Start to Finish: Layering, Glazing, and Varnishing

Creating Your Cobra Oil Masterpiece From Start to Finish. Everything you need to know about getting started, building with oils, glazing and varnishing with Cobra Water Mixable Oils.

How do I get started with Cobra Watermixable Oil Paint

• You will need a palette. Wooden, plastic or tear off.
• Palette cups will allow for your water or mediums to be accessible.
• A palette knife comes in handy for mixing and can also be used for painting.
• If working on an easel choose a brush with a long handle.
• Short handled brushes can be used for detail or working on a table.
• Your canvas should be prepared with two coats of gesso.
• You can use charcoal to sketch out your painting.
• This can be removed with a kneadable eraser.
• You will also need a jar of water.

Building an Oil Painting with Cobra Water Mixable Oil

• If you want to build up an oil painting in multiple layers, the same rules apply as with other oil paint: the ‘fat over lean’ method.
• You can only apply the next layer once the previous layer is so dry that it will not dissolve. Dry to the touch.
• Make sure your canvas has two layer of gesso to prevent oil from penetrating and ensure excellent adhesion.
• The first layer must be thinner or leaner than the following layer. The more water the thinner the paint.
• The next layer will need to be thicker fatter than the previous layer. This could be pure Cobra oil paint.
• For the next layer you can use a Cobra medium to make the paint fatter.
• And for yet another layer you can use a glazing medium.

Glazing | Painting Technique

• Glazing comes from the word ‘glacis’. This is a technique in which you apply a transparent layer.
• It can be used as a top layer to your painting or to paint over a ‘grisaille’ a painting in greys only.
• Transparent colours allow you to produce a huge range of effects. Depth, optical blends and a kind of haze.
• Glaze layers should be applied to dry layers.
• If working on top of lean layers our Cobra oil paint can be applied.
• After using pure Cobra oils adding glazing medium will make the paint even more transparent.
• Use a soft brush to apply a thin even layer.
• Glazing layers can be built up using multiple layers and colours.

Varnishes | How to

• After 9 to 12 months of drying a varnish can be applied.
• This give your painting extra protection and keep your piece in top condition for as long as possible.
• This protects your work from external influences.
• You can also apply your preference in degree of gloss.
• Varnishes come in a variety of finishes. Matte, satin and gloss.
• Always ventilate the room well while varnishing.
• Before varnishing it is important that both your spray can of varnish and canvas are in the same room for a couple of hours.
• Hold the spray can about 30-40cm away from your work while spraying.
• Start spraying outside of your work first then go over your work.
• Do not spray in the same place for too long.
• Once finished, hold the can upside down and spray until no more varnish comes out. This will clean the cap.