Paste Ground 8 fl oz

CAUTION! This product contains lead. Read the Material Safety Data Sheet for more information.

Rublev Colours Lead Oil Paste Ground is a blend of white pigments and linseed oil for a semi-absorbent ground ideal for oil painting.

The important characteristics that grounds should have are (1) adhesion, 2) flexibility, 3) penetration control, 4) a type of surface to which upper layers can adhere well, 5) blister and crack resistance, and 6) good application properties. Careful selection of ingredients in an oil ground is essential to impart these qualities to the ground. Ground natural calcite (calcium carbonate) in combination with lead white (basic lead carbonate) and a maximum chalk resistant grade of rutile titanium dioxide have proven to be an excellent choice of pigments in such oil grounds.

Pigments
We make Rublev Colours Lead Oil Paste Ground using all three white pigments; calcite, lead white and titanium white in just the right proportions to make a film that remains flexible, tough and has some degree of absorbency.

The dry ground calcite we use in Rublev Colours Lead Oil Paste Ground has a closely controlled particle size distribution. This grade of calcite is designed to provide the lowest possible oil absorption. It offers the desired penetration control with maximum chalk resistance. Calcite aids in forming the type of surface on grounds to which upper layers will adhere easily.

Lead white, and to a lesser degree, ground calcite, have low water absorption properties and hence develop better blister and crack resistance. Furthermore, lead white contributes to more film flexibility.

The presence of titanium white increases the opacity of this ground and provides a brilliant white surface. We have selected a grade of titanium white that exhibits good hiding and excellent dispersion properties.

Many manufacturers use zinc white to get a brighter white in their white grounds and paint. Zinc oxide is not recommended in oil grounds, since it tends to cause blistering and cracking in oil paint and grounds -- we have not used any zinc in this product.

Vehicle
We have carefully chosen a specific blend of alkali-refined linseed oil to give the paste a short, buttery application ideal for knife application. To minimize brush and knife marks add a small amount of bodied linseed oil (stand oil) to improve the leveling and flow out properties of the paste ground. Usually, 10 to 20% by weight of bodied oil is sufficient to accomplish this.

You can thin Rublev Colours Lead Oil Paste Ground with linseed oil, mineral spirits and/or turpentine to allow application by brush.