Artist oil paints...

[Tina]

Have anyone ever tried to use real artist oil paint on leather?

The reason I would love to if it's possible. It would be interesting if anyone have some experience and can share them...Otherwise, I'm going to try and see what happends. The paint it self just contains linseed oil and pigments. Just think of the possibilities, mind boggling:-)

[TwinOaks]

Well, Tina, I'm about to find out.... I gotta do something, or else I'm out a piece of leather, and a coupla hours...see my post for more....

[HorsehairBraider]

I'm just guessing... so please go ahead and try because I might be wrong. I don't think it will stick, unless the leather is REALLY dry. The reason I say that is because I used to paint with oils, and often got it all over the place including on me, and worst of all, my saddle. (I didn't have a tack room or a husband back then, so I could keep my tack in the house.) It always came off the saddle. My thought was, the saddle itself had oil in the leather. Therefore the oil paint had a hard time adhering to the leather. It always came off me too, otherwise I would have very interesting looking hands and arms right about now.

[Tina]

Horsebraider,

I think you might have a point, I don't think I would use it on a saddle? (big question mark for now). The importance is to get it to dry and then see if the pigment sticks to the surface. I just painted a lion, lets see in a week if I have another project for the garbage or not:-)

Because it is oil paint super sheene and such in acryllic can not be used, but I do have this Aussie leather treatment with beezwax, that might work and put a nice shine to it and protection?

Anybody, feel free to come up with suggestions...I'm going to go deep diving here cuz IF it works the possibilies are massive.

Have a great weekend//Tina

[CitizenKate]

I suppose it might stick better to leather that has not already been treated with anything oily or waxy... aside from that, I'd say just try it (on a piece of scrap first, of course).

Can you tell us what particular effect you are hoping to achieve with the oil paints?

Kate

[Tina]

Well,

one of the effects that I can do is half translucent (have pitty on my spelling from time to time, I'm an Alien ) I have a bunch of Rembranth oil paints with that effect and it will halfway let the naturual leather shines throu. The other total benefit is the time you have to work with the paint, hours if not days.

I know that using scrap is the clever way to go, but off course I just had to try it on a piece carved and all I post that picture up here. The lioness' fur is oil paint, the rest a mix of acryllic leather paint and antiquing.

[Dale]

Tina,

I've got several random thoughts/questions....please don't take any of them to imply that I don't think you should give it a try. I'm curious to know how it works myself

1. With respect to the sealer, I'm not sure it would really be necessary, but why not just use a varnish made for oils?

2. I'm fairly ignorant about oils, but my understanding has always been that they're a bit heavy. I've seen leather used as a canvas before -- it was a good looking painting, but I had to ask "why use leather instead of canvas or masonite?" I use acrylic (very wet) and try to let the texture, if not some of the color, of the leather come through. All that being said, your "half translucent" comment is interesting and may render insignificant my decision to use acrylics for that reason. Perhaps you can elaborate on the translucence train of thought.

3. The working time of oil could be a real benefit. Do you get the same working time when it's thinned (I'm assuming that's how you get it translucent)?

I'm curious to hear the results.

Dale

[Tina]

Hi Dale.

Well first off...I always liked to found out bounderies, what can/can not be done. For me personally the benefit is that I've painted with these paints since the crack of dawn. I know how to use them and how the behave.

Translucent...In my book, the Rembranth paints (made by Talens-Holland) is the best you can by for money. They have a whole line of paints that you do not have to use thinners with, they come translucents as they are. On the lioness I use a couple of them with shaddows and such. I don't want to use thinners (ie; chemicals) on leather, this is a salution that might work (?) The oil paint can be used heavy or not. It's really easy to control and super easy to get super thin. Because I do not want to use chemicals as a thinner, you can always ad extra linseed oil instead. I did not use anything extra of anything doing the lion. Rembranth paints is very unlike any other brands out there, extremly ful of pigment but at the same time very smoth and soft in it self. Adding oil will let you work longer with the paint. The drying time is usually around 5 days on canvas and 6-7 for certain colors such as white. On leather, well I just have to have some patience and wait and se:-)

I did not know that there was a varnish for oil...Can you hint me in the right direction, type/brand that works for leather?

I will let you know how the progress' going. To me this would be wonderful and the possibillitys magic if it works.

Edited January 27, 2008 by Tina

[Dale]

Thanks for the explanation, Tina. I had no idea it took days for the stuff to dry. I'm not sure I'd have that kind of patience, especially since I tend to blend by layering. Depending on your results, I may still check it out, though.

I think all painting mediums have varnishes suitable for the medium. Take a look around dickblick.com. Here's an example for oil: http://www.dickblick.com/zz004/84/. I don't know what effect it would have on the leather itself, but I really doubt it would hurt it...we've all put some odd stuff on leather without ill effects. As long as you're testing, try that, too!

Dale

[TwinOaks]

Report: Oil applied over any type of sealer or dye is disasterous. Of course it could be user error on my part b/c I haven't used oils in over a decade and have forgotten all I knew. So...for me Ti White was a boo-boo.

I'll stick to what I know for now, and as time and funds allow, will perhaps reinvest in some good oils. Tina, good luck with the lioness, and keep posting results.