FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for Genesis Paint to dry?

When heated to 130°C Genesis Oil Paint will set within 3 to 5 minutes, and for thicker impasto paint, between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on paint thickness. If not subjected to heat, Genesis Paint will not set - ever.

What kind of canvas can I use?

Stretched canvases of primed cotton or linen work best.

You can also use canvas boards but you must preheat them to the setting temperature before painting to ensure that the glue used to bond the canvas and board are properly dried and that the board can withstand multiple heatings to the setting temperature.

Canvases should also be primed with a good quality acrylic gesso before use.

Will Genesis® Oil Paints work on wood?

Applying Genesis® Oil Paints to acrylic surfaces works well. Genesis® Oil Paints work well with primed hardboard surfaces. Abrasion and proper drying are required. Some hardboard performs better than others and adhesion varies with board quality. Genesis® Oil Paints work well on most primed woods.

How do I clean up?

Palette: Palette does not need cleaning as the paint won't set unless heated. Suggested palette is glass, kept in a plastic document case storage box to keep out dust and pet fur when not in use. If you need to clean your glass palette, scrape unused paint off with a palette knife and store in empty glass or plastic (PET or polypropylene) tubs for future use. Then wipe palette with paper towel and you can also use a window cleaner or alcohol and soft cloth to wipe the glass clean.

Hands: Soap and water.

Clothing: Wash as normal. Applying some spot cleaner, pre-wash, or dish soap directly on the paint spot usually removes all of the stain. After the paint is heated into clothing, however, it does not wash out.

Brushes: Many artists don’t clean brushes; it is not necessary if you paint with the same colours! If you do want to change colour, rinse brush in rubbing alcohol, or solvents such as mineral spirits, or turpentine.

What medium do I use with it?

Genesis® Oil Paints have many properties inherent in the chemistry that allow them to be used without traditional mediums. Genesis® Thinning, Glazing and Thick mediums can be used to alter the performance of Genesis® Oil Paints. Most traditional mediums are not needed with Genesis® Oil Paints and many are not chemically compatible. You can however if you wish also thin with any solvent such as:-

Odourless Mineral Spirit.

Rubbing Alcohol 91%

Turpentine.

What is the price for a full system? How much are individual colours?

Genesis® paints typically retail at prices similar to other artist-grade paints. Because they don’t dry on your palette, there is little waste – a very substantial part of the "cost" of other paints. For prices go to Products from the home page.

How is it for travelling?

Genesis® Paints and Mediums are safe to travel with and work well for travelling because the systems are designed for portability. It is safe to take Genesis Heat-Set Oil Paint on an aircraft as they are non-flammable and non-toxic. (You are not permitted to take regular oil paint onto an aircraft.)

What kind of drying systems do I need for drying Genesis Paints?

If your canvas fits into your domestic kitchen oven, then this is the most convenient and quickest way to set your painting. When starting out with Genesis Paints, keep them small enough so that you can set them using your domestic oven.

Heating Boxes of various sizes are available. This would be the best way to set your artworks that are too large for your domestic oven. If you don't have a Heating Box, Large canvases are better dried by placing them close to a radiant heater. A Heat Gun is also a relatively inexpensive way of setting your painting, especially if you want to set small areas that you have completed at a time and as you are progressing with your painting.

Can I mix it with regular air dry oils?

No. We have not found an oil that mixes with Genesis® Oil Paints. (Linseed Oil, as used in most regular paints, cannot be heated to the temperature needed to set Genesis Paints.)

Can I mix it with acrylics?

No. As with oils, we have not found an acrylic that mixes with Genesis®
Oil Paints. You can use acrylics as an undercoat and paint on top of it.

Is it water soluble? Is it water or solvent based?

Genesis® Oil Paints are neither water nor solvent based, but solvents may
be used to thin and clean. They are only water soluble with soap and
water for clean up.

I like to paint on a large surface - 2m x 2m. How do I dry it?

You can choose to work with the Genesis® Drying Gun, although it will
take a long time to dry a large surface. A radiant heater is recommended
to dry a large canvas; call us to discuss the process. Heating boxes are
also available at various sizes.

Warning: Never leave a painting unattended in front of any type of heater.

Do I have to use solvents? What solvent is required for cleaning
brushes?

No solvent is required. You can use various Genesis® Mediums to alter
the flow characteristics. Rubbing alcohol is an excellent cleaner, or warm
water and soap such as Sunlight Liquid dishwashing detergent. Of course, it is not mandatory to clean brushes because the paint won’t dry on them.

I am allergic to solvents – Can I use Genesis® Oil Paints?

Yes because there are no solvents in Genesis® Oil Paints and also they are odourless and non-toxic.

Is it archival? Is it lightfast? What are the lightfastness ratings?

The carrying medium and pigments were developed to give Genesis® Oil
Paints strong archival qualities. Most pigments used in Genesis Paints are of Pigment Rating I, and there are some colours such as Dioxazine Purples which are of Pigment Rating II.

If I get primaries and secondaries, can I mix all of the colours
myself?

Yes. All of the line is available in single colours, as well as in colour
systems.

What is the difference between Genesis® Oil Paints and alkyds or
water-miscible oil paints?

The basic nature of the paint is different. Genesis® Oil Paints use a nondrying base medium which sets when heated. The others are based on different chemistries that require various amounts of evaporative drying.

Is a Drying Gun safe to use as a hair dryer?

No! The drying gun emits considerably hotter air that a hair dryer.

Can I use a hair dryer to set Genesis Paints?

No, a hair dryer cannot reach the temperature of 130°C needed to set Genesis Paints.

How can I get a full Genesis® Studio System?

Buy one of the complete systems or purchase individual components to grow your system over time. Please ask if kits are not yet shown under Products.

After drying, are Genesis® Oil Paints soluble in appropriate solvents?

The drying process is not reversible. Some solvents will dissolve Genesis® Oil Paints that have been set, but they cannot be re-dried later.

To what does it adhere strongly? Are there supports – or undercoats – to which adhesion is poor?

As with most paints, Genesis® Oil Paints adhere best with a primed substrate. Prepare smooth surfaces with an abrasion to maximize adhesion. See the instruction manual for details. Acrylic gesso is most often used.

How can I describe the medium to jurors and customers? How do I classify it when entering a show?

Genesis® Oil Paints are a new type of paint known as “heat-set artist oils.” For jury purposes, artists simply classify them as oils.

Can I use a Heat Gun on a large canvas?

Yes, but it will take some time. The Drying Gun is especially useful for drying smaller areas of a large canvas without drying the whole surface. Some artists prefer the Drying Gun even for larger works because they dry their work as they go. You may prefer a full-canvas Genesis® Drying Box that dries the complete canvas at one time. Refer to the drying instructions section of the Genesis Oil Paints instructions for more details.

Why is it sold in jars rather than tubes?

Tubes are required for paints that dry when exposed to the air. Often, it is difficult to know exactly what the colour in the tube looks like. On the other hand, jars are easy to open and allow you to see the colour you are buying or have in storage. Better yet, jars allow you to use all of the paint you have purchased and can be reused to store custom blends you want to keep. Because Genesis® Oil Paints stay wet in the jar, there is no waste.

Can I use rabbit-skin glue to size my canvas?

No. Rabbit-skin glue is not compatible with the Genesis® Paints. It is preferable to use a good quality Acrylic Gesso.

Do I need to varnish to protect my work when it is complete?

Genesis® Oil Paints do not require a varnish. Use Heat Set Varnish if a varnished surface is desired for protection.

More questions? Contact us under Contacts.