Oils Problems with White

[Paul Kernan]

First of all....I hate painting white. But even I can generally pull off an acceptable attempt at white.

I have been using my regular method of undercoating with a Humbrol mix of white, black and wood and then use straight W&N oils (Titanium White and Raw Umber or TW and Lamp Black and so on) with no thinners or other agents.

My problem lately is a) the oil coat does not seem to bite the undercoat and so there is no even coverage and b) the oil mix (even straight TW) seems to 'gum up' in a matter of 5-10 mins therefore there is no blending ability.

I know the weather has been a bit humid lately but this has happened a couple of times with A/C on or on cool days. I also tried changing my undercoat to no avail.

Any suggestions???

 

[Gary D]

Sorry Paul, I don't have the answers, but this has Einion written all over it. Gordie should create a forum called "Questions for Einion"
Would it be possible that your Humbrols have become contaminated and that might prevent the oils from biting? Or perhaps not completely mixed enough and there is too much carrier being painted on with the base coat or something?

Best of luck!

Gary

 

[Einion]

Well I'm at a loss Paul. I can't imagine it's down to the oil paint itself since they last so well in the tube. I was thinking it could be down to the enamel undercoat not being fully cured before you started with the oils but that seems to be discounted since you got the same thing with a different basecoat, but just to check was this something like Vallejo or another enamel mix?

Einion

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Hi Paul

The problem may be! are you using card or paper for your pallet,
if so it sounds like you are drawing to much of the oil out of your
paint and causing it to drag and stick,I had started using index cards for mixing and found this a problem
especially when using the higher end paints as their is less oil and more pigment.
So I am back to pinching the wife's grease proof baking paper and the problem has gone, you can buy paper pallets from the art shop purpose made for
oils.

Ronnie

 

[Paul Kernan]

Guys
Thanks for the repsonse.

Einion: Nope good old Humbrols. The time between application of the two coats was close on two weeks, so plenty of time to cure. However, two of the colours (white and wood) in the mix were new purchases. New formulation??

Ron: I rarely use card in fact 99% of the time I use an old piece of ceramic tile.