Artist Materials Advisor

Discover five Armenian earth oil paints made from natural travertine, barite, umber and volcanic rocks. These natural, eco‑friendly colors offer rich, earthy hues for artists.

An artist-focused review of how layered optics, refractive index, PVC, and binder choice shape oil painting skin tones—plus practical tempera-under-oil steps and a Rublev Colours swatch protocol.

Discover how oil paint glaze enhances transparency and depth with the right pigments, mediums, and layering techniques. Learn expert tips for lasting, luminous results.

Discover proven methods for storing oil paint to extend its shelf life and maintain optimal quality. Learn practical tips and techniques.

Learn why oil paint cracks, the pigments most prone to cracking, and practical tips for preventing damage to your paintings.

Discover the sensitivity of modern oil paints to cleaning solvents. Learn about the best practices for maintaining and preserving your artwork. Read now for essential artist insights. Practical advice is provided for artists on selecting pigments, understanding the role of additives, and careful cleaning methods to preserve their work.

Discover the Zorn palette's role in Anders Zorn's iconic self-portraits. Our analysis reveals how his select pigments create depth, texture, and vibrancy. Delve into the artistry behind his color choices.

Discover solvent-free oil medium options—silica gels, mineral pastes, and plant esters—for cleaner, safer painting without alkyds or wax.

Explore Epoxide Oil, a fast-drying, durable linseed oil medium enhancing flexibility, gloss, and color stability in oil painting. It is ideal for artists seeking lasting results.

Explore the truth behind walnut oil and linseed oil in painting. Is walnut oil really safer, or is the health hype misunderstood? Discover what artists and experts say.

Explore the characteristics of drying oils like linseed, walnut, and poppy seed in oil painting. Learn how each affects drying time, color stability, and flexibility.

Discover the role of oil paint driers in accelerating drying times and improving your painting techniques. Learn best practices for optimal results.

Learn how oil paint extenders enhance texture, drying time, and transparency in your art. Perfect for artists looking to refine their oil painting techniques.

Learn the essential fat-over-lean rule in oil painting. This guide covers techniques, FAQs, and tips to ensure your paintings are durable and long-lasting. Ideal for both beginners and professionals.

Learn how extender pigments change oil paint—texture, transparency, opacity, and handling—plus practical ways to add them for controlled results.

Compare raw, cold-pressed, refined, stand, and drying oils, then choose based on color, viscosity, drying time, durability, toxicity, safety, and conservation.

Step-by-step guide to grind pigments with a glass muller or Natural Pigments’ Basic Paint-Making Kit—achieve vibrant, stable paints in oil, watercolor, gouache, and egg tempera.

Discover how aqueous pigment dispersions simplify paint making, offer safety, and enhance your creative process with consistent and versatile results.

Learn how to make your own gouache paint at home with this easy step-by-step guide. Mix pigments, gum arabic, and water to create your own opaque watercolors. Perfect for artists looking to experiment with new colors and consistency.

Tutorial for dispersing pigment in water with simple grinding tools—then use it for watercolor, tempera, casein, distemper, fresco, pastels, and sticks at home.

Learn oil paint basics: pigment plus drying oil. Make small batches with pigment, linseed oil, a spatula, and a flat surface—then refine to a smooth paste—fast.

Hand mulling breaks pigment agglomerates for even dispersion and higher saturation, and lets you tune texture, opacity, and character in water-based paint, too.

Each day we receive many questions about how to make paint. One question that is often asked is regarding a "formula" for making paint.

A personal note on watercolor’s purity—pigment on paper with minimal binder—and why expanding a palette with select pigments can be so rewarding.

A first-hand paint-making account: using a kit, safety gear, and silicon carbide to frost glass, then grinding pigments into oil to build smooth, usable paint.

Learn how to varnish a painting with confidence using Conservar™ varnishes. This in-depth guide walks you through every step—from selecting the right product to applying a flawless, reversible finish. Whether you brush or spray, work on traditional oils or mixed media, you’ll find clear, safety-conscious methods and troubleshooting tips drawn from conservation practice. Achieve even gloss, color saturation, and lasting protection—without the guesswork.

Explore essential varnishing techniques to enhance and protect your artwork. Learn best practices for selecting and applying varnish.

Dive into a 15-year study on picture varnish aging. Learn how natural and synthetic varnish resins compare after natural aging regarding discoloration, gloss, and solubility.

Although wax has been used for centuries as a wood finish and sometimes as a finish for pictures, wax does not provide the same protection as a varnish. However, wax has been used on top of varnishes to reduce surface gloss and protect the varnish from dirt. It is also useful as a protective coating on paintings that are not typically varnished, such as tempera or watercolor.

The age-old advice to wait at least six months before varnishing oil paintings is a good practice but one that many artists resist. And it is understandable why because when a painting is completed, it often needs to be delivered immediately for exhibit or into the customer’s hands. This article reviews the reasons for this advice and determines whether this is true or not.

An irregular sheen on an oil painting often produces a patchy gloss after applying the varnish. This article considers how to fix this on an existing painting and how to avoid it in the future. “Sinking in” is a common phenomenon among oil painters and is one of the most frequent issues encountered while teaching artists in my Painting Best Practices workshop. The causes of sinking in can be reduced to a few causes examined in this article.

An unvarnished painting is vulnerable to dirt and dust that will eventually become embedded in the paint. It is also subject to deterioration caused by ultraviolet light, oxidation, and abrasion from handling and transport. A varnish can protect the painting from dirt, ultraviolet light, and abrasion. Applying varnish to your painting is important to maintain its appearance and value. If you decide to apply a varnish to your painting, you must decide on the type of varnish, method of application, and desired final appearance. The following discussion can help you make the right choice for your artwork.

When used in its most specific sense, the word “resin” is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. The resin produced by these plants is a viscous liquid composed mainly of volatile terpenes. Oleoresins are naturally occurring mixtures of oil and resin. Other resinous products in their natural condition are a mixture of gum or mucilaginous substances and are known as “gum resins.” Mastic gum is a good example of a gum resin.

Welcome to Natural Pigments' Glossary of common and not so common Paint and Art Terms. Here we hope to give you a brief definition of various art terms which might be unfamiliar. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please contact us.