Oil Paints: Properties and Basic Pigments

Opacity: Transparent vs. Opaque Paint

From the previous blog we know that there are several types and quality grades of oil paints. However, different oil paints also have different levels of opacity.

Oil paints labeled opaque cover the canvas completely. Those labeled semi-transparent or transparent cover the canvas (or the underlying layer of paint) partially.

- A filled square symbol indicates opaque paint.

- A half-filled square symbol indicates semi-transparent paint.

- A clear square symbol indicates transparent paint.

Warm and Cool Colors

Red, orange, and yellow are warm colors; they bring to mind warm things like the sun or fire.

Green, blue, and purple are cool colors; they bring to mind cool things like the ocean or wet grass.

Most ready-made oil paints are not pure colors, but a mix of warm and cool shades.

For example: Cadmium Yellow is a warmer yellow because it is a little orange, while Lemon Yellow is a cooler yellow because it is a little greenish.

For example, yellow will basically always be warm, but some yellow paints will be warmer, while others will be less warm.

Color Wheel: Primary Colors

The primary colors are:

- blue
- red
- yellow

A primary color is a color that cannot be mixed by combining other colors. You simply have to get all three primary colors because you cannot create them from any other colors.

Blue Pigment

Blue oil paint can be:

- With a purple undertone, as with ultramarine blue.
- Neutral, as with cobalt blue.
- With a green undertone, as with Prussian blue.
- Azure (sky blue) is a mixture of blue and white pigments.

Red Pigment

Red is a dominant color, which is why it is used for important road signs. In general, red symbolizes warning.

Since red catches the viewer's attention, it is best used sparingly in a painting, especially for distant objects, as it can make them appear closer.

Pink is a mixture of red and white pigments.

Peach is a mixture of pink and a little yellow.

Yellow Pigment

Yellow is a bright color that is sometimes used to brighten other colors.

Yellow ochre is one of the oldest earth colors and has many uses.

Color Wheel: Secondary Colors

There are 3 secondary colors:

- purple

- green

- orange

We can use the 3 primary colors to mix the 3 secondary colors:

- Mixing blue and red creates purple.

- Mixing blue and yellow creates green.

- Mixing red and yellow creates orange.

Purple Pigments

Purple is a mixture of red and blue.

Cool red oil paints are best for mixing purple. Warm red oil paints will produce a brownish or grayish purple.

Good to know:

Purple can look very dark. Add a little white to make it appear lighter.

Green Pigment

Green is a mixture of blue and yellow.

Mixing black and yellow creates khaki green.

Orange Pigment

Orange is a mixture of red and yellow.

Orange (and other earth colors) mixed with white can be used as a base for skin tones.

For a less saturated orange, add a little of the opposite color (blue) to the mixture.

Highly Saturated Colors

Some specific colors found in nature and everyday life are artificially made and have high saturation, meaning they have a sharp, rich color.

In these cases, the color cannot be mixed from other shades. So buying a specific tube of oil paint is the only solution.

These specific colors can be considered primary colors, since they also cannot be created using other colors.

Color Wheel: White, Black, and Gray

White Pigment

White pigment does not absorb any wavelengths (colors); it reflects them back. Since all other colors absorb certain wavelengths, they cannot be used to mix white. So you need to buy white paint, as it cannot be created by mixing other pigments.

White is an important color and the main color for lightening all other colors.

Pure white is rarely seen in nature because of reflections and other factors. In most cases, it is best to avoid using pure white when painting (except for highlights).

There are three basic shades of white, made from two pigments: titanium (PW6) and zinc (PW4).

Titanium - opaque white, excellent for covering and mixing colors.

Zinc - semi-transparent paint, excellent for glazing, usually cool, depending on the brand.

Flake - semi-transparent paint, excellent for glazing, usually warm, depending on the brand. It replaces toxic lead white.

Black and Gray Pigments

Black is the darkest color. It absorbs all wavelengths. There are many ways to make black from other colors.

Mixing the three primary colors in the right proportions (more blue and red, less yellow) gives you a dark, almost black shade. It is like mixing a very dark purple and then adding a little of the opposite color, yellow.

Most brown or orange oil paints can be mixed with most blue oil paints to create various shades of black.

Gray is made by adding a little white to black. A little more brown creates a warm gray, while a little more blue creates a cool gray.

TIP

While all colors reflect different wavelengths, black absorbs everything and reflects nothing. In a painting, it can look unnatural and create the impression of a “hole” in the picture.

The solution is to mix black paint from other colors rather than buying black oil paint.

Using black paint when mixing other colors makes them less distinct, so they won’t draw as much attention.