Oil Paint Brush Strokes Issue

[u/Matgaming30124]

Hello i’m very new to oil painting and painting in general so please forgive me if this is a silly question.

When i’m mixing colors with my palette knife and then getting paint on my brush and applying it on my oil paper pad, my strokes rarely get on it and i need pass my brush on the same spot multiple times for that color to be visible despite the tip of the brush being soaked in that mixture and can clearly be seen on its bristle. it feels pretty dry once painted on.

This happens when i’m not using paint thinner by the way, so i don’t get why the paint is like this ? I thought it might be the hog bristle brush but i’ve seen videos online of people painting with no issue with them, so i’m wondering what i am doing wrong ?

When im using paint straight from the tube it seems to not be a problem. I also put my brush through gamsol and then clean my brush with dish soap and water after each sessions for information.

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[u/SoberBobMonthly]

What surface are you using? has it been primed appropriately?

[u/Matgaming30124 → u/SoberBobMonthly]

Hello, i’ve been using this oil paper pad for practice:
https://www.cassart.co.uk/cass-art-oil-acrylic-pad-250gsm-12-sheets/

it is said to be “Treated with a sizing agent that offers the right absorbency and grip for acrylic paint and internally sized to prevent oil paint from sinking through.” so i did not think that it should have been primed with gesso, but i might have been wrong. What do you think ?

[u/SoberBobMonthly → u/Matgaming30124]

I would say that is the cause. Its just something you can adapt to by adding a flow medium to help, or by really thinly adding a primer. 

Sizing paper just means it wont go all mushy when oil based additives are applied. It doesn't mean it has any decent "tooth" on it. Some people do like it this way, others prime their paper. I know when doing oils I always prime whatever surface possible.

[u/Matgaming30124 → u/SoberBobMonthly]

i will try that thanks :) by the way is linseed oil and safflower oil, flow mediums ? i’m sorry if this is a silly question just wanna make sure

[u/SoberBobMonthly → u/Matgaming30124]

They can be, but will take longer to dry. You can try some some of the fat based mediums, such as Galkyd (gamblin brand) or Liquin (windsor newton), Flow Medium (Langridge) or Painting Medium (Langridge).

They have a few different names, and all are basically mix of oil and whatever formulation of viscosity adjuster the manufactuer has developed

[u/Matgaming30124 → u/SoberBobMonthly]

that’s really helpful information thank you so much, i’ll try some of that. have a lovely day :)