Review Beautiful line of oil paint

[Dolf]

Kevin D.

Funny that you mention it and ask that question.

I've used today for the 1st time two of the Rive Gauche paints I recently bought, and the exact same thing happened with both (one - Burnt Umber - dropping much more liquid than the other - Naples Yellow - btw) .

I suppose it's normal, it probably happens with all or most oil paints. But being a newbie on this, maybe the experts may have other opinions.


Cheers!

Dolf

 

[Tecumsea]

It tends to happen on the cheaper lines of paint-I was converted to Old Holland paints as I had the same problem with Windsor and Newton.

Keith

 

[Dolf]

Thanks for clarifying that Keith.

Sadly no Old Holland on sale here, as far as I know...

Notice that not long ago I found a online store in Spain that sells Old Holland really cheap, I mean about the same price they sell Rive Gauche here...

I was under the impression that Artists W&N, Rembrant, Artists Lefranc & Bourgeois, Sennelier, Professional Schmincke, were among the more expensive ones.


Cheers!

Dolf

 

[Dolf]

Keith,


Check it here (you have to select the language, English I guess, on the top of the page, once they finish dowloading the page in Spanish) :

https://www.artemiranda.es/old-holland-oleo-de-calidad-superior-old-holland-oil/3516#


Cheers!

Dolf

Edit: after double checking some of their prices, indeed Rive Gauche is much cheaper than most of those Old Holland...
Well, we can't all afford to drive a Ferrari, right?... lol...

 

[kagemusha]

The old addage..."you get what you pay for"....applies very much to this...although not advertised as such....these 'Rive Gauche' are just Student quality.

It always seems expensive to buy the 'Artist's' ranges...but...for me personally....the difference is so much more worthwhile....and if it means waiting and saving for colours....so be it.

Keep in mind....even these ranges will have colours that have a lot more carrier in the tube than other colours.

Ron

 

[Dolf]

Ron,

"The old addage..."you get what you pay for"....applies very much to this...although not advertised as such....these 'Rive Gauche' are just Student quality."

I'm absolutely newbie to all this oil paints thing. Hence a student!...
But I'm not stupid. So anyone with a couple of brain cells properly working should realize that for the price they sell them, they most certainly can't be comparable to the more expensive ones.

But then again my own addage would be: "we can't all afford to drive a Ferrari"...

So as long as we are ok with what we can get, fine. After all even the cheapest of all cars can go from point A to point B, just like a Ferrari... Obviously not as fast, but at its own pace it will reach the goal...


Now, as for the Old Holland brand: is there any reliable proof that this is the top range of all the oil paints brands on the market today? Do all top artist painters worldwide only use Old Holland?
I don't know the answers for sure, but I'd bet the answer to them is most probably "no"!

Back to "my" Ferrari, after all there are also other car brands at the top of the totem just like Ferrari, right? I mean, it's not seating alone on the top, there are also Rolls-Royces, Jaguars, Lamborghinis, etc, that are as expensive and probably as good as "my" Ferrari...
So my conclusion is that "my" Ferrari is only a matter of personal taste, I like it, but it doesn't make it the only super car out there...


Cheers!

Dolf

 

[grasshopper]

There is no best..Old Holland is heavy pigmented stuff, but not to everyone’s liking. If you look into it, there are three levels of paint..maybe more..student...artist..and premium...the premium stuff can be small boutique stuff made in a cottage style, or rare pigments like Chinese vermillion and Lapis...but remember this isn’t landscape painting. Start simple in a readily available artist grade..see how your technique goes..buy something of pure pigment plus linseed oil and no resin binders etc..often say pthalo colours have additives to smooth out an otherwise grainy texture..but wait for a bit before looking for the so called best. There isn’t a best, only what’s working for you

 

[Dolf]

"There isn’t a best, only what’s working for you"

Exactly my point.

Cheers!

Dolf

 

[kagemusha]

"Student" refers to the quality of the pigment and the carrier/binders used...so you shouldn't take it personally....and associate it purely with your level of experience.
The point being made was....it is better in the long run to save your money...then use it to buy a better quality of oils...to avoid buying a second set of paints later on.
Nobody was saying "Old Holland" are 'the' best oils...certainly not me...and yes....they are my preferred choice....but...of course...there are other brands to consider.
It will always be the users choice as to what he /she considers best for them...and money will almost certainly be a factor in that decision.
As for cheap cars versus 'Ferrari's'....as far as I know....no brand of oils is regarded as 'esoteric'.

Ron

 

[sippog]

I’m curious to know where Abeitlung paints fit on the scale. They seem very fine to my limited knowledge of oils.

I’ve been acquiring various oil paints for a while now, intending to use them, but my nerve always fails me when it comes to making the switch over from acrylics

I know I will appreciate them. I think I’ve just got to force myself to do a whole project with oils a few times.

 

[grasshopper]

I’ve tried them and find the line most suited to weathering ..it’s a very soft, almost liquid material..and rather hard to control. Also has a strong odour if that matters

 

[Ronaldo]

Old Holland are very good but by far not the most expensive stuff out there, you can pay silly money for some of the more cottage brands.
The thing is your oils will last many years as you are not painting on canvas so worth that bit extra; and as with most of the brands they will be graded with the earth colours always being the cheapest and the high quality reds ,purples etc being the most expensive.
I have some Vasari paints I bought in New York , very expensive and I am not all that impressed with them , then again a pint of milk is also too expensive there.

You could try tapping the bottom of the paint tube on the top of your bench which will sink the carrier down the tube.

You can get old Holland from Jacksons art online shop at a reasonable cost.

Over thirty years ago I bought a tube of Vermillion which cost £25 , in todays prices that might be as much as £80
still got half a tube left as the pigment is so intense .

OK if we cant afford a Ferrari we can always hire one for a day ,just the odd tube of the expensive one goes a long way .