R & F builds these sets around materials that work naturally together. Six 38ml Pigment Sticks arrive packaged in an Ampersand Cradled Gessobord, the same absorbent gesso surface that responds beautifully to oil stick techniques. The combination eliminates guesswork about substrate compatibility while providing immediate workspace for color testing and experimentation.

The sticks themselves contain pure alkyd refined linseed oil and purified natural plant and beeswax, without driers or fillers that compromise handling. This formulation maintains lipstick-soft consistency that responds to direct pressure and gestural marks. Intensively pigmented colors deliver vibrant results whether applied heavily for impasto effects or blended with solvents for transparent washes.

The 6½" × 7½" cradled Gessobord provides proper tooth for oil stick adhesion while its rigid support prevents warping under aggressive techniques. Use this surface for finished small works or color studies that inform larger pieces. Both Pigment Sticks and Gessobords remain available individually for expanding your palette or scaling up to different formats once you've established preferred working methods with this starter configuration.