Hey guys. I picked up some Bob Ross Landscape oil color which is in a tube. Is this ok to use for marbling? It is not a powder but it is described as "Finest quality pigments ground in alkalai refined linseed oil. As always you guys are great. I wouldnt still be figuring out how to wrap a guide if it wasnt for this board.
Sincerely,
Dan Colville

I haven't done any marbling yet, but I color/tint the epoxy I bond cork rings together with. recently I purchased red oxide pigment from Golden Witch, oil based red pigment from Sherwin Williams and Winton & Newton oil colour#1 permanent alizarin crimson. In experimenting with these I like the Art pigment best so far. Since you mix pigment with epoxy to marble, the Bob Ross stuff should work well. I did find the linseed oil vehicle makes for a longer curing time. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

Dan,

Oil paint in the thickness needed to create a Marbling effect will take about 2 weeks to dry to the touch. Total curing will take months. Even a water break free surface on a graphite blank is a very poor ground for the paint to adhere to. A primer of gesso or rabbit skin glue would improve the bond, but that will only add to the process time. There are drying agents you can add to the paint but this still is a very complex way to achieve the marble effect.

You will be much better off running a search on Marbling and read the many posts by Randy Parpart on the subject. He has run many tests and his results will lead you directly to successful methods. I think he will have a DVD on the subject available soon.

Dry Pigment suspended in Epoxy Rod Finish (check Randy's preferred brands) seems to be the way to go. If new improved methods are discovered I think they will reach the Forum in short order.

Dave

Try searching the internet for Tap Plastics tints, or Testors enamel paint.

Mix a bit of it in the rod finish like you've been doing with other pigments; don't use too much. Just enough to tint the finish opaque; best done on a light colored piece of heavy construction type paper so that you can judge the opaqueness. Marble as normal, it works fine. Haven't tried that exact brand, but I've used 3 other artist oil based (and, unfortunately, one acrylic) paints. They work great for me. Epoxy dries in normal time if not mixed with too much of the paint.

Hope this helps,

Putter
Williston, ND