Roberson

Artists' quality metallic oil paint sticks for painting & drawing. Non-tarnishing and highly pigmented, these soft paint sticks are made with an unique mix of mica pigments, oils and waxes which generate a solid metal effect. Easy to use alongside regular oil paint. Blend and shade the colours together to make further shades. Treat as oil paint for surface preparation and clean-up. Learn More

Unlike other commercially available oil paints, Roberson Artists' Oil Colours do not contain any fillers, extenders or stabilisers. Each paint consists solely of high-quality pigment that has been ground into cold pressed linseed oil, resulting in a highly pigmented paint. This strength of colour presents the possibility of greater economy of use and a less homogenised texture between each tube, instead allowing the unique qualities of each individual pigment to reveal themselves. By limiting our range to 59 shades, we dispense with colours that can be easily mixed, creating a focussed palette of intense, lightfast paints that offer limitless combinations. 

Available in 40ml and 225ml tubes

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Unlike other commercially available oil paints, Roberson Artists' Oil Colours do not contain any fillers, extenders or stabilisers. Each paint consists solely of high-quality pigment that has been ground into cold pressed linseed oil, resulting in a highly pigmented paint. This strength of colour presents the possibility of greater economy of use and a less homogenised texture between each tube, instead allowing the unique qualities of each individual pigment to reveal themselves. By limiting our range to 59 shades, we dispense with colours that can be easily mixed, creating a focussed palette of intense, lightfast paints that offer limitless combinations.

Available in 40ml and 225ml tubes

Zinc White and Titanium White only available in this intermediate size of 120ml

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Unlike other commercially available oil paints, Roberson Artists' Oil Colours do not contain any fillers, extenders or stabilisers. Each paint consists solely of high-quality pigment that has been ground into cold pressed linseed oil, resulting in a highly pigmented paint. This strength of colour presents the possibility of greater economy of use and a less homogenised texture between each tube, instead allowing the unique qualities of each individual pigment to reveal themselves. By limiting our range to 59 shades, we dispense with colours that can be easily mixed, creating a focussed palette of intense, lightfast paints that offer limitless combinations.

Available in 40ml and 225ml tubes

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A highly efficient and safer solvent for oil paint. Studio Safe is non-aromatic and non-flammable and has a pleasant orange smell. Use for brush cleaning and the thinning of paint and as an alternative to traditional turpentine and white spirit.

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Copaiba Balsam comes from the South American tree Copaifera landsdorfii. Its primary function is to improve the appearance of paint layers that may have become dull, brittle or sunken upon drying. It is a viscous liquid that may be diluted with turpentine, but which should not be used in painting mediums.

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Venice Trupentine is a thick, resinous liquid extracted from the Larix decidua, a larch tree native to Austria. It can impart luminosity, brilliance and gloss when used in mediums and varnishes, and as such it was highly valued during the Golden Age of painting in Venice. It is a slow-drying balsam, which can be diluted with turpentine or placed in a bath of warm water to aid flow.

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Slightly less refined than rectified spirit of turpentine. Often preferred as constituent of painting mediums. Learn More

Plastic container. Solvent distilled from crude petroleum oils. Used to thin colour and to clean brushes. Slower drying time than turpentine. Learn More

Solvent for shellac flakes. Learn More

Lemon oil is an essential oil, primarily used for its scent. Learn More

Linseed Oil is derived from flax seeds, and appears on our shelves in many guises: Cold Pressed, Refined, Stand Oil, and as a key ingredient in many mediums. It has been appreciated for its drying properties since the Medieval period, and has become the most popular oil used in painting today due to the strong, flexible and glossy film that it creates.

Alkali Refined Linseed Oil has been treated to reduce its acidity, and is a useful ingredient in mediums and varnishes.

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Linseed Oil is derived from flax seeds, and appears on our shelves in many guises: Cold Pressed, Refined, Stand Oil, and as a key ingredient in many mediums. It has been appreciated for its drying properties since the Medieval period, and has become the most popular oil used in painting today due to the strong, flexible and glossy film that it creates. Cold Pressed Linseed Oil is ideal for the grinding of pigment to make oil paints. The process of producing Cold Pressed Linseed Oil results in a lower yield, but the resultant oil is of a superior quality to oil that has been extracted by other methods, creating a paint film that is more resistant to embrittlement on aging. Its yellow colour is caused by the high concentration of linolenic acid, the presence of which provides durability to the paint film. The amount of oil that each pigment requires can vary enormously. Alizarin Crimson, for example, requires a high percentage of oil compared to most other colours. We would always recommend mulling the pigment and oil together thoroughly to create a "short" or buttery paste, with evenly dispersed, well-coated pigment particles. This process contributes to the strength and flexibility of the paint film, and prevents the inclusion of excess oil. Origin: USA Learn More

Linseed Oil is derived from flax seeds, and appears on our shelves in many guises: Cold Pressed, Refined, Stand Oil, and as a key ingredient in many mediums. It has been appreciated for its drying properties since the Medieval period, and has become the most popular oil used in painting today due to the strong, flexible and glossy film that it creates.

Stand Oil is paler and more viscous than other Linseed Oils, having been heated and kept at temperature to provoke a molecular change. It is not suitable for grinding colours, but it is a very versatile ingredient that can be thinned with turpentine to create a glazing medium or be included in a varnish. Stand Oil is notable for its ability to smooth out brush strokes to create an enamel-like surface.

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Poppy Oil is a slightly later addition to the artist's cabinet than Linseed Oil and Walnut Oil. It is generally used as a binder for pale colours, where the warmth of Linseed Oil is not desired. It provides a matte finish and dries very slowly, so we would not advise using it in conjunction with slow-drying pigments or in underpaintings. A paint film produced by Poppy Oil is weaker and softer than that created by Linseed Oil. This is because it contains a smaller percentage of linolenic acid than Linseed Oil; this substance imparts both strength and yellowness to an oil.  

Although some of these properties can be perceived as drawbacks, paints made with Poppy Oil generally obtain a "short" or buttery texture without the addition of waxes or other additives, which can be an advantage for certain colours that produce poor consistencies in Linseed oil alone. Sometimes, the addition of a small quantity of Poppy Oil when grinding a tricky or "stringy" pigment in Cold Pressed Linseed Oil can introduce some of benefits of Poppy Oil, without transmitting its negative characteristics.

Paints made with Poppy Oil are particularly suited to "alla prima" working methods, where paint is applied spontaneously. When working in successive layers, Poppy Oil would only be appropriate for the final stages of a painting.

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Safflower Oil is light-coloured, making it suitable for grinding pale pigments. It is still sometimes used as a binder for commercially available paints, although due to its very slow drying time it is best reserved for the final layers of a painting. Compared to Linseed oil, Safflower Oil will give a matte finish.

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Studio Safe Liquid Medium is a mix of Studio Safe Solvent and natural artists' oils. It is used to thin paint and increase gloss. This product is non-aromatic, non-flammable and has an orange scent. Learn More

Roberson's Matt Medium creates a dead-flat finish when mixed with oil colour. It aids the flow and increases the artist's control of oil paint, allowing for smooth application flat brush marks with low edges. It can be mixed with oil paint in any ratio. Learn More

A high quality painting medium which will produce a deep glow, made from Canada Balsam and Turpentine. Especially effective with transparent oil colours, it is recommended as the medium of choice in the final stages of an oil painting. Learn More

A safe wax medium for impasto effects. This medium retains palette knife marks and brush strokes, remains thick and doubles paint easily, drying to a matt finish.

Studio Safe products are non-aromatic, non-flammable, and have a pleasant orange smell.

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Mix with tube oil colours or pigment to improve flow and translucency. For thin glazes, fine details and smooth brushwork. Learn More

A strontium-based siccative, milder than cobalt driers. Add sparingly to oil colours to accelerate drying, particularly recommended for pale colours. Learn More

Roberson Maroger Medium can be mixed in equal parts with oil colours to give a lasting brilliance and workable consistency to paints. It prevents sinking when using a wet-in-wet techniques.

Contains: Damar Resin, Gum Arabic, Linseed Oil

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This is a traditional, high-oil "fat" painting medium, made using the highest quality materials. It will retain colour strength, is resistant to bleeding, has good flow release, is ideal for blending, and can be mixed with oil colours in any ratio. When dry, it creates an enamel-like surface.

Contains: Stand oil,Cold-pressed Linseed oil, Canada Balsam, Rectified Spirit of Turpentine, Beeswax, Driers.

Clean tools in white spirit. Do not use as a varnish, always mix with oil colour.

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Mix with tube oil colours or pigment to improve flow and translucency. For thin glazes, fine details and smooth brushwork.

Contains: Turpentine, Damar Resin, Stand Oil, Cobalt Dryers.

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Mix with tube oils or pigment to improve flow and translucency, resulting in a satin finish. Contains silica driers. May darken if cap is left off bottle; if this happens, replace the lid and leave overnight to restore the colour with no lasting ill effects.

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Roberson Impasto medium is a crack-resistant medium for impasto effects. It retains palette knife and brush strokes, giving the paint sharp, defined edges. It remains thick and doubles paint easily, drying to a matte finish. To retain colour strength, mix one part medium to one part oil colour.

Contains: Stand Oil, Damar Resin, Turpentine, Bleached Beeswax.

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When Roberson Florentine Medium is mixed with oil colour, it is possible to paint freely on textile fabrics, which will stand up to subsequent hand-washing with soap and water. It may also be used when painting with oils on unprepared paper. Learn More

A cobalt drier in white spirit, to be added sparingly to oil colours to accelerate drying. Learn More