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3 Problematic Materials That Oil Painters Must Avoid at All Costs




Oil painting lessons are for everyone because they’re easy to learn, spatter paint across a canvas, and achieve satisfying results within minutes.

However, some painting materials can be very tricky to use, so we created the following list to help you avoid the following materials and chemicals when buying oil paints.



Solvents


Solvents such as turpentine can cause irreversible damage to the paint. The solvent will dissolve paint, and the resultant solution will penetrate the paint's film and into the underlying paint layers. This can cause the paint to "blister" or "explode" from a surface.



Avoid solvents when possible. While they might add fluidity to oil paintings, solvents can cause long-term health issues to artists. Turpentine causes both damages to paintings, as well as the mental and respiratory systems of artists. If you're painting a house, it's fine. Otherwise, it's not worth any painting.



Clove Oil


Oil paintings made with clove oil were known as "ghost paintings" because their original color was undetectable. The oil paints used in these paintings were thin and watery because the clove oil seeped into the paint and caused it to break down. The artists would then use putty or varnish to restore the painting's appearance.

However, clove oil will soften the final paint film, making your painting susceptible to unwanted adjustments and damages. Therefore, use this material with great caution.



Zinc Oxide


Zinc oxide's key role in oil paint is to prevent the paint from cracking or drying out, but it doesn't do this job very well. In most cases, it creates a brittle and dried output that's susceptible to cracking and drying out, defeating the very purpose of its usefulness. We highly recommend zinc titanium as an alternative because it can remove the oil without damaging the canvas.



Make Sure You Have The Right Oil Painting Materials and Technique!


VR School of Art trains both young and old students in the best ways to paint and find the right materials that suit their needs. Visit our website today, pick an enrollment date, and learn with us today!

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