Oil Portrait Paintings - 3 of the Best Types of Oil Paints to Use

In oil portrait painting especially it is always best to use the highest quality oil paints, as the nicer textures and the richer colour pigments will add an extra dimension to your work. A switch from low standard economic paints to a more professional standard could help you develop as an artist, it can make that much of a difference, they are quite simply much nicer and more rewarding to work with.

In oil portrait paintings you can really feel the difference as you work, the paint is easier to push around the canvas and the deeper more vibrant colours are fantastic for bringing out the tones and pigments in the flesh. Even when you dilute the paints they retain their vivid qualities because the colours are so highly concentrated, this being because unlike all economical paints, the professional products do not use fillers to extend the volume of the paint.

Whilst these higher standard paints will set you back a lot more money than the economical ones, its worth spending the extra money, here are three paints I would recommend:

Sennelier Oil Paints

Sennelier extra-fine oils are known for there pure pigments which are ground very slowly for an extremely fine consistency. The paint is very smooth with a buttery texture and has a lovely satin finish. The wide array of colours available from Sennelier are perfect for oil portrait painting. Sennelier oil paints is now a world renowned name with a rich history and was favoured by artists such as Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Ernst and Cezanne.

Michael Harding Oil Paints

These paints are hand made using techniques of the old masters making them beautifully vibrant yet strong and durable: the high consistency of pigments gives them an exceptional resistance to fading. The strength of the colours is useful in oil portrait paintings, it will allow you to create deeper richer tones. These paints are highly recommended by artists such as David Hockney and Howard Hodgkin.

Old Holland Oil Paints

Old Holland are the oldest manufacturers of oil paints, dating back to 1664, they also have one of the widest range of colours available. Again, as with all top quality oil paints, the high pigment content gives the paint a very concentrated colour.

Source : Ezinearticles