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- 1). Compare the two grades of oil paints. As explained on the artist website, How to Draw and Paint, oil paints come in both student and artist grades (see Reference 1). Student grade paints are cheaper, yet they are a lesser quality. They are usually made with synthetic pigments that offer less vibrant final results (see Reference 1). Student grade oil paints are useful for beginners or advanced painters who happen to be trying out a new technique. If you're confident in your abilities and you want a vibrant final project, then artist grade paints are essential.
- 2). Consider alkyd oils if you need a faster-drying oil paint. When comparing different tubes of paint, you'll find a small selection of alkyds. Artist grades of these paints offer similar vibrant colors, but they dry faster, ideal for artists who perform minimal on-canvas blending. Alkyd oil paints are priced comparably to traditional oil varieties, so only consider these oils if you need the quicker drying speed.
- 3). Compare the consistency of the oil paints. You obviously cannot squeeze paint out of the tube until you've purchased it, but consistency can be estimated by gently squishing the closed tube of paint. When choosing consistencies, remember that a thicker paint will usually take longer to dry and is good for blending and swirling techniques. Thinner oils allow for more uniform mixing, but less on-canvas blending. If you are particular about your paints, consider a water-mixable oil. These paints are extremely thick and designed to be thinned with water to meet the artist's individual consistency standards. Because water-mixable oils are highly concentrated, they cost more than standard oil paints. However, you will get much more use out of each water-mixable tube since you only need to mix a small dab with water when you use the paint.
- 4). Look for box sets or other money-saving deals, as recommended by How to Draw and Paint (see Reference 1). When purchasing in bulk, you can save greatly on artist oil paints. Just make sure the box set you purchase contains high quality paints, not student grade oils.
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