Differences in series of paint brands

[Julie Deane]

Amanda, about Michael Harding's paints: I have been using them a fair bit, as my budget allows - I love the "long" quality - that is, they are not as stiff as other brands mentioned, plenty of pigment, they flow well.

His paints were a splurge last year, and I do enjoy them. To be fair, I also use and enjoy other brands, but his are excellent.

[Allan Rahbek]

I am so fortunate to have a Danish manufacturer of artist grade oil paint, Artifex, close to where I live.
I have bought the paints many times before in art supply shops, but I never could get any specific information about the quality, other than "it is good". I thought so too.

Right before Christmas I heard that the factury has a shop and that it was a little cheeper to buy directly from the manufacturer, so I went to pay them a visit.

I talked to the owners, two elderly and very enthusiastic gentlemen who gladly told about the paints.

They told me that they exclusivly use the best linseed oil for grounding and only pure pigments, no additives of any kind.

No additives, wax and such, coarses that the paint feels slightly different depending upon the nature of the diffent pigments.

They also said that all pigments are bought from the same few manufacteres around the world, so if it is pure pigments that are used, then it is basically the same paint, no matter what name is on the tube.

Some of their paints also have excessive oil coming out of the tube. I have noticed that Ultramarine and Titanium often does.

I asked about light fastness and they showed me a huge catalog where all known pigments were graded so they could pick only the best.

This was an assuring experience and I have no doubt that I get value for my money over there, and do you know why? I don't pay much for the marketing !!!!

They didn't even have a sign outside the building, I had to ask if this was the right place!!!

[Richard Bingham]

Allan, that sounds like fun! I'd say those gents are the Danish equivalent of Doak, Vasari and some others. I've found these craftsmen who are dedicated to their craft always seem to enjoy visiting with the people who use their paint, and like the opportunity to explain the extra pains they take in making it.

To my mind, this is the current state of materials supply for painters who are interested in quality, and knowing their materials. It's true that well-made paints can vary quite a bit in consistency, texture, and handling as is the nature of the pigments involved. It's also true that these essentially "hand made" paints of superlative quality are generally very reasonably priced, simply because their buyers aren't paying for massive advertising campaigns.