April 23, 2004
Alkyd Paint
Alkyd Paints are great if you need your paintings to dry fast during your workshop. But I've always preferred the slower drying Winsor Newton paints with the addition of a wet painting carrier. It's best to test them both out before taking your workshop to find out what works best for you.
What are Alkyds? Alkyd's main advantage over oil paints is that they are dry to the touch in 12-24 hours, and they may usually be varnished in 30 days. All colors dry at the same rate, and to a uniform semi-gloss finish.
Click on image to purchase paint at Dick Blick
Artists' Oil Colors
Winsor & Newton chemists still use some of the original formulas developed by William Winsor and Henry Newton in 1832. Few companies are willing to pay such scrupulous attention to detail as Winsor & Newton. These oil colors are unmatched for purity, quality, and permanence.
If you are traveling by plane to one of our workshops, be sure that you have a carrying system for your paintings, because they will take several days to dry.
Click on image to purchase paint at Dick Blick
Winton Oil Colors
Winton Oil Colors are great for beginners- there's more freedom for the painter to make mistakes since they are so affordable.
Winsor & Newton's formulas for the Winton Oils include modern hue pigments that produce an extremely close likeness in color to the more expensive natural pigments, and have excellent permanence ratings. These modern formulas are an affordable alternative to some of the traditional pigments. Winton Oils are intermixable with other oils.
If you are traveling by plane to one of our workshops, be sure that you have a carrying system for your paintings, because they will take several days to dry.
Click on image to purchase paint at Dick Blick
The Portable Soltek Easel
This is the easel that I use and I absolutely love it. A working artist engineered this easel to meet the special needs encountered in the field. It's adjustable, very sturdy, and very stable.
Setup time is less than 20 seconds. The wide stance legs extend or retract to any length with a touch (no wing nuts). Any convenient painting height and angle can be achieved.
The Soltek Portable Easel holds paintings up to 30" high. The removable polypro palette allows for quick cleanup. Its built-in work table stores paint, brushes, mediums, and towels. The box wings swing open to hold tools at the sides of the palette.
It comes furnished with a shoulder strap and palette. Also includes an instructional video and an allen wrench for setup and adjustment.
This easel weighs 9 lbs (4 kg) and measures 12½" wide × 19" long × 2½" high (32 cm × 48 cm × 6 cm) when folded down to its backpack storable size. Made of tough aluminum alloy and polymers.
Soltek Pro Portable Easel
Soltek's Pro model is the same as the original, but even taller! Legs extend 8" further for working higher.
Click on image to purchase this easel at Dick Blick.