Origins of Oil Painting Oil painting is in actuality a fairly new art medium. As a portray. Instead of egg, he used oil in order to work much painting medium, the use of oil in combination with more slowly and accurately. An oil binder allows making pigments only dates back to the 1400’s. Prior to its inven- glossy colours, which can be applied in transparent layers tion, painting in general does date back to the Stone Age, or glazes. Van Eyck was also able to apply the tiny detail but paint was made by using binders other than oil mixed lines and highlights with a pointed brush. Soon after with pigment, such as egg in tempera paints or plaster in beginning to work with the newly invented oil painting frescoes. medium, his work amazed his contemporaries and led a general acceptance of oil painting as the most widely In the early fifteenth century in Europe, there came about a suitable painting medium. certain desire for reality in art. Artists were finally begin- ning to understand perspective and there began an interest So began oil painting as we know it today. Although oil to portray more sincere, moving works of art that were colors are much more convenient, sold in tube form, and we visually more realistic. Artists began to use nature as a have many more mixing mediums to choose from than Van source of inspiration for their paintings. Eyck did, we still appreciate the same qualities of oil painting that Van Eyck invented it for. Jan Van Eyck (1395-1441) was a painter of the Northern Renaissance who sought to replicate nature in his paint- How is Genesis different than traditional oil? ings. In order to do so, Van Eyck became intent on painting every minute detail of his subjects in order to make them Not Oil or Acrylic seem alive. Eventually, Van Eyck realized that in order to Genesis Artist Colors™ are a new paint chemistry, called carry out his intentions of painting such detail to his fullest “Heat Set Artist Oils.” Genesis is an artist quality fine-art satisfaction that he needed to improve the technique of paint that is ready to apply without repeated pre-mixing and painting. He became the inventor of oil painting. will not dry until you are ready; then it dries very quickly.

Previously, Van Eyck and all other Renaissance painters Genesis Artist Colors™ offer fine control in mixing, blending and painters before them did not buy ready-made colors. and application, and can be worked in many states without They ground their own pigment from natural sources such the addition of mediums. They are very similar to oil paints in as plants and minerals, and added a binder to form a paste feel, opacity and translucence. Genesis Artist Colors™ stay with which to paint. Throughout the Middle Ages, the wet until heated, making them more convenient than oils or binder was egg and the final product was called tempera acrylics. The paint will not dry when left in the open on a paint, which had the tendency to dry very quickly. The non-porous surface. It is important to use a glass or other quick drying characteristics of tempera paint did not allow nonporous surface such as china, polished marble or porce- for smooth transitions in shading, which was necessary for achieving the sense of reality Van Eyck was attempting to After Elisabeth- Louise Vigée Le Brun Portrait of Marie Gabrielle de Gramont

by Kingslan Studios Genesis Oils on canvas

lain for your palette. Since Genesis Artist Colors™ do not air dry, you do not have to clean your brushes even if you will not get back to painting for days, weeks or even months. When cleaning brushes for quick color changes, simply wipe off excess paint, swirl in rubbing alcohol, wipe and repeat. The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan Van Eyck (oil on panel) The alcohol quickly cleans and evaporates out of the cleaned Origins of Painting on Canvas brush. You may also clean brushes by using warm water and soap, such as Dawn® dishwashing detergent. Dry your Canvas has become the most common support medium brushes thoroughly after cleaning. While Genesis Artist Col- for oil painting, replacing wooden panels. However, panel ors™ can be thinned or cleaned with solvents commonly painting remained more common until the 16th century in used with oil paints such as paint thinner, turpenoid and Italy and the 17th century in Northern Europe. Mantegna mineral spirits, these solvents are not necessary. Most art- and Venetian artists were among those leading the ists prefer rubbing alcohol or non-toxic Genesis Thinning change; Venetian sail canvas was readily available and Medium. Genesis Art Colors™ are not water soluble. regarded as the best quality. Oil, acrylic or Genesis oil can be used on canvas. Certified Non-Toxic Genesis Artist Colors™ are certified nontoxic and conform to ASTM D-4236. They are certified in a program of toxicologi- cal evaluation by a medical expert to contain no material in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans or to cause acute or chronic health problems.