How to Mix Oil Paint

After you learn to mix oil paint, you'll find that the results are both cheaper and higher quality than most artist-grade oil paint on the market. The process is simple, and you'll only need to make a small investment in tools and raw materials.

Step 1:  Gather Your Materials

Oil paint is a mixture of powdered pigment and cold-pressed linseed oil. Commercial art supply manufacturers often use inferior oil, or dilute their pigment with preservatives and inert "fillers." Your paint will be free of such impurities.

Only a handful of suppliers offer artist-grade ingredients, and most of them are in New York City. A pint or so of cold-pressed linseed oil will be enough to get you started. Choose several colors and order a few ounces of each. You'll notice a big difference in color prices. Italian earth colors such as burnt umber and raw sienna are among the cheapest-they're also very useful, and are perfect for your first attempts at paint mixing. Cobalt and cadmium pigments may cost three times as much as Italian earth pigments, and you should work with these toxic colors only after you've gained some experience.

You'll also need to pick up a few items, some of which you may already have in your studio:

• Dust mask
• Two palette knives
• Glass palette
• Jars, cans, or empty tubes for storing paint
• Mineral spirits or turpentine for cleanup
• Rags and paper towels

Step 2:  Mixing Pigment and Oil

Gather your materials somewhere with plenty of room and good ventilation. You'll be making a mess, so clear the area of valuables. Put on your dust mask, and make sure it fits well. You must not inhale finely ground pigment.

Choose a color and pile a couple tablespoons of pigment in the middle of your glass palette. (When you're comfortable with the process, you can mix much larger batches at a time.) To mix your paint, pour linseed oil over the pigment mound, a little bit at a time. Each time you add oil, thoroughly mix it into the pigment with a palette knife. Avoid making circular motions with the knife; instead, you should cut and spread the mixture, scraping it up and then mashing it against the palette surface. When pigment becomes lodged at the base of the blade, scrape it free with the other knife. Keep adding and mixing in oil until you achieve a consistency like custard.

The ratio of pigment to oil is different for every color. As you gain experience, you'll be able to tailor the paint texture to best suit your needs.

Step 3:  Cleanup and Storage

Vacuum or wipe up any loose pigment powder before removing your mask.

Your oil paint will remain usable so long as no air comes in contact with it. You can purchase empty metal tubes at your local art supply store; they are perfect for long term storage of handmade paint. Scoop paint into the open end of the tube, get rid of air bubbles by tapping the cap end on your tabletop, and then crimp the tube shut.

For larger quanities of paint, use cans or jars for storage. Pour about an inch of water over the surface of the paint to prevent drying in the can. The paint will remain usable so long as you replenish the water as it evaporates. Simply pour off the water when you're ready to use the paint.

When it's time for cleanup, use mineral spirits or turpentine to wipe down surfaces and tools.