylic barrier coat to isolate the paper from the safflower oil binder. I used a combination of Senneliers (those phat jumbo o. p. sticks that feel like you're painting with lipstick) and Rembrandts in thick passages over the digital original. I like to use an orange stick dipped in Windsor Newton Oil Painting Medium to move the pigment around. I also have a hand-collected set of pine and pin-oak twigs and sticks for free-form drawing and sgraffito work. They come in handy for just pushing color around.

    Then I worked the whole image with dental tools--little scraper-thingys with beveled edges, great for details. I let the piece rest for a while. Oil pastels never dry or form a skin, but they do toughen up a bit if you let them sit out for a few months. If you work back into fresh o.p. you can end up with mud. It is not an easy medium and not one I'd recommend to beginners. But there is nothing else like it--thick and messy and rich and brilliantly saturated with pigment.

   Finally, I livened up the palate with soft soft Schmenckes and Unison dry pastels; a little graphite pencil work as well. I sometimes use Derwent colored graphite pencils to sharpen up edges or deepen texture over oil pastels. I think I also used some soft pastel pencils here and there, but I can't remember which brand--probably Carbothello (Stabillo) or maybe Pitt.

    Anyway . . . ta-dah: Lester!