Today I made the switch from lead white oil paint to a non-lead white. Environmental and health concerns were the main reasons for doing this. I wasn't thinking about cost but it turns out non-lead white is less expensive too - a nice surprise. Today I used Winsor & Newton Underpainting White (Fast Drying) - a good alternative, I've been reading, to lead white.
I'll have to paint quite a few pictures with this new white before it feels right to me. But even at this awkward stage I'm happy with the first painting I made with it - and very pleased with how much healthier the studio feels.
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| a little study of the St. Croix River; oil on linen; 6" x 10" |
I painted this little study next to my computer monitor. The photo is one I took yesterday while sitting in a canoe on the St. Croix River near Osceola, Wisconsin USA. Below is an in-progress shot to show how this all works. I've only used this method a few times because I much rather enjoy painting outside. But I knew I couldn't paint this scene while floating down-river in a canoe. And I also thought this would be a nice way to break in the Underpainting White. (The pencil sketch taped to the monitor is meant to be me (with my big straw hat) in a canoe seen paddling from behind. I thought I'd add it as a couple of paint daubs but decided against it as the painting neared completion.)
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