Kinds of Paint

In the past one kind of paint predominated for artistic purposes, even if other kinds of paint were available. For example, very ancient paintings were made with encaustic, if the famous Egyptian burial portraits of two millennia ago are any indication. But egg tempera (water-based), was the main paint of classical antiquity, another half-millennium later. But it seems that paintings were very occasionally made made with oil-based (nut oil) paint during those times too. Nonetheless, tempera's ubiquity lasted into the 15th century or so. Tempera was then superseded by oil painting and became almost unknown. Watercolor did become the sketcher's friend from the 18th century on but wasn't predominant. And so art stood until the mid-20th century. The list of paint types has lengthened in the ensuing seventy years to include traditional watercolor, gouache, casein, egg tempera, acrylic, and water-mixable oils. Other media now are considered painting, too, including pastel and (for some anyway) colored pencil.

Hoff, "Portrait of Bill," oil on canvas. Private collection

Nevertheless, oil painting is still considered the queen of mediums. Oil paint remains the art medium of choice mostly because oil paintings are desired by the market. Oil paintings are considered more durable. Oil paintings age well, when constructed well. Oil paintings can and do become heirlooms, particularly family portraits. Oil paintings command higher prices and investor interest. Oil paintings are a centuries-old tradition. Because of the amount of time needed to master a new kind of paint, plus the work and time involved, and potentially reduced income afterward, why explore and use any of the alternatives to oil? Why, indeed. There are a lot of good reasons.

For me, and probably for many, it's useful to learn all sorts of paint. Using different kinds besides oils has improved my knowledge of the behavior of paint of all kinds. Each kind of paint has different properties--more or less opacity, differing drying speeds, and so on. Some paints have similarities too. For example, gouache, casein, and acrylic all dry very quickly. But gouache can be rewetted while acrylic and casein form a permanent film that is unresponsive to water. Another example: watercolor and acrylic behave similarly, if the acrylic paint is thinned sufficiently, but watercolor can be rewetted and acrylic can't. In contrast, oil paint remains "open" (wet) for days unless driers are added.

Hoff, "Taco Loco," watercolor on paper, sketched on site

Although the time and effort spent may seem enormous, working with newer mediums hasn't seemed onerous to me. Instead,  devoting a few hours a week outside my usual milieu provides continued practice in everything in painting--vision, composition, drawing, values, and so on--just with a different type of paint. It means continued practice on fundamentals while learning a new paint. In any event, it works for me.

So what kind of paint do I prefer? Well, it depends. My preference for studio paintings is oils, which is where my training and experience are. Oil paint remains workable for a longer period, makes more luminous images when used effectively, and has the advantages outlined above.

What about sketching?
Again, it depends. When doing a color sketch of a studio subject oil paint is preferable because the colors and paint can be matched as can the paint handling, drying and opacity. On the other hand, sketching outdoors is more convenient with watercolor than with oils, mostly owing to portability of watercolors. A pocket watercolor set and sketchbook are wonderful, lightweight tools that fit a jacket or jeans. I carry a small watercolor kit in my car too, and use it as often as possible. Watercolor sketches provide fodder for studio oils. You could use other water media--even acrylic--to sketch too.

What about acrylic, casein, and all those others?
They've been good learning tools and I use them from time to time for fun and experience. Here are a few thoughts.

Casein dries quickly, handles nicely, and dries to a nice matte finish. In many ways it feels like oil paint on the brush. (Gouache does the same things but can be altered with water.) Casein paint is useful if you have a covered palette to help keep the paint moist, because it dries so quickly. Casein is great for sketching--you can paint over mistakes in only a few moments. Casein has been most useful to me when making small, quick sketches. Other artists are making beautiful paintings in the studio and outdoors as well using casein.

Hoff, "Silver Creamer," casein on panel

Gouache or acrylic can be used for sketching more closely emulate oil paint at least in some artists' hands, so they are common substitutes in the studio, particularly. Illustrators used gouache long before acrylics were developed, mostly because the matte finish of gouache photographs well.


In short, learning the behavior and handling of as many different kinds of paint as possible has been a valuable pursuit in expanding my horizons.