"Don't eat your paints and you'll be fine" 😀 I love that sensible advice

Just remember years and years ago.. water pipes were made of lead and we survived, but were a little crazy. Luckily, we don’t have lead pipes anymore…. We can’t buy lead white paint now sadly. So will have to find those lead pipes and make our own.. lol.. Thanks Yapari. Love your work xxx

While discussing lead white and toxicity, it might be of interest to also discuss the very important toxic red pigment mercuric sulfide/cinnabar/vermilion which is a very subtle, unique and important red of great historical use and of value for flesh tones. When mixed in with other colors it also gives very subtle atmospheric depth. It is extremely expensive, probably the only current source of oil pigment is as Michael Harding genuine Chinese vermilion. It is also available as a dry pigment from Kremer, but again is quite expensive. It might be mentioned that the use of Titanium white kills any oil painting color depth due to its extreme opacity whereas zinc white does not similarly destroy color depth. One should never lose sight of the fact that all colored pigments and dyes are first and foremost chemicals that do not lose their chemical reactivity properties when used as colors. The historically used classic white pigments are genuine lead carbonate (lead white) and flake white (mix of lead carbonate and zinc oxide) also known as Cremnitz white . .It might be mentioned that until the heavy metal poisonous properties of mercuric sulfide were understood it was almost universally used as a cosmetic rouge, just as pewter was used for kitchen utensils until lead toxicity was properly understood. Lead paint is also an excellent insecticide and fungicide which is why barns were painted red (using lead tetroxide pigment in addition to iron oxide/rust) and early wood panels with lead white primer survived so well. Mercury and lead pigments are heavy metal poisons) and because they are not excreted by the kidneys they are cumulative toxic.

this was awesome. will be going Lead White. forever.

Another great non-toxic alternative I've been playing with is Rublev's Lithopone. It sits between Titanium and lead in terms of temperature and tinting strength. It's got a nice consistency with more body and transparency than titanium, but seems to be a stronger tinter than lead. The pigment is barium-zinc sulphide coprecipitate, yes it is zinc, but it is zinc SULPHIDE (pw5), not oxide, and doesn't suffer from the embrittlement that's associated with zinc oxide (pw4).

I appreciate your emphasis on midtones. Very key

I am useless at drawing portraits let alone painting them in oils. I learnt in oils for a short time, but was hankering for watercolours so badly that I gave up. I have found some super water colour tutorials which have been my life saver, and just happened to find your video while checking out whites. Thank you Gamblin now I have found a super tutorial, yours. Just subscribed, so I look forward to hearing, seeing and doing some beautiful art. Your explanations are very helpful. Thank you and Blessings from South Africa🤗

hi Yupari, another fantastic and informative video. I love your painting you are working on too! A short video on use of mediums and also how to clean and care for brushes would be so helpful .thanks again :)

Just use less titanium white and add a little yellow to it. Lead white has a slight yellow hue to it which makes it appear warmer.

Would love to see an extensive video on all the different mediums. It’s hard to find good extensive videos on gambling mediums. I see Al lot of videos with linseed oil but not enough with people having extensive knowledgeable through use on the other mediums especially resins. Great video by the way on whites.

it should be noted that lead white is a warm white whereas zinc white is a cool white and these fundamental differences should be adhered to when mixing colors.Lead white does not work when trying for crisp cool colors. As far as I am concerned, although lead white may be toxic to careless artists but titanium white is even more toxic to oil paintings that depend on subtle translucency of colors. although titanium white works well for acrylics which are inherently opaque anyway.

Very informative video! In my landscapes, I use both PW1 and PW6 depending on the value of the light in the differing areas that I'm working. One thing that I try to avoid is over-using PW6 at any time, but especially on the early layers because of the slow drying time. Last layer details of highlights is where PW6 is very useful for my painting style. Though I don't paint portraits, your channel is one of my favorites.

Excellent discussion! I love flake white!!

forgot to mention , best how to paint video by far , so far . thankyou

Lead can be absorbed through the skin, but the body has a hard time excreting it from the body. So it tends to accumulate over the years. FYI.

I can't get lead white but weirdly I can get lead tin yellow light in the uk. So I have been mixing the lead tin yellow light into titanium white. You get a bit of the texture and handling properties of the lead white; and a slightly warm opaque bright white (can control the mix to change the properties). Dries quicker than normal titanium white too.

interesting and informative. Good work.

the big problems with lead was because it was used for house paint for so many years, also certain situations can cause water supplied by lead pipes to leech the lead, very bad- Flynt Michigan, eg. Use in artist's paint is not a problem with normal studio hygiene. there is some hysteria around anyting with lead, by people who dont know better.

Great info thank you. I didn't know people were still using lead white.

Very informative and helpful. Your take on mediums would be appreciated, too.

lead white is awesome And so is titanium white. You also have flake white number one and number 2 One is made but walnut oil the other pale linseed oil

Very helpful discussion of "foundation white." I've just introduced flake white into my palette after using titanium white. It looks like I'll be mixing my own foundation white and, later, let Holbein or Michael Harding do my mixing for me... I'm assuming they have a bit more research and history informing that combo ;-)

Ps. I find cremnitz white to be a longer paint with more elasticity in its working properties

I live in the netherlands and its very hard to dutch process lead white even here. Found just one guy who made it on an online marketplace,its a lot of grinding an muling but the paint is awesome, the base ingredients aren't hard to find so best thing is just to make it yourself. There are tutorial videos.

"Don't eat your paints and it won't be a big deal." AND wear disposable gloves, dump your "after sludge" or unused/dried paints safely, don't sand without massive air filtering, watch paint creep up your ferrule and don't put your brushes in your mouth (duh) and consider using isolation layers. For what it's worth, Titanium White is used as a food coloring.

Great video.! How do you clean up the lead and keep lead soaked rags and paper towels, etc., out of the trash, which would go into landfills? I’d be interesting in trying lead, but I want to do it responsibly. Maybe you could make a video on responsible cleanup? Thanks again!

Hi Yupari, thank you for the great informational video however, I wanted to let you know about a serious issue I found with the Gamblin flake white hue, it yellows substantially and very quickly, almost to a Naples yellow. Therefore I have found the W&N to be better as an alternative despite its handling not being as good for those who cannot obtain, or do not want to use, flake white. Thanks again for the great videos

I want good pigment but I am not sure if it makes a difference. You got a nice painting there, I knew it wasn't just hype.

Awesome! Thanks so much for all the information.

You may be eating a lot of titanium dioxide as it is used in processed foods. It was banned in EU in 2022.

Hi Yupari, Your big painting is impressive by its size, level of complexity and beauty. I have been following you for a few years, how many years have you been painting? You are very inspiring!

I just got my first tube of lead white for a grisaille underpainting of a portrait and have a few questions. 1) is it ideal to just paint right from the tube or does it need to be mixed with medium/linseed oil? 2) if painting right from the tube for an underpainting, once it’s dry does it work well with indirect glazing technique over the lead white? My previous experience has been with tempera grisaille and transparent oils using indirect method. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

I use zinc white. I haven’t had any cracking yet, maybe because I mix it with linseed or walnut oil? I have a tube of titanium white, but whenever I mix a color with it and put it on the canvas, it just looks ugly and pasty, and I have to wipe it off. There is something about a transparent white that allows the painting to take on a sweet, delicate texture, and the opaque paint seems to just kill that, at least when I use it.

You are right . I agree with you 😘

Could you talk about Neo Melip? I know that it prolongs drying time, but how does it fit into the fat over lean rule?

like that painting btw

Love your video. I just started using Rublev oil paint. What name brands oil paint you like to use?

Thank you!

Thank you so much Yupari! I love your demo's and works! What a wonderful gift of learning from a modern Master! Bravo

I recently discovered flake white hue from winsor Newton after using titanium white for years... its like a rebirth lol. I can't believe I haven't used it before, I want to re paint every commission I ever did using flake white now 🥺🤣

We shouldn't eat the paint? Oh! Great vid, lots of info. Thanks.

Thank you!!

Yupari! The painting behind you! It takes my breath away! It is beautiful! I would like very much to know, understand, learn the WHOLE process that went into its concept! I have wanted to do, what I call a narrative painting. Is it possible to get together and receive help from you to do one with your guidance? Email me please and let me know. Love your visions! P.S. I notice the beard you are growing out! Love the whole look! :) I had wondered if you would. :)

does lavender spike oil evaporate like mineral spirits and thus not count when adding with fat over lean?

Do you recommend zinc titanium white rather than regular titanium white for portraits?

first layers are better with pw6 titanium or no because pw1 lead is a stronger film?

Hi Yupari, how do you dispose of lead paint after it has been washed off the brushes?

So do you recommend zinc titanium white more than titanium white for portraits?

to paint black and white seascapes which white do you suggest?

But titanium white is not a durable paint

Ok so I ate my tube of titanium white, what do?

I have a tube of Williamsburg lead white, but haven't used it much because when I paint, it always ends up in places I didn't expect it to be; on my hand, under my eye, etc. I love how heavy the tube is; it feels like gold is inside. I would like you to talk about what kind of background should you put for your portrait. Usually, I choose various shades of blue, but sometimes the blue seems to lack "color harmony" with the peaches and brown colors in the face.

I don't think any of these paints are as toxic as ciggerrets, and certainly not as toxic as meth amphetamine.