Could I please get your thoughts on best practice for layering oil paint? I hear about and have experienced myself, lots of problems with adhesion and I understand that using retouching varnish between layers and oiling out of the whole surface are both not recommended solutions. I love layering and often will continue on a painting after it is very dry. Oiling out doesn’t work in this situation for me anyway as it beads up and also I don’t want a yellow surface where some parts will not be covered. I have tried ‘etching’ the surface with turpentine or oil of spike lavender as they have strong bites, but it doesn’t work. After the paint has dried for a few weeks I can easily scratch it off with a fingernail. The best solution I have found to allow a bond is onion juice. But it doesn’t always work.
I have heard of sanding but that seems drastic and wouldn’t get in crevices. Is there anything that works consistently to allow you to continue painting on a closed surface?
Thank you.
Gentle sanding can work but not in all circumstances. This has been covered on MITRA a number of times so a search may help. On of the methods that I have suggested is to apply a paste of a moderate rind of calcium carbonate in either water or odorless mineral spirits and lightly buff the area with a rag. Remove the paste/slurry before attempting to add another layer. This should cut the sheen and provide at least a small amount of tooth. Hopefully beading is stopped/reduced and the application of additional layers is facilitated.
