White oil paint

[Karin Wells]

For the past week I have been using Gamblin's flake white replacement.

It is a dream to paint with! I wish I had not waited so long to experiment with this stuff...

[Chris Saper]

Hi Karin,

Could you please describe its characteristics, and why it seems different from other whites? Thanks!

Chris

[Karin Wells]

I find Gamblin's flake white replacement to be very buttery and I like the way it flows on my brush. It blends well with my other paints too.

It is very dense and covers well without "sinking in" (so far) as much as the Titanium White Alkyd that I have been using lately. I am finding that it is faster and easier to build light with this particular paint. And it drys relatively quickly too.

I will not use leaded paint any more and this really does seem like the substitute I have been looking for....

[Marta Prime]

Karin,

Thanks for posting your information on this subject. I was hoping you would. I will give Flake White a try. I am also going to order some Asphaltum. Have you tried that yet?

It's interesting the difference in opinions you get on this. One man's trash is another mans's treasure so to speak. I guess it has to do with different styles and techniques we use, and the end result we are trying to achieve. I tend to "bond" with artists that use similar techniques. I also used Joseph Sheppard's "How to Paint Like the Old Masters" (vulgar paintings and all, lol) and learned more from that book than almost any other. By the way, I love your work.

[Karin Wells]

I really like Gamblin's Asphaltum as it is so "Old Masterish." I plan to keep it in my palette forever.

It is a very clear, warm, and delicious brown color to glaze with. Until I began using Asphaltum, I was using raw umber to accomplish my warm brown glazes.

Of course, I'll keep using the raw umber for many things, but nothing really is like the even warmer tone of Asphaltum. I find that it really gives a lot of life to deep shadows. I think that you're going to love it for sure!

And I agree, Joseph Sheppard's book is the only written instruction that I have ever found that helped me make the giant step in learning to paint more like I really wanted to.

[Marta Prime]

Karin,
Well, I treated myself to a little present that arrived on Christmas Eve...I love the Flake White Replacement and the Asphaltum!
The Flake White Replacement is everthing you said it was! I was amazed at the density, and really like the way it stays where you put it without changing or darkening, or (sinking in) as you call it. It is much easier to build up light, as you said. I had previously found the "sinking in" to be one of the most frustrating things...one of the reasons I was considering going to the leaded paint. I don't need to now! This will remain a permenent part of my pallete....in fact, I like the Gamblin products so much I plan to explore more of them.
I'm not sure why Michael didn't care for it, but I assume he uses a different technique. After all, different "strokes" for different folks (pun intended Cynthia!)
Anyway, thanks a million. I have gotton so much good information from this forum! I am working towards getting one of the Nikon Digital Cameras so I can feel confident posting a painting.