Gamblin Artists Colors
Oil Colors


Q. I travel frequently. Can I take my oil colors through airline security?

A: Artists' oil colors contain no solvents so they are not hazardous. When security asks, "What kind of paints are these?" Never say "oil paints"; say that "these artists paints are made from vegetable oil and contain no solvent." For air travel, flammable liquids are those that have a flash point 140 degrees F. or below. If you do not know the flash point of your mediums or solvent, do not take any on board. Check to see if you can purchase mediums and solvents at your destination. If not, ship art materials ahead by ground transportation. Using the US Postal Service, artists can ship materials anywhere in the world. Specify "ground transportation".

Important points:
  1. Artists grade oil colors are based on vegetable oil with a flash point above 550. THEY ARE NOT HAZARDOUS.
  2. Travel with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to prove the flash point if required. Download MSDS for all Gamblin artists materials from our web site (product descriptions and MSDS are located in the Artists Materials section of this web site, click on the MSDS link below the product description).
  3. Do not travel with solvents and mediums. Gamsol has a flash point of 146 degrees F. therefore it is flyable. Remember to have an MSDS with you.
  4. Do not carry your palette knives on board.
  5. Keep your cool, don't hassle security. Show them the MSDS and explain that you are going on a painting holiday.
  6. Airline safety precautions are ever-changing in this day and age. When in doubt, check with your airline or carrier for their specific requirements in advance.
Q: What is the difference between Artist and Student grade paints?

A: There are actually three grades of oil paint on the market:
  1. Artist grade, such as Gamblin Artists Colors
  2. Traditional student grade, such as Gamblin Art Sketching Oils
  3. Economy grade, like all the brands that weigh very little and cost even less.
Both artist grade and traditional student grade are made by packing fluid oil with pigment to get the desired stiffness of paste. The difference between them is that traditional student grade has pigment taken out and replaced with extenders. This lowers the price, tinting strength, and opacity. But the two types share the quality of raw materials. Both of these types of paints have been with us throughout the history of oil painting. (The apprentices of the old masters would use paint made the way our Sketching oils are made.)

Economy types of oils have only been sold in art supply stores since the late 1970's when inflationary pressures caused paints to go up dramatically in price. They are made using the tools of modern paint chemistry. The binder is gelled before pigments and extenders are added, this further reduces pigment load, reducing again price, tinting strength, and opacity. It is not uncommon for cheaper pigments also to be used in these types of formulations.

Professional artists use either artist grade or traditional student grades of paint successfully. Both share a quality of materials and simplicity of formula. These are the factors that determine permanence. Economy types are not suitable for Professional artists due to their more exacting standards of quality, performance and longevity.

Our Art Sketching Oils dry in a similar time frame to our Artist Grade Oil versions.

  
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Gamblin Artists Colors Co. PO Box 15009 Portland, OR 97293 USA
Telephone: 503.235.1945  Fax: 503.235.1946