Making Oil Paints

What is Oil Paint?

Oil Paints consist of two materials, pigments and a binder. Pigments are the colors and when in their original state are a fine powder. A binder is what holds the pigments together and allows them to stick to whatever surface they are applied to. In the case of oil paints the binder is usually Linseed Oil.

Pigments

-Natural Inorganic - Earth pigments such as dirt and clay.

-Artificial Inorganic - Colors that are produced using natural elements.

-Natural Organic - Pigments that are derived from either animal or vegetable.

-Synthetic Organic - Pigments that are manufactured by placing certain chemicals under intense heat or pressure.

Making Oil Paints

Materials

-Clean surface (glass is the easiest to clean)

-Pallette knife

-Pigments

-Linseed Oil

Procedure

-Place a small amount of pigment on the clean surface. Roughly a teaspoon.

-Slowly add the linseed oil while mixing with the pallette knife.

-Continue grinding the pigment with the pallette knife until a paste is developed.

-If there are any lumps that cannot be worked out, a little bit of mineral spirits can be used to thin out the pigment.

-Place the paste in a tube or mason jar, it is now usable oil paint.

 

 

 

Tim Carroll