Designed For
This workshop is ideal for beginners who want to get their feet wet in this incredible medium. You can expect a fun, hands-on experience with like-minded beginner artists.
What to Expect
Oil and Cold Wax painting is typically taught in multiple day workshops because layers of oil paint take time to dry. I have created an approach that allows exploring the fundamentals of oil and cold wax painting in a one day fun, creative learning experience. Discover a variety of tools and techniques. Rather than focusing on one technique, my goal is to introduce you to a range of possibilities. You will have the opportunity to start creating your own new pieces of art. I will also have some works-in-progress that you will be able to use, or you can bring your own.
What People Are Saying
"It was fantastic to learn about the cold wax technique and I love how my experimental pieces turned out. I can’t wait to dig in and do some more painting projects with cold wax. Thank you for sharing your space, your time and your wealth of knowledge with us. Your works are so gorgeous and inspirational. Your studio is impressive and I hope you continue holding more workshops there."
-J. B.
"Great instructor and well-supported in terms of guidance and ability to ask questions - I plan to come back next year!"
-Rebecca L.
"It was a great workshop! So fun!"
-Barb J.
"It's well worth it if you're thinking about it. Had a great time learning from Mark."
-Steve M.
"Mark’s workshop was the perfect combination of learning and doing. Great instruction and support from an artist with a ton of cold wax painting experience along with plenty of hands on opportunity to try it for yourself. The class he created was in a comfortable learning environment along with other people there to share and have fun."
-D.F.
"Dale and I took an Oil and Cold Wax Workshop with the talented Mr. Witzling in Maryland Heights. I was pleased with this small painting that I made using many of the techniques we learned. Mark is a successful artist to watch!"
-Julie B.
Topics Included
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What is oil and cold wax?
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Why paint with it?
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Choosing a substrate
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How to prep your panel
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Mixing paint with wax
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Early layers of a painting
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Building up layers
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Excavating
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Tools of the trade
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Mediums/Solvents
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Texturing
Supply List
Arches Oil Paper | Recommended for the workshop unless you have prior experience with oil and cold wax. This is a great surface for oil and cold wax painting and less expensive than cradled wood panels. Arches brand has created this surface specifically for oil painting, so no need to gesso it – you can just start painting. It comes in pre-cut tear pads (Blick art store, etc. and available online.) 12x16 is a good size for our purpose. An advantage of the paper is that is also much easier to transport in your car.
Cold Wax Medium | The two most popular brands that I recommend are Gamblin and Dorland’s. The $25 pint size container is more than enough for the class. Do not feel obligated to buy the wax if this is your first time using cold wax medium and you aren’t sure about things yet. I’ll let you use some of mine. (The small pint tins run about $25.) In St. Louis, I have found cold wax at Dick Blick, St. Louis Art Supply, and Michael’s.
Oil Paint | Bring a small selection of your favorite colors. If you have them, you may want to bring both opaque and transparent colors to try. If you are not sure what that means, that’s ok! Don’t worry about it. Also, any grade/quality of oil paint will be fine for our purposes. If you have not painted in oils, I will also have a few tubes of paint that you are welcome to use. Note: There is no need for turpentine.
1 Roll of Paper Towels
Palette Paper | I recommend simply purchasing a roll of Freezer Wrap from the grocery store. Cheap and it works great. Or bring any painting palette that you’d like to use.
Tools for Painting | Lots of tools can be used for spreading paint. Bring things to try if you feel creative. If not, don’t worry about it, I have various tools you can try. One item I’d like you to use is a pastry scraper (see info on the pastry bowl scraper below.)
1 Messermeister Silicone Bowl Scraper | Can be ordered through Amazon and elsewhere for about $10. I recommend that you purchase and bring one.
1 Brayer | This is a small inexpensive handheld roller to help spread paint. You can get one online or at a local art store. I have some that can be shared (These come in different widths. A 4” roller is usually good.
Gamsol | This is Odorless Mineral Spirits. You won’t use much and I have plenty. Don’t buy it just for this workshop.
A Palette Knife for mixing paint
Texture and Mark-Making Tools | Bring what you have around the house – wax paper, aluminum foil, textured papers, string, collage papers, oil sticks, charcoal sticks. Anything you might have used for texture in an acrylic/mixed media painting or working with encaustics would work. Be creative and bring anything that interests you but ok to come empty-handed as well.
Questions? Feel free to email me.
314-307-7973 | mwitzling@gmail.com