Jennifer Maidment is a figurative painter and illustrator whose work splices together imagery to create fantastical compositions full of lurid colours, animals, fairgrounds, and all things futuristic and surreal. She completed her MA in Fine Art at Wimbledon College of Art in 2010. We recently asked her to review Shin Han Oils, and this is her piece on this popular range of great value oil paints.
A few weeks ago I was asked by Jackson’s Art Supplies if I would like to write a review on some oil paints, for their website. I tested Shin Han professional grade oil paints over three separate paintings and filmed some of the process. First of all, I have to say, the paints came in a beautiful box – it was a very exciting morning of post for me.
What I tested them on:
Up until now, I have used Daler Rowney, Winsor and Newton, Lukas Studio and Etude oil paints for the majority of my paintings. I decided to paint three different portraits in varying styles to test out how I would naturally use the Shin Han paints.
Painting one was a 6 hour sketch of Queen Elizabeth, using fairly thick paint and loose brush strokes.
Painting two, was again a painting of the Queen. This time I created a higher contrast painting using thinner paint, built up in layers over a few days.
Painting three was a commissioned portrait that I filmed and turned into the time-lapse video you can view below or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4IFRDFP4HY. This piece was built up in layers (thinned with refined linseed oil in parts) and created over a two week period
The results
The main difference I found using Shin Han oils was the colour saturation and consistency. There are an incredible amount of subtle colours hidden in skin tones, so having an array of colours to work from is important. Usually I begin with a burnt umber paint sketch for dark values and shadows as the base, working up from there to colour in order to flesh out the face and build definition, then eventually to light pinks, blues, greys or whites as highlights. In terms of mixing, I couldn’t believe how little ShinHan paint it took to affect an overall colour. For example, the first colour I mixed with Shin Han paints was ultramarine blue into my usual Daler Rowney Georgian titanium white. It took approximately a tenth of the usual amount of blue paint to create the pale blue I use for skin tones. Some of the paints, as you can see in the demonstration video I also shot (see below or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2POEQL2Kmk&feature=youtu.be ) vary in opacity but all of the paints are incredibly vibrant. In particular, ultramarine blue, ivory black, viridian green and vermilion red were completely opaque; yet at the same time silky. These paints covered with ease and without having to add paint mediums to increase ease of flow. I was given a 12 set of 20 ml tubes and after three paintings, as well as a demonstration piece (only using white and black from other, larger tubes) I have plenty of paint left.
For artists who paint a lot, there is always some temptation to opt for cheaper paints. A few months ago I bought student quality Daler Rowney white oil paint. I bought it because I go through an incredible amount of white paint in everything I make and this was a huge tube of the exact same brand and colour I usually use; just in a lower paint grade, sitting on the shelf saying “buy me, I’m half the price, I’ll do the same job, really..”. It lied. I thought it probably wouldn’t make a vast difference, but in fact, when I used the paint, I found it had the consistency of face cream and very little opacity. Don’t get me wrong, Daler Rowney make excellent paints, which I use (in a higher grade) all the time. This is merely an example to outline what different paint qualities can do. ShinHan oils, being professional quality, are slightly more expensive than I would usually pay for, but in essence they are also more cost effective because they go a really long way. They’re also super easy to work with in terms of flexibility, consistency and being able to mix with all other paints I have tested. As I had small tubes, I’m not sure what trying to paint large backgrounds would be like, but I will definitely opt for ShinHan now if I need vibrant colours. In fact, I’m quite excited to see what the other colours will turn out like; which is testament to their quality, because this time I will actually have to pay for them!
To view Shin Han Oils on Jacksonsart.com visit click here
To view more work by Jenny Maidment visit www.jennifermaidment.com
I’ve been using Shinhan for years now and have always
been quite satisfied with their performance.