What to Consider When Selecting Oil Paint

What to Consider When Selecting Oil Paint

COST

One of the biggest differences between acrylic and oil paint is the cost. Due to the use of pure pigments, you’ll find that oil paints are priced at a premium. In fact, you’ll quickly notice differences in the prices of tubes depending on which pigment—and how much of it—is inside. When speaking of artist grade paints, manufacturers will often label their colors on a number or letter scale, with the higher number or letter signifying a higher price due to the type of pigment used.

If you are looking to save on money, student grade oil paints will give significant savings, but at a price. In order to cut costs, fillers and stabilizers are incorporated with the pigment and oil. While this makes student grade paints cheaper, it can also have an effect on the color, which can sometimes come out murky when mixed. In general, student grade oil paints use synthetic hues instead of pure pigment, which can lead to discrepancies in color.

Artist grade oil paints are created to be as vibrant and permanent as possible, with the purest paints made solely of pigment and linseed—or poppy—oil. While they can be more costly, starting with smaller tubes or a limited color palette will allow you to experiment with professional quality paints without overspending. And because the pigment load is higher, you’ll need less paint to get the vibrant colors you’re after.