Shiva Paintstiks Instructions

Shiva Paintstiks blend completely with standard oil paints.

Shiva Paintstiks are a type of crayon made up of compressed oil paint used in oil paintings. Oil paint (and oil-based paint) requires different techniques than water-based paints such as tempera and acrylic, to which many are more accustomed. Artists most often use Shiva Paintstiks to create the undersketch for a painting--the lines, forms and shapes the artist later fills in with his brush and standard oil paint.

Things You'll Need

• Optional:
• Stretched canvas
• Paper
• Oil paints in tubes
• Assorted brushes
• Turpentine
• Mineral spirits

Instructions

Instructions and Guidelines

1. 

   Canvas is an ideal surface for Shiva Paintstiks

   Select a painting surface. You can draw with Shiva Paintstiks on paper, fabric, wood, plastic and stretched canvas, which is the most commonly used surface.

2. Sketch the underlying shapes and form of the artwork you wish to design with a Shiva Paintstik. Concentrate on basic outlines. You'll be filling in forms later with paint.

   Most artists prefer to sketch with a neutral color such as gray or light brown. These colors won't muddy paint colors that may later go over these outlines.

3. Fill in the finished forms created in Step 2 with standard oil paint and brushes.

4. Blend the lines created by the Paintstiks with a paintbrush using turpentine or mineral spirits. If left unblended, Shiva Paintstiks have a linear effect. Blend the Paintstik marks if linearity isn't the effect you're looking for.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with the paintstiks. Even with centuries-old media such as oil painting and printmaking, artists always manage to discover new techniques and effects.

• Shiva Paintstiks are odorless and non-toxic--so you don't have to worry about using gloves or face masks.

• If you use Shiva Paintstiks with liquids that dilute oil--such as turpentine or mineral spirits--on paper, the paper will warp.

References

• "Art of the Pencil: A Revolutionary Look at Drawing, Painting and the Pencil "; Sherry Wallerstein Camhy; 1997