Oil paint has been used by artists for centuries. But how is it made? Has it always been in a tube? Where do the pigments come from? We ask the most important questions and provide answers.
Has oil paint always been in tubes?
No. The paint tubes we know today are a relatively modern invention. Previously, oil paints had to be ground and mixed by hand, making them difficult to transport. It wasn’t until 1841 that the American painter John Goffe Rand invented the sealable lead tube and patented it. The invention of the tube made plein air painting possible for the first time. (see https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/vor-175-jahren-john-g-rand-erhaelt-patent-fuer-die-100.html).
How is oil paint made?
To make your own oil paints, you need a glass shovel, a glass plate, powdered pigment, a palette knife, a binder (e.g., linseed oil), and a tube of paint. First, the pigment is piled up on the plate and a depression is created in the center for the binder. Initially, a small amount of oil should be added to avoid the final result being too runny. First, the paint is mixed with the palette knife, then ground in circular motions with the glass shovel until the desired consistency is achieved, creating a smooth, homogeneous mass. Finally, all that remains is to pour the finished paint into the tube and seal it.
Want to see how oil paints are made step by step? Then watch our video. Watch Nurzada, a painting teacher at the Academy of Fine Art Germany, as she makes oil paint, and receive vivid explanations, practical tips, and historical insights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0SeSu0H4Zk
Where do pigments come from?
Color pigments can be obtained from three different sources: earth, animal byproducts, and synthetic substances. For example, umber and ochre, which are used for red, yellow, and brown oil paints, are obtained from the earth. Charred animal bones, such as those of cattle, are used for the color black. The color ivory black is not named by chance: it was once made from charred elephant tusks.
Burial for Mummy Brown
In ancient Egypt, there was an interesting commonality between pharmacists and pigment manufacturers. Because it was believed that consuming mummies was healthy, they were used for a variety of medicinal purposes. The pigment “Mummy Brown” was mixed from powdered mummified parts, spruce resin, and myrrh. When Edward Burne-Jones, a 19th-century English painter, discovered that Mummy Brown was made of real Egyptian mummies, he was so shocked that he mistook his tube for a mock burial and buried it in his garden.
Why you should make your own oil paint
Making your own oil paints allows you to ensure that high-quality pigments and no fillers are used. It’s also relatively inexpensive compared to buying ready-made oil paints in tubes, which is a huge plus for artists worldwide. Furthermore, you can adjust the consistency of the paint to your liking by adding more or less oil as a binder.