ARTISTS' OIL COLOR

Holbein Oil Color - WHITES

The successful oil colorist knows that of all the colors used, the quality of white is critical. Ground 4 to 5 times the Holbein superiority will be obvious to the user. There are six painting whites and 5 underpainting/foundation whites, all of which are high percentage pigment colors.

Zinc White, Titanium White, Silver White, Permanent White (SF), Ceramic White (a new painting white) in poppy oil, Permanent White (EX) in saflower oil (from the red Benihana flower which grows in greater profusion than the poppy), Quick Drying White (a new underpainting white) and four Foundation Whites.

SILVER WHITE - One of the first artificially produced pigments, white lead mixes well with oil to a smooth uniform viscosity. It has excellent opacity and brush handling qualities. It is toxic in nature and will react by darkening when exposed to sulphur compounds or fumes.

ZINC WHITE - Zinc oxide is more transparent than lead and it's surface qualities are more brittle. It does not have the same brushing qualities, is slower drying , but is non-toxic and does not react to sulphur and is whiter than lead.

TITANIUM WHITE - Inert and non-reactive in most ordinary conditions. It has greater opacity than lead or zinc, but tends to yellow in the short term. It is slower drying than lead, but faster than zinc. It handles and mixes well, is non-toxic and surface qualities may be strengthened by mixing with zinc oxide which helps reduce as well the sometimes too intense tinting power inherent in titanium pigment.

PERMANENT WHITE - A titanium white with the same general handling qualities but with a barium sulphate additive which inhibits yellowing in early drying while reducing tinting power and increasing transparency.

CERAMIC WHITE - A new painting white deve loped by a joint research projectof the Holbein Works Ltd. laboratory and the Japanese government. Ceramic white was developed to combine the most positive qualities of other painting whites when taken collectively. It contains non-toxic titanium and strontium pigment which will not react with sulphur. Offers superior surface strength without brittleness, increases tinting and covering power over lead and zinc. When compared to titanium white, increases transparency, drying time and visual whiteness, as well as excellent handling qualities.

QUICK-DRYING WHITE - A new underpainting white made of titanium white, calcium carbonate, poppy oil, alkyd resin and petroleum solvent. It will dry, if not mixed with slower drying oil color, in 4-6 hours when applied at normal thickness, and 12-18 hours when applied thickly in impasto. Non-toxic, virtually non-yellowing, non-reactive to sulphur and inert with strong adhesion qualities. Quick-drying white will dry mat, butblends easily with mediums and varnishes to a gloss finish.In impasto, it will dry to the consistency of raw rubber so the surface may be carved successfully.