Working On Paper With R&F Drawing Oils™
Many of you have written to inquire: can R&F Drawing Oils™ be used on paper? The quick answer is yes; you can use R&F Drawing Oils™ on paper. However, as we note in our literature, on our website, and on color set packaging, if an artist is concerned with the long-term archival stability of their artwork, they should prepare the surface with a size/gesso or choose a paper specifically made for oil applications.
If an artist is playing, sketching for their own enjoyment without concerns for long-term archival stability, then any paper or sketchbook will work just fine.
“Ultimately, the long-term archival stability of an artwork requires the artist to make decisions about their intentions and expectations for the artwork.”
Will oil soak through? Oil strike-through may occur depending on the paper used and the thickness of the application. How the linseed oil present in Drawing Oils™ will affect the paper depends on a number of factors.
Paper is susceptible to acid deterioration with or without art materials being introduced. Linseed oil will add more acid into the scenario and therefore should be considered. Linseed oil applied to paper that does not have sizing/gesso may result in haloing and could possibly lead to embrittlement.
Paper selection is key. Ultimately, the long-term archival stability of an artwork requires the artist to make decisions about their intentions and expectations for the artwork. Are they using a sketchbook for preparatory sketches, for play and practice? Or are they making finished artwork that will be sold into collections?
As artists we don’t always know the answers to these questions at the outset, but considering them will help to determine how to select and best prepare the surfaces we choose to work on.
It’s important to remember that paper, regardless of what art materials are being used on it, will always present long-term conservation concerns. Fragility is inherent in paper. Environmental factors such as heat, humidity, light, insects - the list goes on and on - can affect papers stability. Choosing an appropriate paper and proper preparation for your chosen medium is important. The great news is that there are so many papers to choose from.