Brian May
To be honest, this is one of those questions that cannot be answered in its current form. It's like asking, "Who is the better guitar player, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaughn or Brian May?" to pick out a few greats. At this level, they are all amazing; they are no longer people who play the guitar, rather artists whose canvas is a guitar. It's no longer about who is better; it is now only a matter of preference. However, there are clearly differences between these guys and an average guitarist, and these differences we can see. So, enough of the guitar analogy; let's re-phrase the question.
Which paints would you use to create a masterpiece and, if you have the choice, which on balance would you prefer to buy?
What I Look For In An Oil Paint Brand.
See my article 'Six Qualities That Make an Oil Paint a Good Oil Paint - All Brands Are Not the Same', for a discussion of this list. For ease, here is the list again.
- Texture
- Transparency
- Colour Intensity
- Colour Variety
- Price
- Place of Manufacture
5 Oil Paint Brands I've Made Good Use Of:
I realise putting a list up on the internet is asking for trouble, nevertheless, here it is in alphabetical order. I'm basing this list mainly on paints I've had the pleasure of using and have had easy access to. I know it is unfair to compare 'Artist' colours with 'Student' colours but often the difference is in the origin of the pigment and since value for money and availability is on my list, it would be wrong to ignore them.
- Amsterdam: These paints are generally sold as a student range (as with the Winsor & Newton Winton range) although I found them OK. The texture was consistent and suited me. They are sold in big tubes and they are reasonably priced. The vibrancy and range of primary colours is what lets them down but they are good for practicing or trying out new ideas. The manufacturer is Royal Talens but I don't know where their paints are manufactured.
- Da Vinci: These guys produce a good range of colours and the texture seams consistent across their range. I generally find them in shops that don't sell one of the other leading brands and on occasion make use of their blues. The cost difference across their series is low although it's not clear they sell anything larger than 40ml (except for white), which for me can be a pain.
- Lourve: Made by Lefranc Bourgeois this is there student range. The texture of their paints tends to the loose side but is within my acceptable range. The range is not bad and concentrates on the primary colours with some good yellows in there. Probably the reason I first tried them was because they were cheap and in this respect they are great value for money. This range is made in China. Lefrance do also make a full artist range but I haven't used them.
- Van Gogh: These are also considered student colours due to the synthetic pigments used but I have used them a lot in the past. When travelling and painting in Eastern Europe, they were the most readily available. The texture is good, the colour range comprehensive and they are available in 40 and 150ml tubes. The entire range seems to be 1 price which makes buying easy and they are good value for money. Where they fall slightly short is in the vibrancy of some of their colours but then it is student/practice paint. Despite the name, these paints are made in Italy.
- Winsor & Newton: Although the texture is different for different colours, they are mostly in the range that suits my style. The intensity of colour is fantastic, especially in the cadmium artist range and the choice of colours leaves me like a kid in a sweet shop. The artist colours vary in price depending on series and they are not cheap. This is where the Winton range comes in, a reduced range of colour but much more affordable in 200ml tubes mainly because the colour pigments are synthetic. I'm not a traditionalist so this doesn't bother me. Finally, you can visit their factory in West London and decide for yourself, re: their working practices.
Paints To Stay Away From
There aren't many of these but one I have tried and wouldn't buy again is Etude, Sennelier's Student Artist range. For my requirements, the paints are far too oily and fluid.
My Preferred Brand
On balance I find Winsor & Newton provide me with everything I am looking for in my oil paints. I generally use the Winton range for big, bulky paintings and when the colour and transparency is what I'm looking for; I supplement these with Artist Oils when I need specific colours. When I'm painting with a brush (as opposed to a pallet knife) I often only use the Artist Oils for their bolder colours especially when thin.
Marcus Krackowizer is a self taught painter whose style over the years has often been associated with the modern impressionist movement. As a professional painter he grapples with the sometime conflicting interests of making a living versus avoiding commercializing his artwork. As a successful contemporary impressionist artist, he felt it might be of interest as to how he creates the paintings, which you can see at http://www.modern-impressionist.com
I do appreciate your feedback so please do rate the article if you feel it has been useful to you. Thanks
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