Resurrecting Old Oil paints

Ngaire Winwood · 02-12-2004, 09:18 PM

I have just done a search trying to find ways to resurrect old tubes of paint. To no avail. I have a couple of tubes of paint that were given to me (half solid)when I started out so they are well and truly second hand so I don't know how old they would be. I have tried soaking them in turps, but they don't seem to come back to life. Does any one have suggestions? The names have also been removed by other more experienced hands, so I am not even sure of the colour names. It just seems a waste to leave bits in the tube. Any suggestions?

Michele Rushworth · 02-13-2004, 12:44 AM

Unfortunately there isn't any way to reconstitute dry oil paint. Watercolor, yes, oils, no. This is because the drying of oils is actually not strictly a "drying" process that can be reversed. It is a chemical change (oxidation) of the linseed oil that the paint was made with. Once it's dry, it's dry forever -- one of the reasons oil paintings last so long.

Ngaire Winwood · 02-13-2004, 01:39 AM

A Ha! Thanks, goes to show my inexperience with oils?

Steven Sweeney · 02-13-2004, 10:50 AM

I guess I was typing at the same time Michele was, but I'll go ahead and paste in what I had . . .

Unfortunately, Ngaire, there

Ngaire Winwood · 02-13-2004, 04:29 PM

Now that you have explained it the perfect way as you do, of course it seems logical. As far as I can gather, one probably was a Maimeri cinabro thats what it looks like, french ultramarine the fr is still on the tube so I gather it is FU, yellow, maybe cad yellow. There was a couple that I can't tell.

For oils, I originally thought you just choose a colour and placed it where you thought it would go including blending etc. I have now read a lot more on this site about oils than most books I have got my hands onto at the library. Glazing, underpainting etc. So it is very interesting to learn the proper processes from this forum.

How long is the life span approximately of todays quality paints, how durable compared to older versions, Rembrandt used etc? I have seen ground dry paint on the net that you obviously mix with linseed are they better than tubes?

I was speaking to a photographer recently and he was saying that portrait art is a dying art, why bother, as photography colours/paper etc now last for a couple of hundred years without fading. Most people can't afford painted portraits, so why bother etc because most people don't need painted portraits etc. Of course, I explained there two different mediums, styles etc. but he was smug about already predicting the failure of my upcoming (next 5 years or so) business venture (when I ever get good enough of course). What is your opinion Steven or does anyone else like to comment on portaitures prosperity?

Steven Sweeney · 02-13-2004, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Glazing, underpainting etc.

I'll 'fess up straight away that I've never used this so-called "indirect" method of painting, and I frankly wouldn't know how to begin. I work in the "direct" style that you're familiar with.

Many other questions here, and I'll have to return to these soon.

Steven Sweeney · 02-13-2004, 10:32 PM

I'm going to be presumptuous and assume your permission to copy your last paragraph for posting in the Cafe subject line(click on the red type, Ngaire, if you don't happen to be familiar with that link convention here), where it will be more likely to elicit response, both practical and philosophical.

Ngaire Winwood · 02-13-2004, 11:13 PM

Steven, I wasn't sure where to put it so thanks again. I am intrigued by what the latest goss is on this matter. I have visited ARC also and agree that it should stay alive.

Kimberly Dow · 02-14-2004, 01:22 PM

This doesn't fit anywhere, but this post reminded me of these tubes of paint I have. My mother-in-law who is 83-years-old gave me her old tubes years ago. They have to be at least 50-years-old. I would not use them for any reason, but I keep them in the studio to remind her to get back to painting when she visits.