WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN OIL PAINT SERIES

Oil painting has always been my paint medium of choice due to its versatility, luminosity, and durability which lends itself ideally to my painting style. But with so many oil paint brands, qualities and options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs. In this guide, here I want to discuss the key factors to consider when selecting artist quality oil paints best suited for your practice.

I wanted to point out in this article that may help you understand the difference between oil paints to help you choose whats best for you.

ARTIST AND STUDENT QUALITY

Artist’s quality oil paints are made of the purest and highest-quality ingredients such as the greater the pigment content and being devoid of “fillers or extenders” making them the highest quality paint you can get. Their prices are divided up in series, the higher the series the more expensive the pigment leads to the more expensive tube of paint. Artist’s quality have a much greater spectrum to choose from also.

Student quality oil paints usually has more “filler” in the tube, so while it may appear to be thick and buttery, there’s less pigment in there. This is the main difference between the two qualities of paint. Although because of this it makes the paint more affordable which is perfect for beginners trying to familiarise themselves with the medium. But this does means you need more paint to get the same tint or coverage that you’d get with Artist grade. Student paint also tends to use cheaper lookalike pigments that may not have the same strength or lightfastness as their artist-grade counterparts. Student paint may not mix the same as artist quality, so if you’re following a colour mixing recipe (two parts titanium white to one part cadmium red light, or whatever), your mixture may not turn out as expected.

HOW TO READ AN OIL PAINT TUBE LABEL

Colour name: The name of the colour. These are not necessarily unique to a range or medium. For instance, Cerulean Blue is available in watercolour and oil colour.

Series number: Indicates the relative price of the colour and is determined mainly by the cost of the pigment.

Permanence rating: The Winsor & Newton permanence classifications measure not only lightfastness but also film and chemical stability of the paint.

Pigment number: Each pigment can be identified by its Colour Index Generic Name. For example, Cobalt Blue is Pigment Blue 28, abbreviated to PB28. More than one pigment abbreviation indicates multiple pigments.

Opacity: Symbols are used to represent the transparency or opacity of a colour.

Lightfastness: Shown with an ASTM rating for the pigment. In this system, I is the highest lightfastness available and V is the lowest. Both ratings I and II are considered permanent for artists’ use.

EXPLAINING OIL PAINT SERIES

Oil paint series refer to different grades or levels of quality within a brand of oil paints. The main difference between the series of oil paints is the amount and quality of the pigments used in the production of the paint.

Generally, higher series oil paints have a higher concentration of pigments, which makes them more intense and vibrant in color. They also tend to have a higher degree of lightfastness, which means that the color will not fade over time when exposed to light. High series oil paints also tend to have a smoother and more consistent texture, making them easier to apply and manipulate.

Overall, the series of oil paints you choose depends on your budget, the quality you're looking for, and the intended purpose of your artwork. If you're just starting out or painting for fun, lower series oil paints may be a good choice. However, if you're a professional artist or want your artwork to last for many years, investing in higher series oil paints may be the best option.

Also, when checking the series number, there are more things to explore before you purchase your paint. You should always look at the actual pigment being used. The front of the tube may say one thing, while the pigments listed on the back of the tube are something different.

The first clue that the paint you choose is not a “pure” colour is the fact that the name of the colour has the word “hue” on it. When it comes to artist’s paint, the word “hue” references the fact that the paint is a mix of colours, not a single pigment.

Winsor & Newton showed Business Insider exactly what lengths they go to make their range of Artists’ Oil Colour, such as the the quality of their pigments and the high concentration they use them in.

Winsor & Newton showed Business Insider exactly what lengths they go to make their range of Artists’ Oil Colour, such as the the quality of their pigments and the high concentration they use them in.

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