Information on painting best practice

Some of us are fascinated by technical information relating to the materials we use - perhaps especially with oil paint, because of its history and the sometimes extraordinary chemical reactions that can be caused, the effect of age and atmospheric conditions on paint and supports, and the relative complexity of the materials used - and some "just want to paint". I can understand the latter, though lean more to the former - lacking a degree in chemistry, however, my understanding is necessarily limited. And it's true that for some of us, it's not important to know what might happen to our paintings a century or more after we've been planted beneath the verdant sod. Even so, anyone who paints in oils knows that there are certain things you have to avoid, and others you need to do, if we're not to invite early destruction of the paint film: so all of us, at every level, need SOME grasp of the technical characteristics of oil paint and supports. And it happens that the most intensive research is being carried on in the USA - here, there's too much "take it on trust", I believe; we tend not to look for solid information (and it isn't always available anyway), but rather for reassurance. But I find no comfort in reassurance based on ignorance, or insufficient knowledge. You can trawl through art books, magazines, videos, you can attend art schools, state or private, and still not get definitive answers to basic questions; here's a few - is it safe or good practice to mix a varnish with your paint medium? To use the recipes for mediums to be found in old books, in the hope of rediscovering old masters' "secrets"? Are some colours - for whatever reason - best avoided in oil? Is there good reason to use lead white (if you can find it)? Is "oiling out" a painting good practice? Do oils all need varnishing? With what varnish? Is canvas the best support for oil paint? What's the best way to prime supports? You could ask all of these questions and many, many more - but you'll be very lucky to find good advice in one place - it's scattered about everywhere, and you have to search for it. If you want to find the best advice on these and other subjects, try the Natural Pigments forum - which deals with questions on a one by one basis (and there are plenty of them) without becoming bogged down in technical detail so far as it can be avoided; or go to https://www.artcons.udel.edu/mitra/forums Sooner or later I'll update my own e-book to take account of things I've learned from that and other sites, but there's much to be said for going straight to the horse's mouth, and the resource is free to use. It may cause you to question your current practice, but you could regard that as either unwelcome and unnerving, or a necessary challenge, I suppose! It's useful to know that the information is there, and the database is growing all the time - I don't suggest getting so wrapped up in technical data that you frighten yourself out of painting anything, and it's quite unnecessary to be frightened of oil paint; it should also be said that there are some questions to which we don't yet know the answer - e.g., will water-miscible oil stand the test of time? We don't know, because we haven't had that time. But then, sometimes it's as important to know what the questions are as to have the answers. IF this interests you, take a good delve. And if the very idea fills you with horror - well you won't go there anyway.

Adele - tried it, and no it's not your computer, I had the same experience; the page may have been altered; there was a Go Back to Site button, I clicked on that, and hey presto.... But whether you'll get that or not may depend on your browser. Try Googling University of Delaware, Mitra, while I look for a more reliable link.

Try this one: https://www.artcons.udel.edu/mitra/forums The site is still being constructed and added to - it does seem to be a typical problem with academic forums in the US and here that half the time their sites don't work! Also try the Painting Best Practice forum - which is also on Facebook. PS - I've now edited the original post, and hope the link works this time: it did when I checked it.