Home Forums Explore Media Oil Painting The Technical Forum New to oils 1) transparency?? 2) Kama paints?

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  • #462727
    BrendaGNC
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        Hi all,

        Super new to oil painting & wet canvas–
        (please direct me to any threads that answer this question or demos elsewhere)

        1) What colours are transparent?
        How do I tell?
        I know Shiva makes a line of transparent colours for instance, but can opaque colours be made transparent without difficulties of adding too much medium? ie can I make transparent colours without having to buy more paint? ;)

        Loving the work of Richard Diebenkorn and the layering he uses.

        2) Anyone out there using paints from Kama Pigments? How are you finding them?

        Thanks!

        Brenda

        ps. Thanks! this forum has been amazing, I have learned a lot from you and I have probably avoided a lot of pitfalls.

        +++++++++++++++++++++
        www.brendagoldstein.com
        IG: studiobrendagoldstein
        facebook.com/brenda.r.goldstein
        #703080
        Anonymous

            Hi Brenda,
            in my opinion, no oil colors are actually transparent, some are just more opaque than others. The degree of opacity is usually listed right on the tubes or on the maker’s color charts online. There is a database for this type of information too, http://www.artiscreation.com/Color_index_names.html
            Yes, you can make any opaque color less opaque with medium, for this application, I prefer to use a gel medium like Neo Megilp that maintains the body or consistency better.

            #703090
            BrendaGNC
            Default

                Thanks that makes a lot of sense. I have been using oms, galkyd and linseed oil. I have been reading a lot about neo-megilp on the forum–what is the drying time in your experience.

                Tx
                Brenda

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                #703081
                Anonymous

                    Neo megilp is not fast drying and takes a few or couple of days, others like Galkyd gel are faster drying and can dry in a day or so.

                    #703083
                    AllisonR
                    Default

                        Paint tubes often have a little square up top, solid means opaque, clear means transparent, a line through the square means semi-transparent. Old Holland calls all their very transparent colors lake, i.e. red lake, yellow lake…
                        Some colors are very opaque, like Burnt Umber, and to make them transparent you would have to add a ton of medium, never a good habit. Better to use a transparent brown to begin with. Other colors are pretty transparent right from the tube – like Krapplak/Madder/Rose reds – just use them as is, or with a little extra medium, to glaze. Other reds like Cadmium/scarlet/vermillion are to opaque to start with, use a red lake instead.

                        No idea about Kama, never heard of. I use Old Holland, Rembrandt and Williamsburg. I started with a cheap set of Lukas oils, which was fine for just trying out oil paints. But the colors were not very pure and a bit runny, and as I ran out and knew I was continuing with oil painting I bought better paints.

                        Being born places you at a greater risk of dying later in life.

                        http://www.artallison.com/
                        #703088
                        Raffless
                        Default

                            Dont forget Diebenkorn primarily painted with acrylics and alkyds. Are you in the right section?

                            #703086
                            contumacious
                            Default

                                I have heard good things about Kama oil paints but have never used any – They use Walnut Oil as the binder. The swatches on their website are well done. I am planning on buying some of their raw pigment and bulk Walnut and Linseed oil down the road. If you buy direct, you might want to get some of their other goodies. They have a lot to offer!

                                http://www.kamapigment.com/store/index.asp?lang=1&catpage=2441

                                http://www.kamapigment.com/store/index.asp?lang=1

                                #703091
                                BrendaGNC
                                Default

                                    Hey Allison,

                                    Thanks so much for your very helpful and patient response. I had no idea that was what “lake” meant–pretty funny, but that is the joy of taking on a new medium.
                                    I have some old holland and williamsburg paints–I am trying out different brands, so far I like them.
                                    Here is a link to Kama paints fyi:
                                    http://www.kamapigment.com

                                    tx again!

                                    Brenda

                                    +++++++++++++++++++++
                                    www.brendagoldstein.com
                                    IG: studiobrendagoldstein
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                                    #703092
                                    BrendaGNC
                                    Default

                                        Thanks!
                                        Yes… I have been to their website! I have a couple of their paints–and so far I like them. As I get more technically proficient the idea of mixing my own pigment is very appealing.

                                        +++++++++++++++++++++
                                        www.brendagoldstein.com
                                        IG: studiobrendagoldstein
                                        facebook.com/brenda.r.goldstein
                                        #703093
                                        BrendaGNC
                                        Default

                                            Hi Raffles,

                                            I love his Ocean Park Series, they are painted in oils–you should check it out, they are really beautiful and their execution is a real mystery to me. (maybe I will figure it out as I become more proficient ;)

                                            best,

                                            Brenda

                                            Dont forget Diebenkorn primarily painted with acrylics and alkyds. Are you in the right section?

                                            +++++++++++++++++++++
                                            www.brendagoldstein.com
                                            IG: studiobrendagoldstein
                                            facebook.com/brenda.r.goldstein
                                            #703084
                                            Humbaba
                                            Default

                                                Hi all,

                                                Super new to oil painting & wet canvas–
                                                (please direct me to any threads that answer this question or demos elsewhere)

                                                1) What colours are transparent?
                                                How do I tell?
                                                I know Shiva makes a line of transparent colours for instance, but can opaque colours be made transparent without difficulties of adding too much medium? ie can I make transparent colours without having to buy more paint? ;)

                                                Loving the work of Richard Diebenkorn and the layering he uses.

                                                2) Anyone out there using paints from Kama Pigments? How are you finding them?

                                                Thanks!

                                                Brenda

                                                ps. Thanks! this forum has been amazing, I have learned a lot from you and I have probably avoided a lot of pitfalls.

                                                Transparency of a colour will depend upon the way it is manufactured. Some brands are more transparent than others, Grumbacher Pre tested carries several tubes that are transparent and suitable for glazing out of the tube. However, your best bet is to spend some money and purchase a set of primaries from different brands to do a test on a white canvas, laying the paint as thin as possible.

                                                Any oil paint colour, any, can be made transparent by adding the correct medium to it, this includes white.

                                                Suitable mediums for this purpose are rarely sold at Art Stores, so one would need to actually make one using high quality materials, this particular field is a little tricky and requires some knowledge of a forbidden art called Alchemy :lol:

                                                #703085
                                                Pinguino
                                                Default

                                                    We need to add another word to the discussion: translucent.

                                                    If a paint has high transparency, then it will reveal fine details of the lower paint layer. If a paint has high opacity, then it will block out the lower paint layer, revealing no details.

                                                    In-between are semi-opaque paints, which are translucent. Of course, there are degrees, from nearly opaque to nearly transparent.

                                                    If an opaque paint is diluted with medium, then the result is translucent, rather than transparent (unless the dilution is extreme). Large details of the underlying layer can be seen, but fine details will be obscured. It is rather like viewing through a mist.

                                                    Note that many paints, perhaps most, will become less opaque as the paint cures. This effect is sometimes seen within a day or two, or may gradually develop over a longer time. The effect is most noticeable with inherently semi-opaque paints, and with whites other than titanium.

                                                    If you are painting in layers, over a period of time, then you will need semi-opaque or opaque paint to make areas lighter than they were before. Transparent paint will make areas darker than they were before. Of course, you can mix paints, as needed.

                                                    #703094
                                                    BrendaGNC
                                                    Default

                                                        We need to add another word to the discussion: [I]translucent[/I].

                                                        If a paint has high transparency, then it will reveal fine details of the lower paint layer. If a paint has high opacity, then it will block out the lower paint layer, revealing no details.

                                                        This is great. I think translucence is more what I am going for than say a clear-ish “tinted” layer.

                                                        Brenda

                                                        +++++++++++++++++++++
                                                        www.brendagoldstein.com
                                                        IG: studiobrendagoldstein
                                                        facebook.com/brenda.r.goldstein
                                                        #703095
                                                        BrendaGNC
                                                        Default

                                                            Suitable mediums for this purpose are rarely sold at Art Stores, so one would need to actually make one using high quality materials, this particular field is a little tricky and requires some knowledge of a forbidden art called Alchemy :lol:

                                                            hahahaha! I have started the journey down that rabbit hole: spike lavender should be arriving this week. Next: Copal resin??? :lol:

                                                            +++++++++++++++++++++
                                                            www.brendagoldstein.com
                                                            IG: studiobrendagoldstein
                                                            facebook.com/brenda.r.goldstein
                                                            #703082
                                                            Anonymous

                                                                If you want to try copal, I like the copal resin from Blue Ridge.

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