Artists all have their own favorite paints, and it is hard to dissuade them from their pet colors and brands.
Most choose a variety of paints from a number of manufacturers. An artist need not limit himself to one line or brand of paints.
Experience and experimentation is part of the fun of painting.
Finding just the right shade of green or the perfect consistency is all part of the hunt and is another element of growing as an artist.
Student Grade Paints
Starting out as a beginning artist, a student will need to purchase a lot of supplies. This can get costly, so there is a temptation to minimize costs by buying less costly paints. There are many student quality paints on the market and there definitely is a difference between brands. A beginner will not know the difference until he compares the characteristics.
Select only a basic assortment of paints and spend as much as you reasonably can afford. Buy only small containers of paint, so you are not locked in to one brand for an extended time. When it comes time to replenish a color, choose another brand. If you like the way a color performs and looks, check to see if the manufacturer has a higher grade of that color. Work your way up to professional grade paints as you can afford it. As an artist’s experience increases, he sees and feels the subtle differences between brands and lines within a brand, and he comes to appreciate the value of professional paints.
Colors And Variations Of Paints
Look at any manufacturer’s color chart. You will be impressed with the variety, and perhaps be confused by it, as well. A line may offer Cadmium Yellow Light, Medium and Dark, as well as Cadmium Yellow Lemon. Now, why on earth are there four choices of yellow? All yellows are not created equally. That is not just a saying. That is a chemical fact when it comes to paints.
Each color is composed of certain pigments, either single components or combinations of materials. They behave differently when used alone or in combination with different colors. For example, an artist wants to combine yellow and blue to make green. He wants a bright, vivid green. If he uses Cadmium Yellow Light or Cadmium Yellow Lemon mixed with Ultramarine Blue, he creates a bright, cheery green. If he uses Cadmium Yellow Dark, the results will not be vibrant. It will definitely be green, but will be muted when compared to the green made from the Cadmium Yellow Lemon. This is a perfectly acceptable green, but not what the artist wants.
Does an artist need all four yellow paints? Of course not, but he may want to have at least two yellow hues in this color family. This scenario refers to the Cadmium Yellow line of colors. However, many other yellow paints are available. There is New Gamboge, Naples Yellow, Aureolin, Bismuth, Indian Yellow, Quinacridone Gold and Yellow Ochre. This does not even take into consideration the yellows that are manufacturer’s proprietary formulations.
Repeat this scenario with all the other colors families and you end up with many paint choices. It is no wonder that many artists move very quickly from a simple paint box to a tabouret. Color is an addiction for an artist. There is always another color to try out. Maybe the next red will be the perfect choice for the floral palette, or a more brilliant blue is just around the corner.
Paints May Vary
Then there is the fact that each manufacturer’s formula may vary, resulting in noticeable differences among same-named paints. A good example is Payne’s Gray. Some manufacturer’s versions of this color are a neutral, true gray, while other companies produce a very blue-gray paint. Whether an artist opts for the gray or the blue-gray is personal preference, and there is no reason not to have both.
It’s fun to experiment with all the colors that are available, but this can be very costly. Talk with other artists about their palette and color choices. If you are involved in a class or retreat, look at what colors a fellow artist is using for a painting, learning which brands and colors he chooses to make particularly appealing tones. It may be appropriate to trade samples of paint, so you can try a new color or brand.
Never lock yourself into one line of paints or limit your palette for lack of experience. You may find that a previously unknown brand has just the buttery texture you want or the perfect shade that has eluded you. An artist is always learning, whether it is a new technique or an innovative color. Give in to your addiction a little, and indulge yourself in a new tube of paint.
