I am celebrating 31 years, this past May painting in oils, or since 1991 May. In this time period I have developed my surface coating using my background in chemistry and how oils works with eye, when layered in thin layers. My wife Marge gifted me several books on the very well known oil painter from Italy in 1500's Leonardo da Vinci. The recently surfaced painting called " Salvador Mundi " Savior of The World was disovered in USA in 2011, and from it's beginning creation not a lot known. The expert, Martin Kemp was called in the world's most foremost curator of any work by Leonardo and confirmed it's authenticity as a Leonado da Vinci original oil painting. In all Leonardo's note books, he did not document his technique and materials he used, he only describes key aspects about painting. Then a great miracle took place a couple years ago, within the field of science, small samples from surface though all layers to suraface of Walnut wood  were analyzed for composition and recently documented and pubically publised in 2017. Another publication, " Leonado" by Water Iaasason also publihed parts of this chemical analysis was also published by Martin Kemp in his recend book published in 2018, called Leonardo by Leonardo. This is the first time in over 500 years anyone ever knew what Leonardo used to treat his painting surfaces and types of paint. 

To my delighted discovery all my surface chemistry was almost idential to Leonardo with a couple exceptions. I use Jack Richeson & Son Hard Board ( made from wood fiber) made in USA and subsited a calcium carbonate chemisty for the lead white ground. I have known for past 31 years about lead white ground and developed a very unique chemisty, without due to toxicity of this material. I got the idea to recreate a new Salvador Mundi oil painting,my version, using my coating amended by addition of lead white ground. I purchased from Natural Pigments. The panel Leonardo painted on was Walnut wood, so I purchased a 2' x 4' laminate plywood in Walnut from Home Depot. It took close to 3 weeks to prepare the Walnut panel and once completed, I was ready to write my color palette and as I mused more realized Leonardo's " Salvador Mundi" like his " Mona Lisa" legendary Classics of his great oil paintings, stand the test for all time. I decided to honor his work and not proceed to recreate his " Salvador Mundi" but to use this Walnut Wood panel to create a masterpiece of The Split Rock Lighthouse in Two Harbors, MN about 60 miles north Duluth, MN. This is a world famious American Icon located in Midwest, here in MN 100,00's come to see annually. 

I just completed my original oil painting, using my ameded surface chemisty and signed, is now avaialable for sale. My oils used are made by M Graham made in USA in Oregon and yesterday signed my work. My son Christopher, a master carpenter, is building a hand made Premium Red Oak Custom frame, and I will go pick up next week, take back to studio to hand rub 6 layers of Tung Oils making so magnificent.

When my work is finished and varnished with frame installed, I will converse with all of you interested, and post likewise on my FASO website.  

Let me know your view and comments. Have a great day.

Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

Titled " Leonardo "  on Walnut Wood sized 25 3/4" x 17 1/4" x 1/4" painted using M. Graham Oils made in USA.