Blending base colors on canvas is a beauty of oil painting which is possible because of liquid white. It has huge advantages for oil painters. From keeping canvas wet to creating a smooth transition between colors, liquid white can even create highlights on already-dried paintings. If you don’t have liquid white, or it is expensive for your budget then this blog post will show you how to make your own creamy liquid white from easily available items.
You must have heard the name Bob Ross when you search liquid white. Actually, Bob Ross was the one who started painting liquid white. He made a famous painting in just 30 minutes with liquid white and this is why you always hear the name Bob Ross with liquid white.
How to make liquid white?
To make liquid white, add 50 grams of linseed oil with 50 grams of white oil paint and mix it very well. Now, add a small amount of paint thinner or turpentine to boost the fluidity. You can adjust the fluidity by adding or removing paint thinner or turpentine
Art is a crazy thing. There is a need for so much practice in order to attract an audience. Using liquid white is a step towards that. But this is an expensive thing and hard to be carried out for beginners. If you are not satisfied with the above method to create fluid white then below are 4 ways to create liquid white on your own.
Table of Contents
- Ways to create liquid white
- Things to know before using liquid white
- Advantages of using liquid white
- FAQs
- Conclusion
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Ways to create liquid white
Liquid white is a pudding-like meringue-styled paint that is really soft allowing colors to blend naturally on canvas. I will help you to achieve that kind of style in your homemade liquid white. Below are the methods to create it.
1. Use linseed oil with titanium white to create liquid white
Recommended Titanium White
Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Color, 200ml (6.75-oz) Tube, Titanium White
- High performance
- Satin finish
- Best for wet-on-wet
- Value for money
- For professional use
About Winsor & Newton Titanium White
To create a high-quality liquid white, even better than the market product, Winsor & Newton’s titanium white is the best fit. It comes in a 200 ml metallic tube with a branding of series 1. As titanium white is a universal pigment and can be used to create other pigments, the quality matters a lot. It would be beneficial as well for future use also.
At the time of publishing, Winsor & Newton’s titanium white contains a total of 18110 ratings with an average of 4.8 stars out of 5. As we are participants in the Amazon Associate Program, we have not seen such positive ratings on any item yet.
Features
Finish type: Satin | Paint type: Oil | Age Range: Adult | Package information: Tube | Volume: 200 Milliliters | Size: 6.75 Fl Oz
Our Rating: 4.7 Stars Out of 5
Price at the time of publishing: 21$
What we Like!
- Value for money
- Amazon’s Choice
- Sheerness
What we Don’t Like!
- Price is suitable for professional use only
Titanium white is actually a white pigment that is used for painting. The main reason for using titanium white here is that it is the only most reflective white pigment available. I think every artist will be familiar with linseed oil if he does oil painting.
Required things
- Linseed oil
- Titanium white pigment
- Pellet knife to mix colors
- A bowl
- Storage can
You have to mix linseed oil and titanium in equal amounts. You can use a spoon to measure their exact quantity. If possible, a weight-measuring balance is better.
Let’s say you are going to make 100 grams of homemade liquid white, you have to take 50 grams of titanium white pigment in a clean bowl and add 50 grams of linseed oil after that.
Use a palette knife to mix the solution very well. Protect your eyes during this procedure. Do this until you get a creamy and spongy mixture of desired liquid white.
An old paint box is very helpful to store the resulting mixture. If you already have a small amount of magic white, you can test your one by creating a blending of colors. I am sure that you will get the same results with the prepared mixture.
Do You Know!
There is one more thing that is the same as liquid white in appearance and beginners always get confused with it. Yes, that is gesso: learn about liquid white vs gesso
2. Using Safflower oil to create liquid white
Recommended Safflower Oil
Gamblin Safflower Oil 8.5 oz Bottle
- Clean brushes
- Thin Oil colors
- Non-Toxic
- Good Reputation
- Value for money
- Non-yellowing
About Gamblin Safflower Oil
Gamblin Safflower oil is a non-toxic oil medium that is made for use with oil paints. It had the strength to thin the oil colors which can also help to make liquid white. Most probably, artists use linseed oil but safflower oil is also smooth in working. It is a good choice for those who prefer using safflower oil instead of linseed oil.
Gamblin is famous for high-quality art supplies at lower rates. Compared with other brands such as Winsor & Newton, their price is cheaper and is also better in quality. At the time of publishing, there was a total of 160 ratings with an average of 4.8 stars which is considered a best-quality item.
Features
Item Volume: 8.5 fluid Ounce | Product Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 0.294 kg | Rating: 4.8 star out of 5
Our Rating: 4.6/5
Price at the time of Publishing: 13.10$
What we Like!
- Value for money
- Best fit for liquid white
- High buyer’s ratings
- Brand’s image
- Non-toxic
- Non-yellowing
What we Don’t Like!
- A short amount of artists prefer to use safflower oil
What if you also don’t have linseed oil? Well, don’t worry! safflower oil is also going to be effective. All you have to do is to follow the same procedure as described. Take a clean bowl and add titanium white and safflower oil in equal amounts. Make sure to add an equal amount of both substances.
Mix them well with a palette knife until you get the same creamy mixture as the original liquid white. But you have to compromise on the drying time because safflower oil dries slower than linseed oil. Hence, you will get the same mixture but the drying time going to be slow.
It is better if you have linseed oil but if you don’t have it, you can go for safflower oil as well.
3. Using walnut oil to create magic white
Recommended Walnut Oil
Refined Walnut Oil
- Glossy Finish
- Non-Toxic
- Non-yellowing
- Boost fluidity
- Oil Paint cleaner
About Walnut Oil
Walnut oil from Natural Earth Paint Store comes in a glass jar with beautiful packaging. Volume is 8 Fluid Ounces which is enough to create an excessive amount of liquid white. Walnut oil is a substitute for linseed oil that doesn’t yellow the oil paint over time. The safflower oil mentioned above gives a satin finish but walnut oil gives a glossy finish.
At the time of publishing, there were a total of 77 ratings with an average of 4.6 stars out of 5. The product comes with a description to provide high-quality texture after drying.
Features
Finish type: Gloss | Volume: 8fl oz | Item form: Gel | Age range: Adult | Product Dimensions: 2.25 x 2.25 x 5.5 inches | Ratings: 4.6 star out if 5
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Price at the time of publishing: 15.50$
What we Like!
- Non-toxic
- Non-yellowing
- Value for money
- Multiple uses
What we Don’t Like!
- Low preference for linseed oil
As the name shows, walnut oil is extracted from walnuts. If I compare it with linseed oil, it is a good alternative. Hence, walnut oil creates less yellowing than linseed oil. You can follow the same procedure in the formation of liquid white from walnut.
Using titanium white is mandatory because it is the best reflecting white pigment. Just mix walnut oil with titanium white by adding an equal amount of both.
This method is going to be more cost-efficient because this is cheaper than linseed oil but not as effective as linseed oil.
4. Using oil paint thinners to make liquid white
Oil paint thinner is actually a solvent that is used to thin the paint. Thinning paint and lightning paint are two closely related terms. By considering this fact, the use of oil paint thinner is also going to work in the preparation of magic white.
In oil paint thinners, you can use turpentine, turpenoid, toluene, or even acetone. But the use of titanium white is also necessary here. Add them in a 1:1 ratio and mix well until you get the same mixture.
The only side effect you are going to face with this technique is that these paint thinners contain a strong odor which can be irritating for you. But you will get the desired liquid white.
I think all these methods are enough to make sure the availability of any substance for creating magic white.
Things to know before using liquid white
As an advisor, this is my right to inform the visitors about every positive and negative thing related to the use of this product. First of all, you must have good knowledge about the blending of colors because this needs so much practice to know the proper use of this liquid. If you are new, I suggest you practice this technique on a cheaper surface instead of canvas to avoid loss of money.
The second main thing is that the addition of liquid white in the paint can increase its drying time which needs so much patience. You have to use a well-ventilated room to fasten this procedure.
The third main disadvantage is that liquid white is not permanent. While it does not easily fade, it can be oxidized or scratched by natural elements such as water and eventually lose its luster over time.
Advantages of using liquid white
If you are a professional or familiar with its use, you must know its importance very well. With just this magic white, you can create so many consistencies of your paint to show so much detailing same like Bob Ross.
The advantages of using liquid white in oil painting are a lighter, brighter, and more transparent painting. The color has a translucent sheen and is commonly used by artists to create subtle highlights, as well as to blend colors together. If you’re looking for an easy way to create the illusion of realism in your work, look no further than liquid white.
FAQs
Why Bob Ross was famous for oil painting?
Bob Ross was an American painter best known for his popular PBS television show “The Joy of Painting”. He introduced new techniques in oil paintings for the whole world, One of the best examples is liquid white which is a famous substance for blending and managing the consistencies of colors.
Which things are needed to make liquid white?
You simply need a titanium white pigment and linseed oil. If you don’t have linseed oil, you can use any paint thinner or vegetable oil.
Which cooking oils can be used to make magic white?
There are two kinds of cooking oils that can be used: walnut oil and safflower oil.
Is white gesso the same as liquid white?
No, gesso is a primer that applies on canvas to hold the paint but liquid white is a mixture of white pigment and linseed oil which use to create a blending of paints on canvas.
Conclusion
Using liquid white in oil painting is a wet-to-wet technique that needs so much practice to master. If you don’t have this available or you don’t have a budget to purchase it. You can simply make it by mixing white pigment and linseed oil. It will work the same as the original one.
These techniques are recommended by keeping in mind the budget and quality. So, what are you waiting for, grab some ingredients and make your own liquid white now in just 5 minutes.
If you have any kind of additional questions, please let us know in the comment box. We will appreciate every question from you. Thanks!
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