Art Supplies Painting

Fact or Myth: 4 Things to Consider Before You Purchase Oil Paint

6 Facts to Consider Before You Purchase Oil Paint

Before you purchase oil paint, it’s helpful to be aware of various facts and myths, pertaining to the product. Discover 4 things to consider about oil paint.

Oil painting has been a popular technique for artists since its invention hundreds of years ago in Asia.

In fact, many of the most famous paintings in the world were created with oil paint. Whether you paint professionally or just for fun, you know that a beautiful painting starts with high-quality paint.

However, there are lots of misconceptions about oil paints out there.

In this post, we’re clearing them up! Read on to learn 6 myths and facts about oil paints.

1. Myth: Oil Paints Smell

Whether you’ve romanticized the smell of oil paints, or if you’ve avoided using them because you think they stink, we have a reality check:

It’s not actually the oil paint that you’re smelling. Instead, it’s likely the turpentine that you could be using to clean your brushes or thin out your paints. If you’re using turpentine, always make sure you close up the bottle immediately after use.

This way, your studio will smell fresh and you’ll avoid exposure to toxins. Keep your mental and physical health in check!

2. Myth: Oil Paints Are Toxic

Unless you’re planning on eating them (which we can’t say is your best idea) the vast majority of oil paints aren’t toxic. Remember, for the most part, oil paints only contain two ingredients: the oil itself, and the color pigment.

Where people run into issues is when they buy lead-white paint – and even then, you’d have to inhale tons of it. Trust us, it would be a challenge. Still, if you would rather have peace of mind, just avoid buying lead-white paint and even cadmium paints.

There are lots of synthetic paints that you can use instead.

3. Fact: There Are Different Grades Of Oil Paints

Not all oil paints are created equal. In fact, you’ll have a pretty enormous selection of different grades to choose from.

If you’re just learning, you might want to go with a student grade option. But if you plan on selling your work, an artist/professional grade is best. These are not only better quality paints, but they’re still an affordable option!

They contain more pigment and often offer you more color choices than student grade options. Look for ones like Sennelier, Holbein, and Gamblin.

4. Fact: You Can Paint On A Variety Of Surfaces

No matter what you may have heard in the past, the truth is that oil paints work well on many different surfaces – not just canvases.

They even work on paper! If you have a wooden project or even a metallic surface, oil paints are a wonderful option.

Keep in mind that oil paint is also pretty durable, which makes it even more adaptive to a variety of surfaces. It can even be used as a finish!

Need To Purchase Oil Paint?

Now that this post has cleared up some of the biggest misconceptions about oil paint, you’re probably ready to purchase some art supplies of your own.

Check out our website to find product reviews of the perfect oil paints, canvases, brushes and more. Start creating your masterpiece!