In Reply to: FAT OVER LEAN posted by Gareth Caldwell on 08/08/01 at 7:34 PM:

: 1)If I want multiple layers of opaque and viscous paint(whether brushed-out or impasto), ....
Dont mean to be facetious(sp) but try not to paint in this way. Research is increasingly showing it is a sure way to problems in the paint film - one of the main reasons 19th and 20th century oil paintings are not aging well. Impasto of any real thickness is bad practice in the long term.

If you have to paint in layers follow the tried and true methods. Personally I would try to keep the number of layers down to four, including imprimatura.

: I have read that it should be a drop or two of medium to an inch of tube paint ....
You need to learnt he characteristics of you particular paints and brand. Blocks is oily, w+n is not so the same "rules" cant apply to both. Try to get a feel for how oily your particular exampel of each colour is, read up on the normal oil proportions for these colours to help you.

: What oil should I be using here?
Linseed is best, no if's and or but's.

: 2)Should Oleopasto be regarded as fat, lean, or neutral?
Reading the product litrature is probably the best bet. Liquin is often sited as being lean but w+n say you should consider it fat so ....

hope it helps,
m.