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Which Brand of Oil Paint is best to Use?
To be honest, this is one of those questions that cannot be answered in its current form. It’s like asking, “Who is the better guitar player, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaughn or Brian May?” to pick out a few greats. At this level, they are all amazing; they are no longer people who play the guitar, rather artists whose canvas is a guitar. It’s no longer about who is better; it is now only a matter of preference. However, there are clearly differences between these guys and an average guitarist, and these differences we can see. So, enough of the guitar analogy; let’s re-phrase the question.
Which paints would you use to create a masterpiece and, if you have the choice, which on balance would you prefer to buy?
What I Look For In An Oil Paint Brand.
See my article ‘Six Qualities That Make an Oil Paint a Good Oil Paint – All Brands Are Not the Same’, for a discussion of this list. For ease, here is the list again.
- Texture
- Transparency
- Colour Intensity
- Colour Variety
- Price
- Place of Manufacture
5 Oil Paint Brands I’ve Made Good Use Of:
I realise putting a list up on the internet is asking for trouble, nevertheless, here it is in alphabetical order. I’m basing this list mainly on paints I’ve had the pleasure of using and have had easy access to. I know it is unfair to compare ‘Artist’ colours with ‘Student’ colours but often the difference is in the origin of the pigment and since value for money and availability is on my list, it would be wrong to ignore them.
- Amsterdam: These paints are generally sold as a student range (as with the Winsor & Newton Winton range) although I found them OK. The texture was consistent and suited me. They are sold in big tubes and they are reasonably priced. The vibrancy and range of primary colours is what lets them down but they are good for practicing or trying out new ideas. The manufacturer is Royal Talens but I don’t know where their paints are manufactured.
- Da Vinci: These guys produce a good range of colours and the texture seams consistent across their range. I generally find them in shops that don’t sell one of the other leading brands and on occasion make use of their blues. The cost difference across their series is low although it’s not clear they sell anything larger than 40ml (except for white), which for me can be a pain.
- Lourve: Made by Lefranc Bourgeois this is there student range. The texture of their paints tends to the loose side but is within my acceptable range. The range is not bad and concentrates on the primary colours with some good yellows in there. Probably the reason I first tried them was because they were cheap and in this respect they are great value for money. This range is made in China. Lefrance do also make a full artist range but I haven’t used them.
- Van Gogh: These are also considered student colours due to the synthetic pigments used but I have used them a lot in the past. When travelling and painting in Eastern Europe, they were the most readily available. The texture is good, the colour range comprehensive and they are available in 40 and 150ml tubes. The entire range seems to be 1 price which makes buying easy and they are good value for money. Where they fall slightly short is in the vibrancy of some of their colours but then it is student/practice paint. Despite the name, these paints are made in Italy.
- Winsor & Newton: Although the texture is different for different colours, they are mostly in the range that suits my style. The intensity of colour is fantastic, especially in the cadmium artist range and the choice of colours leaves me like a kid in a sweet shop. The artist colours vary in price depending on series and they are not cheap. This is where the Winton range comes in, a reduced range of colour but much more affordable in 200ml tubes mainly because the colour pigments are synthetic. I’m not a traditionalist so this doesn’t bother me. Finally, you can visit their factory in West London and decide for yourself, re: their working practices.
Paints To Stay Away From
There aren’t many of these but one I have tried and wouldn’t buy again is Etude, Sennelier’s Student Artist range. For my requirements, the paints are far too oily and fluid.
My Preferred Brand
On balance I find Winsor & Newton provide me with everything I am looking for in my oil paints. I generally use the Winton range for big, bulky paintings and when the colour and transparency is what I’m looking for; I supplement these with Artist Oils when I need specific colours. When I’m painting with a brush (as opposed to a pallet knife) I often only use the Artist Oils for their bolder colours especially when thin.
About the Author
Marcus Krackowizer is an established contemporary impressionist painter based in the UK. As a successful self taught artist he enjoys writting articles and answering questions were it can be of help to others. You can see his art in his Contemporary Art Gallery.
Blick Presents: Sennelier Oil Pastels
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Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter $21.99 Oil pastels offer artists a virtually unlimited treasury of creative potential. They’re also considered a safe alternative to soft pastels. Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner shows both new and veteran artists how to make the most of this fabulous medium.Lessons progress simply and clearly from easy subjects and techniques to the more difficult and complex. First, artists learn how to use oil p… |
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The Pastel Book $14.09 Absolutely the most thorough guide to pastel materials and techniques ever assembled in a single volume, this is the book for anyone working with pastels, from beginners to experienced artists looking to develop more professional skills.Defining the pastel medium broadly—color in stick form to be used for drawing and painting simultaneously—the author creates works of sensuous textures and col… |
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Artist’s Little Book of Color $11.69 Fascinating facts and useful information on all aspects of color. The most popular colors available to the artist are also the colors that are part of the everyday world. Simon Jennings deals with color history, mythology, science, chemistry and botany, and he tells engaging stories about the great artists and how they used color. Chapters on each of the primary, secondary and tertiary col… |
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Sennelier Oil Pastel Havanna Ochre $3.89 Developed by Sennellier & Pablo Picasso, Sennelier Artists Oil Pastels contain more pigment than any other brand. Use on a variety of surfaces including canvas, paper, metal, wood, stone, even glass. Create multi-media effects over oil, acrylic, pastel or watercolor. These pastels can be thinned with turpentine are lightfast non-toxic and acid-free to resist drying. Choose from 120 open stock colo… |
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Sennelier Oil Pastel Cold Gray $3.89 Developed by Sennellier & Pablo Picasso, Sennelier Artists Oil Pastels contain more pigment than any other brand. Use on a variety of surfaces including canvas, paper, metal, wood, stone, even glass. Create multi-media effects over oil, acrylic, pastel or watercolor. These pastels can be thinned with turpentine are lightfast non-toxic and acid-free to resist drying. Choose from 120 open stock colo… |
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Sennelier Oil Pastel Pthalo Blue $3.89 Developed by Sennellier & Pablo Picasso, Sennelier Artists Oil Pastels contain more pigment than any other brand. Use on a variety of surfaces including canvas, paper, metal, wood, stone, even glass. Create multi-media effects over oil, acrylic, pastel or watercolor. These pastels can be thinned with turpentine are lightfast non-toxic and acid-free to resist drying. Choose from 120 open stock colo… |
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Sennelier Oil – 250 ml Bottle – Poppy Seed Oil Boiled Linseed Oil – Provides texture and roundness to the brushstroke. Dries more quickly than normal linseed oil. Provides a glossy, slightly amber-colored film. Best with dark colors, avoid excess. Clarified Linseed Oil – Purified oil, with a natural amber tint. Adds body to the paste. Very transparent, but has a tendency to yellow over time. Best with dark or slow drying colors. Does not affec… |
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Sennelier Oil – 75 ml Bottle – Barrier Varnish Barrier Varnish – Intermediate varnish used to isolate paint layers. Reduces the risk of sinkage, and allows repainting. May be over-varnished. Gives a clear gloss film. Extra-Fine Damar Picture Varnish – Concentrated damar gum-based final varnish. Gives an attractive glossy high-build film. Only apply on completely dry paintings. Avoid application in damp weather. Gloss Picture Varnish – Syntheti… |