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Ivory Black - drying time and over-painting
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Message
Posted
Hello
I am new to painting in general and oils in particular. Reading about the subject, I have come across the assertion that Ivory Black should not be used under other colours because it dried slower and, therefore, any other paint on top would crack. As the book is from the 80s, and given that some beginner sets, for example, contain Ivory Black while others don't, I was curious whether this is still true or whether technical developments over the past 30 years have changed that.
Many thanks for your input
Posted
Ivory Black, also known as Bone Black, is a slow drier - painting over it is always going to be risky, and I wouldn't do it. If you want a dark in the early layers of your painting (if you do paint in layers) then a mix of Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna, or Ultra and Burnt Umber, would be a better bet than a tube black. But if you really need a black in those early layers, try Mars Black instead, or Blue Black.
You'll find Ivory Black in many sets of oil paints because it's cheap to make, so keeps the price of the package down. If using it anywhere as part of the upper layers, be careful not to add too much (or preferably any) extra oil to it, as it can separate and 'creep'. leaving you with a surface that's hard to disguise or repair. I speak from bitter experience.