"Nature of Oil Painting – Environmental Health and Safe Studio Practices" presented by Jaclyn Mednicov, Gamblin Artist Oils.

Presented by Jaclyn Mednicov, artist representative for Gamblin Artist Oils. 

For 600 years, oil painting has been the preeminent medium of visual expression. There is nothing more natural or enduring than oil painting. No other painting media holds the same raw power of communication, pigment load and artistic possibility. Painters today are interested in knowing where their materials are from and in making the right choices for their work, their own well-being and the environment.

The landscape of oil painting changed significantly during the 20th century – painters’ color palette was expanded with the development of modern organic pigments and the oil painting process has become safer, primarily through our work to develop contemporary mediums, solvents and varnishes.

Still, artists today are moving toward water-based painting media because of assumed attitudes and misconceptions in regards to personal and environmental safety. This presentation explores the nature of oil painting – from the field to the palette – in order to create permanent paintings while at the same time protecting ourselves and the environment.