Quick Tip 372 - Oil Paint Too Thick?

[@helenali6085]

WOW I have started painting again (thanks to you). I couldn't figure out why almost all my paints didn't go on smoothly and were 'difficult'. Now, I realize most of them are old! I don't have access to an art store, so all my purchases are online. I'm thinking that that is the accepted way of getting rid of old paint. I have to accept that, but now I can do something about it and restore my paints to decent use. THANK YOU!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It takes a little time, but well worth it.

[@alicianaive2620]

This is so true!! I have faced this problem & still face sometimes! Yes we don't know for sure before purchasing, how long that particular paint has been sitting there!! You have cleared another important aspect of painting! Thank you so much Dianne! Take care!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. So glad to have shed some light on this one.

[@davegordon6737]

This video should be a MUST SEE by ALL beginners! Thank you so much.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@philadrian7618]

The auxiliary palette! Such a simple but useful tip. Sometimes my palette is a mess before I’ve even begun painting, so that will really help. Thanks a lot miss Dianne.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're so welcome!

[@dianemottram3060]

You have a way of explaining a basic skill without making me feel like such a dunce for not having this knowledge. Terrific tips and so essential.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wow, thanks!

[@chucknickerson9223]

What a wonderful 'materials' video. The breadth of your knowledge and your ability to instruct are truly amazing.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wow, thank you!

[@annmarielopiccolo-carlsen7263]

I love your straightforward explanations and demonstrations……..I always have an AHA moment watching your Quick Tips……..thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Enjoy the journey!

[@heidil7092]

I sometimes use walnut oil or poppy oil (or linseed) in a dropper bottle and add a drop or 2 at a time.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Any one of those oils work. Linseed dries faster than walnut or poppy.

[@DucDuk]

Thank you so much! I was gifted an assortment of oilpaint colors, and decided to finally get into painting like ive always wanted. It was applying exactly like your first example of an old tube. I cant wait to try to fix these up :)

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad I could help! Enjoy your painting journey!

[@Doppy34]

thanks DIanne, I had this problem with some tubes, and I used medium to loosen it up, but not as careful as you learned us here. So I made a mess of it sometimes. Thanks for showing me the right way to do it. en thanks to Heidi L for her tip to use a pipette bottle.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

So glad to help with this issuel

[@ANAHATAJADE]

Good to know that the stores don't always change out old paint. I will feel it out myself before I buy a tube of paint. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Paint labels don't include an expiration date, so sometimes stores won't know how old the paint is when they receive it. It might have been stored in a warehouse for a long time.

[@ANAHATAJADE]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Okay, thank you! You are a valuable teacher and very generous with your instructions. Thank you so so much!!!!

[@davontejackson4400]

Thank you so much! I have some old holland paint that is too thick and now I know what to do! 😊

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@mrsnrub9780]

I once had a tube of Old Holland's Caput Mortuum Violet that - (and I exaggerate not) came out of the tube stiffer than cement. A lot of OH's paints do, but this was EXTREME. I thought it had something to do with the small particle size of the pigment, so I ended up mixing it with terre verte to loosen the paint up a bit. Which worked. I'll try to avoid linseed oil if I can, but sometimes you actually have no choice. Some of these pigments are stiffer than impasto medium.

[@giovannisiano574]

Old Holland is already stiff when in good condition. I can imagine what you went though!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Since linseed oil is the binder in most oil paints, and since it can be added in small increments, it really is the better solution.

[@mrsnrub9780]

@@giovannisiano574 I get it. They're trying to sell you as much pigment as possible, which is admirable. But BOY can it be hard work. I love them to bits, but I'm definitely more of a Michael Harding guy. The paint as well as the man.

[@giovannisiano574]

@@mrsnrub9780 Yes, the intention is surely genuine and Old Holland is great stuff but I need to mix it with some oil to make it workable. As rightly Dianne writes. On other hands we are often caught in the dilemma - sometimes we need a stiff mixture, and is too buttery. Other times, the opposite! 😩😩Oh well... We try our best😂

[@lorachristian7030]

Thank-you Dianne, extremely helpful tip!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@gloriahosek3889]

Love your quick tips!!! Thanks Diane.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@friedastewart1105]

This tip was extremely helpful to me. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You bet!

[@GameTesterBootCamp]

THANK YOU! I've been trying to get into Bob Ross Painting. At first I used these little tubes I got from Amazon and I was really happy with how it turned out. I went to the art store and got a ton of paint to continue making paintings. All the paint was SUPER thick and every time I tried painting with it. I got super discouraged and quit painting for a while. It would be so unbelievably thick that I couldn't get it to go on the the canvas. It simply didn't want to let go of the brush. I'd have to use so many strokes to get the paint out of the brush, that it ended up looking like mud on the canvas. The brushes didn't work well with them, as the paint was SO thick that it would deform the brush as I tapped paint into it. It's roughly the consistency of thick peanut butter. It felt like trying to paint with clay or glue. Thank you for making this video. I'm off to buy some oil now! Hopefully it will allow the paint to work better with the brushes and pallet. 🙂

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

QA Boot Camp, my advise is that if you are serious about learning how to paint, stay away from Bob Ross. His approach is how to copy what he does. It is better to learn how to paint what you see, not what somebody else does.

[@GameTesterBootCamp]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction You're likely right, but for me it's an introduction to the medium. If it not for Bob, I wouldn't be interested in painting at all. I imagine learning to copy someone else's style is better than never picking up brushes at all? Hopefully once I'm comfortable with his method, I'll feel the desire to branch out and start creating on my own stuff. And with how easily I get bored, I can definitely see that happening. 🙂

[@mariecaroniaplotkin5268]

This answers a question of why my recent painting is pulling in the color where ivory black was applied. I noticed the paint seemed dry and dragging even though it’s brand new paint. The rest of the painting has such a nice finish but everywhere the black was used alone or mixed with another color, it’s not vibrant at all bc the paint was lacking oil

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad to shed some light on this issue.

[@karolemoore88]

Excellent Tip and demonstration!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Many thanks!

[@giovannisiano574]

Indeed good suggestions as usual. In my experience I also noticed that oldish paint, a part from requiring more squeezing force, it is more matte than usual and of course less pliable.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for adding that, Giovanni.

[@discoeur]

thank you! my older brother gave me his oils paints to try after theyve sat in their tubes for 5 years- it was very thick and hard to work with especially as a beginner

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

That happens.

[@gabriellebakker6489]

You offer much good advice

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun trying it out.

[@lisecardinal3879]

🙏 thank you ! You are awesome 🤩 ❤️🥰😍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Lise.

[@mariannecovo6960]

Great tip! Thank you. Please, where can I find all your Quick tips?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

All the Quick Tips are listed here: kzbin.infovideos

[@PLSassociates]

So THAT’S been my issue! Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Simply solved...

[@robinfrosco92]

Great tip!! Quotation: what type of pallet are you using? Does it clean up well afterwards? Thank you. 🦋

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

See Quick Tips 115 and 172 where I explain this.

[@susant5722]

Excellent to know! Thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@heidil7092]

Hi Dianne. Thank you. I am experimenting working on an aluminum panel. Do you have any tips about working on a metal panel ?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Sorry, Heidi. That's out of my range of experience.

[@craftywoman6399]

Thanks so much for this tip

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You bet!

[@448Mac]

Been using medium to fix stiff paints Thank you for clearing up this problem

[@korukiwiarts]

Thank you for your wonderful tutorial video. 💯👍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are very welcome

[@DineseBeckert]

Love your tips!! I actually have one for you! Bounty napkins are far less expensive than cheap rolls of paper towels and WOW do they go the extra mile! Just the right size and like all bounty towels, they love to work hard! I switched about a month ago to the bounty napkins and will never go back, it's just so much easier to grab and wipe! Question, I am currently in a coaching thing, thrust into mixing colors... Brown is not hard to make, but a brown with a golden hue? I am, currently today, still in a bind on that one! I was hoping to make a brown that when white is added, becomes a golden hue. I am missing something...LOVE YOU!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Brown is not a hue, but is a color formed with red orange, orange or yellow orange plus the complement of these. The brown that becomes a golden hue requires more yellow orange added into it.

[@DineseBeckert]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction That is the most explanation I have ever received and I am in my 9th week of coaching!! You are a godsend and I believe I may need a new coach! Off to shop then back to begin mixing colors!!

[@lucianocortopassi3098]

So nice!!! Thank you so much

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@jaimehernandelgadoquintero4539]

Gracias

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Our pleasure.

[@debbiekey5255]

Thanks so much, Dianne! You always provide so much helpful information. On the subject of tubes of paint, particularly older tubes, I have difficulty unscrewing the cap without twisting the tube to the point of cracking the edge open. Is there any way to loosen the dried paint from around the threads under the cap? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@belindahall5220]

I think a small pair of pliers to loosen the caps would take care of that for you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Belinda is right, Debbie. Also, if that doesn't work, try running hot water over the tube, then use pliers.

[@debbiekey5255]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Many thanks! I have tried pliers; actually, I keep an old fashion nutcracker on hand to open most tubes, but some will not budge. I will try to hot water.

[@marysechauvet2189]

From France ,What I do,I put nearly boiling water in an empty tin.Then I place the tube top in it for a minute or less.That should do the job.Once it is open clean thé top carefully with paper ,béfore closing it.

[@debbiekey5255]

@@marysechauvet2189 Many thanks! Will give it a try.

[@rainerburmeister5758]

Thank you for this tip. Btw, what kind of brushes do you use when painting with oil paint?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Rainer, I have a variety of brushes, but my favorites these days are made by Rosemary and Co.

[@rainerburmeister5758]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thanks.

[@sanoj1313]

Hi Dianne, I am always wondering why my paints feel too thick. Can you use oils other than Linseed?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Joanne, compatible oils are any plant based artist oil, but never vegetable oil.

[@lizsganga8440]

Do you leave your paint colors along the outside of your palette all the time? Don’t they get old and dry out?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

See Quick Tip 115 where I explain that.

[@elainehood7765]

What do I use like oil OR. turps to make oil paink thinner

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Linseed oil mixed one drop at a time in the oil will thin it without causing it to lose its integrity.

[@InLawsAttic]

Would safflower oil from Gamblin be okay? Artist oil? Thank you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes, although safflower oil dries more slowly.

[@icequark1568]

TY

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You bet.

[@sabasami1454]

I love your videos but I want to see your art work where should I go.... please...

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Some examples of my art work are at diannemizestudio. com

[@thomcarr7021]

I still can't find yela paint.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Keep looking :)

[@thomcarr7021]

Okay, I was at a food store that did have lemon flavored Yela Jela.

[@lucianocortopassi3098]

9:01 Tab, Tab, Tab😂

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

😊

[@yabadabadoo-world]

Gold

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@linneadoden5597]

Good tips but i sent emails for help in buying more dvds and never heard from anyone why?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Our major DVD manufacturer stopped making DVDs. Unless we can find a new manufacturer, shortly we will be removing the DVD option from our website. We do apologize.

[@chucknickerson9223]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Do they have some remaining stock or were they burn-on-demand? I should have bought them all when I first discovered them...