Artist-grade or student-grade oil paint, making a choice on which is best to use, is the topic of this article. But first, an introduction to what oil paints are.
Traditional oil paints continue to be the most popular of all painting media used by artists today. They are versatile and provide a richness and depth of color that is unsurpassed by any other painting media. Drying time takes longer; however, this allows the artist to blend and rework the paint to achieve the desired effect. In addition, oil paints are more durable than other painting media and are more resistant to fading.
There are two types of oil paints available, artist grade and student grade. However, there are differences between the two, and the most notable difference is the price. Knowing the qualities each grade offers will make it easier to decide which one is just right for you.
Artist Grade Oil Paints
Artist or professional-grade oil colors are made with the purest and finest quality ingredients. That means a full load of pigment, suspended in a drying oil called a binder, either linseed oil, safflower oil, poppy seed oil, or walnut oil. Linseed oil is the most common binder, however. As a result, the colors in artist-grade oils are much more vibrant and concentrated. They are also ideal for gaining experience with color mixing. Artist-grade paints come in a wide variety of colors and work best when used on gesso-primed surfaces.
Click for more information about using gesso as a primer on canvas.
Student Grade Oil Paints
Student or academy-grade oil colors have less pigment concentration; however, less pigment means less expensive formulas. This is an added benefit for the art student or novice just starting. The more costly pigments are generally replicated by hues. Although working with student oils is similar to working with professional artist oils in terms of consistency and opacity, no matter the color, the hues may not have the same mixing characteristics as regular full-strength colors. In addition, student-grade oils come in a limited range of colors.
How To Choose
The primary difference between artist-grade and student-grade oil colors is the amount of pigment in the paint. The extra pigment accounts for the higher cost of artist-grade oil paints. It also means that the color covers more surface when used with mediums and is available in more colors than student grade.
Student-grade oil colors have their advantages. Some artists prefer using them as the underpainting and then finishing up the detailed work with artist-grade oils. Because they are more economical, they can be used for experimenting with and covering larger canvas areas.
A summary of the benefits of each grade will help you to decide.
Artist-Grade
– High quality
– Vibrant colors
– Gain better experience with mixing colors
– Larger range of colors
Student-Grade
– Less expensive
– Great practice for beginners or novices
– Same price for every color
– Great for the larger areas in a painting
Popular Artist Oil Paints
Below is a list of some popular brands of oil paint. This is by no means a complete list; however, it will get you started. Eventually, you will come across a brand you like better than any of them and stick with it. In addition, some brands manufacture both artist-grade and student-grade oil colors.
Artist-Grade Oil Colors
– Gamblin* Artist’s Oil Colors
– Grumbacher* Pre-Tested Artists’ Oil Colors
– Old Holland Classic Oil Colors
– Rembrandt Artists’ Oil Colors
– Winsor & Newton* Artist Oil Colors
*Brands that manufacture both professional and student-grade oil colors.
Student-Grade Oil Colors
– Gamblin 1980 Oil Colors
– Grumbacher Academy Oil Colors
– Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colors
For more information about the different grades of artist oils, see the article titled What Every Oil Painter Needs to Know About Artist Oils, Part 2.
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