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I'm currently experimenting with oil washes (I'm really beginning to hate the "dirty water"-look someone mentioned in another thread acrylics cause). But now I've got the problem that I need to know which colours specifically I need for the desired effects...
AFAIK I will need washes for the primary DA colours:

- Biel-Tan Green (Caliban Green)
- Carroburg Crimson (Mephiston Red)
- Nuln Oil (Leadbelcher)

There are tons of different tones out there. So if someone can drop me a hint on which tone I need... Currently looking at the Artist line from W&N (unless there are better oils for this job).
Found some people use Van Dyke brown for their DW - so Ushabti Bone should be covered. What about the other three, though?

Edit: Found out Buypainted uses Maimeri colours and Mars Black as a black wash and Brown Stil de Grain for Deathwing. Leaves red and green open.

With the exception of black, which you can use for Nuln Oil, there are no corresponding colors. Artists colors are "pure" colors and meant to be mixed to achieve a desired color. For instance, Cadmium Red Light, mixed with a couple of specks of Permanent Green Light, will give you a darker red. Likewise, Permanent Green Light with a couple of specks of Cad Red Light, will give a darker green. Don't be discouraged, instead learn to mix colors. It will help your painting by being able to mix more realistic colors for shadows and high lights. Any good art supply store should have books or cards with mixing recipes. I suggest you start there. Remember, upping your game isn't easy, but the rewards are worth it.

This is indeed a bit intimidating considering I "just" want to use washes with basically zero oil experience.. But I guess I'll get me a small stock of black, (deep) red, (deep) green and brown and go from there.
Maimeri are WAY cheaper too and one tube will last me a lifetime, so the cost for experiments should be acceptable.

 Thairne wrote:
This is indeed a bit intimidating considering I "just" want to use washes with basically zero oil experience..

Understandable, but as they say, nothing worthwhile is ever easy...

I just ordered some from here;
http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/colours-winsor-&-newton-winton-oils-37ml-tubes.htm
They have a 35% off when you get 6 tubes.

As for colours, I just picked some dark seeming tones both lamp and ivory black as they ought to give a different tone once thinned out. One I understand will be more earthy brownish and one a really dark blue? Any artists out there that could confirm the actual difference between the two black pigments. (I believe theres a 3rd common one called Mars Black - all three have a different base pigment and a have different subtleties, complimenting certain colours better than others hehe
I think most artists will have their preference, and it kind of sets a mood on their work.
Some even just mix blacks ; eg ultramarine + burnt umber artists colours is very blackish.

Mixing oils, while Ive not tried it yet I don't see as any harder than mixing acrylics? Which I've done lots! Just that theyre going to be much more intensely pigmented?

Winton in another thread was said to be not that good for washes. Dunno if it's true, but I stayed away from them for that reason. I ordered myself some from the same brand Buypainted uses, and you cannot argue with his expertise/work

Let's just hope the colours I ordered are dark enough. if not, I dont think it should be ANY trouble to create a wash out of 2 different colours. Same procedure really.

HairySticks wrote:
One I understand will be more earthy brownish and one a really dark blue? Any artists out there that could confirm the actual difference between the two black pigments. (I believe theres a 3rd common one called Mars Black - all three have a different base pigment and a have different subtleties, complimenting certain colours better than others hehe

This guy explains the differences in the blacks in pretty easy to understand language:
http://www.nikcartwright.com/1/post/2011/08/most-asked-question-1.html

Thanks for that link Ultra Grey, surprisingly informative

As for the OP the Winton Oils, I got them cus they were on offer ; I almost just got less of the W&N artists colours. But these came in smaller tubes and we dont particularly need tonnes of the stuff for washes?

I have a thread about oil washing open at the moment where Ive had one person say winton arent good, and lots of people saying thats BS and that theyre just fine.
Well I'l test it out as soon as I get time. Hopefully over the weekend. - being as Ive already bought them and had them delivered... They will go to waste if theyre actually not good for it. I suspect theyre fine, and that the higher end paints are perhaps just better (the 200-300% price difference has to be for something right?)

- Without even opening a tube I can have a fairly educated guess as to where the idea that the cheaper ones wont work comes from;
The cheaper line has a lower pigment density - its what allows them to be cheaper as the pigment is the expensive part. Thinning them down will probably take a bit more effort to get the mix consistent because theres more medium present than in the expensive colours. Its also possible that the pigments particle sizing is different, smaller being better and more costly. If its too big, then it might well leave a visible grainyness to it when its thinned out. Again I have no reason to suspect that this will be a problem with any W&N products.. theyre easily one of the top 4 artist paint suppliers widely available, judging them from their 'cheap' line of acrylics, theyre still extremely high quality. But I will test it out and let you know

If you are still looking for color ideas I would suggest

Ivory Black
Off White
Ultra Marine Blue
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow
Burnt Umber
Burnt Sienna
Forest Green (I think...)

A.