Cass Art has always loved Michael Harding oil paint. A friend of Michael himself and a stockist of his artist quality oils, we wanted to take a quick look at a few facts about the brand, and why artists across the world today continue to use his unique colours.
Michael Harding was born and raised in Kent, England, and graduated from Fine Arts College. Now a fellow at The Royal Society of British Artists, Michael is also an entrepreneur and the lead figure behind his brand, running the research and manufacturing that goes into every one of his oil colours.
THE STORY OF
MICHAEL HARDING
Michael loves colour, and after being disappointed with the quality of the oil paints he used as an art student, set out to create something which satisfied his needs.
So in 1982, Michael Harding was born, as the brand of artists' oil paint we all know today. By formulating and creating his own paints, he has created something used by exceptional artists across the world, and his fans include Howard Hodgkin, David Hockney and Chris Ofili.
MICHAEL HARDING & CASS ART
Often nicknamed, "The Colour Man", Michael Harding also makes frequent appearances at art shops, art clubs and art associations across the world, to give talks on materials and paint techniques. He regularly gives painting demonstrations and workshops at Cass Art shops as you can see here in our Flagship Islington store to showcase the special qualities of his oil paint and mediums.
INSIDE THE TUBE
Here Michael Harding brings us up close and behind the scenes as he unearths the story behind his mesmerising, luminous, brilliant colours.
DISCOVERING PRIMERS
Here Michael takes a look at his Acrylic Primers which have been specially formulated to provide a non-absorbent surface which will not leech oil from oil paints like a conventional acrylic primer. This stops paints looking dull, flat and muted, helping them to retain the lustre they had when first squeezed from the tube.
