Why is Oil Paint so Expensive? Pricing Factors

Oil paints have a significantly higher price compared to other painting mediums like acrylics or watercolors. But what accounts for these inflated costs? The premium pricing stems from the premium quality of pure ingredients, oils such as linseed oil used in the process, complex manufacturing process and exceptional archival longevity. 

Typical artist-grade oil paint prices can range from $10 to $30 per 37ml tube for quality brands In comparison, acrylic paint tubes from decent brands typically range from just $5 to $15 for 60ml.

While oil paints undoubtedly require a bigger investment upfront, there are ways to make the costs more manageable such as shopping for student-grade oils or buying paints in larger, bulk quantities can provide significant savings.

What is the History and Tradition Behind Oil Painting?

Oil painting originated and developed as an artistic medium during the Renaissance era around the 15th century. Pioneering artists of that time, such as Jan van Eyck, innovated techniques for suspending vibrant pigments in drying oils. Van Eyck is credited with helping establish the luminous, multi-layered style that defines oil painting even today. Other influential Renaissance masters like Leonardo da Vinci further advanced oil painting methods.

Oil painting has been considered a prestigious art form for centuries. The complex techniques of oil painting were developed over generations by legendary artists, who created some of the world's most iconic artworks. In contrast, a digital artwork created on a tablet—while innovative—cannot match the prestige of traditional craft. To this day, oil paints are the most popular medium for custom paintings.

Oil paintings are the result of a labor-intensive process that has been perfected over hundreds of years. No other medium has such a rich artistic legacy. The long history of oil painting has made it a highly valued art form, and this perception justifies the higher price tags compared to more modern mediums.

Why is the Quality of Pigments Important?

The use of top-quality pigments and binders is essential for creating high-quality oil paints that are worth their higher cost. These components help to ensure that the paint not only looks vibrant and smooth, but also lasts for years without fading.

Pigment Cost

The finest oil colors get their vibrancy from pigments like cadmium reds, cobalt blues, and ultramarine violets derived from rare or semi-precious materials. These premium pigments are sourced from minerals and even precious metals. They provide the intense, luminous hues that set oil painting apart. Economizing with lower-quality pigments results in muddier, duller colors.

Binder Role in Pricing

Equally important are the binders that suspend the pigments and impact consistency. Quality oil paints use refined linseed or safflower oils that helps with buttery application and slow-drying times ideal for layering techniques. The binders also contribute to the incredible longevity of oil paintings by forming a tough, protective film over the pigments. Cheap binders compromise performance and archival properties.

As an example, student-grade oil paints use more affordable pigments and binders that simply cannot match the quality of professional oils from renowned brands like Winsor & Newton or Old Holland. While cheaper, the paints lack the color vibrancy, workability, and life-span of premium products justifying the higher price point for experienced artists and institutions preserving paintings for posterity. 

How Does the Manufacturing of Oil Paint Affect the Cost?

Producing high-quality oil paints requires immense skilled labor and complex steps that drive up costs substantially compared to other types of paints. Oil paint manufacturing is an art in itself and it was perfected over centuries.

The multi-step process begins with precisely grinding the pigments into an extremely fine particulate form using laser machinery or traditional stone mills. These pigment particles must then be dispersed and meticulously mixed with binding oils in exact ratios depending on the hue and properties desired for artists and collectors alike.

The resulting mixture goes through a milling process using steel rollers or beads to evenly distribute the particles and work out any remaining lumps or impurities. This laborious step is essential for achieving the smooth, buttery consistency that defines quality oil paints.

After milling, the paint is sealed and cured for months, with the binders polymerizing to their final tough. Only then can the paint be tubed for artists after strict quality checks.

Each stage demands experienced professionals. Workers must undergo years of training to properly grind, measure, mix and inspect according to exacting standards. In contrast, mass industrial methods can produce cheaper acrylic or watercolor paints on large scales.

Renowned oil paint makers like Old Holland or Michael Harding built their reputation on this generational craftsmanship. They are famous for their premium products favored by master artists, galleries and collectors. The human labor, small batches and time required to handcraft each batch justifies premium pricing compared to machine-manufactured options. 

Why Do Oil Paintings Have a High Value?

Oil paintings are highly valued because they can last for centuries without fading if you take care of it.

The archival qualities begin with the pigments themselves, which are UV-resistant and don't fade or degrade over time like in other paint types. The binders like linseed and safflower oils polymerize as they dry. This creates an incredibly tough, stable cross-linked film protecting the pigments underneath.

This preservation keeps the luminous colors of expertly produced oil paintings vibrant for hundreds of years. Surviving examples include vibrant ancient Egyptian artifacts, Renaissance masterpieces by masters like Rembrandt, and even prehistoric cave paintings using crude plant-based oils.

In contrast, acrylic paints yellow and watercolors fade much faster due to their synthetic plastic-based binders breaking down over decades. Oil's naturally cross-linking binders give it a longevity that other mediums just can't match.

This archival resilience has made oil paintings among the most prized, highly-valued pieces for collectors and institutions. An investment-worthy artwork using premium oils is viewed as a potential family heirloom to cherish and pass down for generations. The confidence in the work's lasting beauty and historical value justifies the premium pricing in the artists' eyes. 

Why Do Artists Invest in High-Quality Oil Paints?

Aside for the longevity of oil paints, professional portrait artists invest in premium quality oil paints for their superior color vibrancy and versatile performance. For instance, our top artists who specialize in creating custom paintings from photos use only the highest quality materials.

The finely-ground, richly-pigmented colors simply appear more vibrant and luminous thanks to the high-quality ingredients. The refined binders provide a smooth, buttery consistency that enables advanced techniques like wet-on-wet blending or layering multiple glazes. And the controlled, slow drying time keeps the oil paints workable on the palette for hours or even days.

Historically, purple was considered the color of royalty and wealth due to its rarity and the expense of producing it. The original purple dye, known as Tyrian purple, was made from the mucus of certain sea snails, requiring thousands of snails for just a few grams of dye. This made purple garments extraordinarily expensive, thus reserved for the elite. This historical tidbit underscores the fascinating interplay between the value of colors and their impact on society and culture.

These properties are ideal for experienced artists who want to take their creativity and craftsmanship to new heights. It's no coincidence that legendary painters like Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Monet used the finest available oils from master manufacturers of their time. Their masterpieces showcasing oil's strengths could not have been achieved with lower quality materials.

How Do Oil Paint Costs Compare to Other Mediums?

Oil paints have a premium price that significantly exceeds costs for other painting mediums like acrylics or watercolors. Quality matters when it comes to oils.

• For artist-grade oil paint from reputable brands, consumers can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $30 per standard 37ml tube. Premium oils from elite makers like Williamsburg or Michael Harding often cost over $30 per tube.
• This contrasts sharply with acrylics which typically range from just $5 to $15 for a 60ml tube of decent quality. Watercolor tubes usually run under $10 each. Even student-grade oil paints can be found for around $5 per tube.

While the upfront costs seem high, the longevity of an oil painting makes the medium quite cost-effective over years and decades. Many professional artists gladly invest in premium oils. They view it as essential for creating true masterpieces designed to withstand the tests of time. 

Are There Some Alternatives and Cost-Saving Strategies?

There are some alternatives and strategies that can help make this versatile medium more affordable, such as buying second-hand or a student-grade paint. Even though price is important, you should select the right oil paints to have a rewarding experience when painting.

Student-Grade Paints

For beginners or practicing techniques, student-quality oil paints provide decent colors at a much lower price point around $5-$10 per tube. While the pigments and binders aren't archival quality, student oils can produce satisfactory results for studies, practice canvases and more exploratory pieces before investing in professional supplies.

Bulk Buying

Most oil paint brands offer significant discounts when purchasing larger, bulk sizes. An individual 37ml tube may cost $25, but a 150ml tube of the same color is typically 30-40% cheaper per ml. Bulk sizes like 500ml jars or even liters maximize those savings for the colors an artist uses most frequently.

Other cost-cutting options include watching for sales/discounts from brands or art suppliers, using more affordable brush types like synthetic bristles, and considering solvent-free or water-mixable oil formulations which tend to be cheaper.

For professional oil artists, investing in premium artist oils remains the best option despite the higher costs. The finely-ground pigments, archival binders and superior workability simply cannot be matched by student-grade alternatives for finished pieces meant to get in the hands of museum collections.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the high cost of quality oil paints boils down to one key factor - you get what you pay for. While the upfront investment can seem steep, the superior ingredients, skilled labor, and archival properties make these premium materials worth every penny for serious artists. Even the most affordable oil paintings can be more expensive than other paintings.

You can totally buy cheap oil paints, but the finished product will likely disappoint in terms of vibrancy, workability and longevity. Oil painting is an art steeped in tradition, mastered over centuries. Using paints from reputable brands ensures you have the right tools to create gallery-worthy masterpieces built to last. Some beginner artists prefer starting with acrylic paints or watercolors to avoid costs before committing to one medium. 

For those just starting out, beginner-friendly student grade and affordable sets are a wise option to get a feel for oils before committing to paying more.

Transitioning to artist-grade supplies from Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and the like becomes essential to create long-lasting paintings. While costs are higher upfront, it pays off through the pride of creating art built to be cherished for generations.