Williamsburg Artist Oil Colors by GOLDEN, Basic Painting Set II - 7 Colors

Anyone who has been painting with oils for any length of time (or passion) is most likely familiar with the Williamsburg paint line. This isn't the Grumbachers, Reeves, or even Winsor & Newton oils from your craft stores. Even many small art supply stores don't carry it because of the higher prices for some of the pigments. It is considered up there with the other top paints such as Old Holland, Harding, Blockx, etc...much higher quality of product and a much higher amount of top-notch pigment loaded with minimal oil/fillers/binders. This doesn't mean that it's not wonderfully creamy to use, though. It just means that when you squeeze out a small nut of paint on your palette, that an equal amount of separated oil doesn't ooze out first and puddle around the color. While some people might be only familiar with using oil color straight from the tube and actually may prefer the thinner consistency of those oil paints, I much prefer a thicker, higher pigment-load product. I always figure that I can quickly and easily thin it to the consistency (and flat, smooth-brushing capability) of thinner oil colors by using various mediums or turps. But when you want to be able to see expressive brush strokes, it really helps to use one of the best. As far as this color goes, I originally bought it just because it was available on Amazon Prime for a good price (plus it is a pigment that is in a lower price range to start with). I've been VERY pleasantly surprised at how many times I've found a use for it though. It isn't one of the mixes of oil colors that you can achieve by mixing a bit of sienna or umber into titanium white. Instead they heat titanium dioxide until it reaches this color...sort of a creamy grayish-buff color (think of pale latte). And the uses? I sometimes use it instead of titanium white for mixing tints...it creates much softer hues when mixed with other colors. It is finding the occasional palette spot for mixing flesh tones for portraits. And sometimes it just comes in handy for its nice, soft neutral color. It started out as a color that I doubted I'd use much. Now I see myself needing to restock it in the not too distant future. Some paint manufacturers make a version of it that is merely titanium white mixed with a speck of raw umber. You can mix that yourself; but in my opinion, it doesn't look the same. Other high-end paint makers do as Williamsburg does by heat-altering titanium dioxide. I haven't tried their versions yet; but I do highly recommend the Unbleached Titanium that Williamsburg produces.

I've quite enjoyed these oil paints. Out of all of the oil paints I've used before, getting this along with refined linseed oil was the right decision. I got to perfectly choose the opacity of my paint, from sheer to opaque whenever I needed. It was lovely being able to layer so many things so easily. The best part? The sheered background only took about a day to get dry enough to be layered on. It's quite easy to work with after you've played around with how thin versus how thick you like it. You can use it almost like a watercolor when it's thinned out slightly, and it's been great to work with. Easy to mix, very vivid colors, and a perfect set. Exceeded my expectations entirely. I thought $40 was expensive, but after those two paintings, I still have the amount in the photo of paint left. I rolled over the only parts of empty tube. If you're a beginner or intermediate and questioning whether this is actually worth the money, yes. But get linseed oil and a palette to mix, and maybe a dropper if you want to be precise.

I have previous previously used Williamsburg oils and love them. I found them unmatched for texture and paintability. And their colors are gorgeous. So when I needed a special gold paint I went immediately to Williamsburg. It was very disappointing. At first it just would not even adhere to the canvas almost like it was repelled by it. Eventually I fought with it and used a very long soft brush to kind of spatula on this color. The texture of the paint was very odd -- it's hard to describe. It did not behave like oil paint. First of all it never dried.bI had to take it all off and it just wiped right off like goo. Do not be put off by this -- Williamsburg paint is wonderful. There was just something about this gold paint that did not work.

I've used Utrecht titanium white for decades. It is very good and economical and I'll continue to use it when a section of a painting requires large volumes of white. I recently tried this Williamsburg Titanium White and wow, it just feels perfect when lightening colors with it. It has a very rich consistency and blends very easily. It is when you apply it with either brush or painting knife that you begin to really appreciate it -- it has a certain "touch". It's not as inexpensive as others, but unless you're going to use a lot it isn't a big consideration.

Really nice and buildable. Included a video and some photos of it in the light. You can see in the circle it’s heavier on one end and more sheer on the other so it will work for either a light sheen of gold or a more solid gold leaf effect. It’s a little expensive for such a small tube but as I’m not seeing any similarly high quality gold oil paint alternatives, I’d say it’s worth it.

I really like the quality of these paints, nice selection of colors

Only gave 4 stars being that I have not actually used this paint yet. rubbed some out on my finger and it seems very fine and the color is wonderfully gold. Truly looks like real gold. Will return after actually using it on my oil painting to let folks know how well it works. will be doing small detail with small brush. Interesting to see how smoothly it will apply. But, so far, so good. I felt it was a little spendy. But, if it works, the cost won't matter to me. As an artist the finished product is what it is all about. :)

I’ve used WN, Gamblin, OH, Utrecht, Rembrandt and more and have never come across a Yellow Cadmium Medium like this in my life. It glistens if you use it without turps. In making a color chart on panels so I can later glaze to see how these pigments respond I was delighted at that yellow and the Permanent Crimson especially. The other colors are good too but those two stand out. Very happy they offer small tubes so we can try. Wish they’d do that with all colors because I’m looking at Michael Harding and other paints made my hand bands and could pick and choose what I like but hands down YCM and PC will be Williamsburg.