Not Oil or Acrylic
Genesis® Oil Paints are a new paint chemistry, called "Heat-Set Artist Oils." Genesis® is an artist quality fine-art paint that is ready to apply without repeated pre-mixing and will not dry until you are ready; then it dries very quickly.

Genesis® Oil Paints stay wet until heated, making them more convenient than oils or acrylics. The paint will not dry when left in the open on a non-porous surface.

Genesis® Oil Paints offer fine control in mixing, blending and application, and can be worked in many states without the addition of mediums. They are very similar to oil paints in feel, opacity and translucence. We encourage you to experiment with your style to achieve the desired effect.

Other paints have very different chemistries from Genesis® Oil Paints. Do not mix Genesis® Oil Paints with other oils or acrylics because the results are unpredictable.

Since Genesis® Oil Paints do not air dry, you do not have to clean your brushes even if you will not get back to painting for days, weeks or even months. When cleaning brushes for quick colour changes, simply wipe off excess paint, swirl in rubbing alcohol or Genesis® Brush Cleaner, wipe and repeat. The alcohol quickly cleans and evaporates out of the cleaned brush. You may also clean brushes by using warm water and soap, such as Dawn dishwashing detergent. Dry your brushes thoroughly after cleaning.

While Genesis® Oil Paints can be thinned or cleaned with solvents commonly used with oil pants such as paint thinner, turpenoid and mineral spirits, these solvents are not necessary. Most artists prefer rubbing alcohol or non-toxic Genesis Thinning Medium. Genesis® Oil Paints are not water soluble.

Certified Non-Toxic
Genesis® Oil Paints are certified non-toxic and conform to ASTM D-423. THey are certified in a program of toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no material in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans or to cause acute or chronic health problems.

Background
Oil colours have been available to artists for five centuries. Recent decades brought the advent of acrylics and alkyds. Watercolours evolved from temporary weak paints to having longevity never before dreamed possible. The latest advancement is Genesis® Oil Paints Heat-Set Artist Oils.

Developed and patented by professional artists, Genesis® Oil Paints offer the look and feel of traditional oils without the drying time restrictions, toxicity and odor. Genesis® Oil Paints contain a heat activated curing agent that allows for on-demand drying.

However, since they are a completely new medium, in spite of the similarities to regular oils, they also have special characteristics of which the artist can take advantage.

One of the characteristics of Genesis® Oil Paints is that they are thixotropic, therefore although they may be thick and like stiff paste in the jar, it only takes a little stirring or mixing with the spatula, for them to become soft and malleable. Application by spatula or brush is done very easily at this point, even when using the impasto, thick application technique. This painting can be used without having to add any thinning or other mediums.

Thin coats of Genesis® Artist COlors are also possible by using the paint straight from the jar. The advantage that Genesis® Oil Paints have when working in thin overlapping layers is that you can dry the painting between the layers, thus application can go on smoothly without pulling off the pre-painted surface or intermixing with it. In case of regular oil, you would have to wait until the first layer is dry before continuing the painting, which would take time.

Because Genesis Oil Paints do not dry on their own, they require cleaner work habits. One good method is to use paper towels to wipe the brush while working, then dispose of the dirty towel often. A rag is not practical to use with Genesis® Colours because it will transfer the wet paints to your hands, clothes and eventually to things around you.

Genesis® Mediums
Artists have always added various mediums to enhance control of drying as well as the handling characteristics of their paint. With Genesis® Oil Paints, you will find less need to adjust. They have excellent body, offer fine control mixing, blending and application, can be worked in many states without the addition of medium and have a thick, rich consistency. Try working Genesis® Oil Paints with your brush or palette knife. Notice how the paint becomes more buttery and smooth? Left alone for a time on a non-porous surface (such as glass), the paint will return to its original, thixotropic state - without having dried.

Genesis® Thinning and Glazing Mediums
Genesis® Thinning Medium or Genesis® Glazing Medium are recommended. When adding Genesis® Mediums to thin, use just a very little at a time on the palette - it's very efficient! Adding a Genesis® thinning or glazing medium permanently thins the paint.

Transparent washes can be achieved by adding the Glazing Medium. Glazing Medium gives you a good layer of paint and the transparency that you need.

If you like to paint with a thinner consistency, you can add a small amount of Thinning Medium. This medium is very efficient so additions must be very small. Do not add more than 40% of these mediums to the paint.

Genesis® Thick Medium
This medium can be mixed with the paint while maintaining the same body. It will function as a colour extender. If a smaller amount of paint is added to the medium the result will be a transparent heavy-bodied mixture. You can add as much Genesis® Thick Medium to the paint as desired.

Using Oil Solvents
Thinning with a small amount of an oil solvent will not permanently thin the paint, as the paint will return to its original state as the solvent evaporates off. This process should be tried by professionals only.

Varnishes
You do not need to varnish a Genesis® painting for protection. If you choose to use a varnish, Genesis® Removable Varnish is an ideal protective coating for application over paintings created with Genesis® Oil Paints. After heat setting the paint, apply with a brush and let it air dry. Do not heat set the varnish! If the painting gets dirty over time, the Genesis® Removable Varnish can be removed with ammonia solution or window cleaner and a fresh coat reapplied. An acrylic varnish can also be used over Genesis® Oil Paints, but be sure to test the varnish that you choose before using it on a finished painting.

Genesis® Colours and Pigments
At the dark end of the spectrum, Genesis® Oil Paints are made with pure pigments. Generally, lighter values are more opaque to ensure their covering power. To obtain the light values, a specially blended white is added to a pure colour.

Choosing a Substrate
Always ensure that the surface on which you are painting can withstand the drying temperature you will be using. Some painting techniques will require several layers be dried, and the substrate must withstand the number of heatings you will use.

Test heat stability over multiple drying sessions. Certain substrates that might release moisture when heated should be pre-dried as the moisture may result in bubbling and poor adhesion.

Choosing a Drying System
Genesis® Oil Paints are the only fine art paints that offer a true solution to the problem of drying your paint. Unlike other paints, you do not have to decide in advance when you will want the paint to dry. You can dry it whenever you are ready. You will want to decide how you are going to dry your painting before you begin.

In deciding how to dry your painting, consider 1) the sizes of your work; 2) the thickness of paint you are using; and 3) the substrate surfaces upon which you are painting.

Whatever heat source you choose, you must be able to heat the paint and substrate to at least 250°F (121.1°C) and not exceed 280°F (137.7°C).

Heat guns such as the GMC Drying Gun are ideal for drying small areas or only part of the painting.

If your painting is a size that will fit into your oven, this may be your best choice. If an oven is not convenient or you would rather dry your paintings where you are working, drying boxes or radiant heat sources are recommended.

After you have chosen a drying method, two considerations affect the complete curing of your painting: time and temperature. Experiment before starting a painting. YOu will quickly find the drying method best suited to the style and size of the painting you want to complete. Always ensure you are using a heating method that will get the painting to a temperature of at least 250°F (121.1°C) but not exceed 280°F (137.7°C). Depending on the thickness of your paint and the nature of your substrate, you will want to dry your paint for 15 minutes for the first thickness up to 1/4 inch (0.6 cm), and dry another 15 minutes for each additional 1/4 inch (0.6 cm). The required temperature can be achieved by any method that heats the paint to 250°F (121.1°C) - 280°F (137.7°C) and maintains the heat long enough for the thickness of the paint to be penetrated.

Drying Characteristics of Genesis® Oil Paints
With practice, you will very quickly get to know the characteristics of Genesis® Oil Paints and heat setting will become second nature.

Genesis® Oil Paints utilize a non-drying synthetic oily liquid, embedded with a heat sensitive curing agent. Genesis® Oil Paints stay wet until heated enough to activate the curing agent. After the drying temperature is reached, Genesis® Oil Paints dry immediately. For thin layers this means very fast times - as little as two minutes. For thicker impasto's, longer times are needed for the heat to thoroughly penetrate the paint.

Genesis® Oil Paints require adequate drying time and temperature to deliver the flexibility and resiliency necessary for the longevity of your work. Remember to dry the paint long enough for the heat to fully penetrate the depth you have applied. While it is possible to damage Genesis® Oil Paints by overheating, it is easy to prevent by keeping the heat source at least one inch away from the paint. The drying process is not reversible. After Genesis® is dry, it should not be dissolved.

To dry fully, Genesis® Oil Paints must reach 250°F to 280°F (121°C - 138°C) for several minutes. Bringing the paint to this temperature without overheating is important. The Genesis® Drying Gun has adjustable temperature settings appropriate for working with the paint. Keep the gun an inch or more away from the canvas to prevent scorching the paint or canvas. Genesis® Oil Paints dry better at the recommended temperature range applied for a longer time rather than through extreme heat brought to bear quickly. If you see smoke or fumes coming off the canvas or notice small bubbles forming in the paint, you are overheating. If you do happen to overheat the paint, ventilate the work area and use less heat either by lowering the gun temperature or by holding the drying gun further away from your work.

With practice, you will also learn to dry an isolated area so that you can try a change in colour or add a detail. With the underlying area now dry, new work can be wiped off and tried again until you are satisfied.

If you paint in thick layers or impasto's, experiment trying different amounts of Genesis® Oil Paints and breaking them open once they have fully cooled. If they break open easily and have a dry, cracked texture, the paint did not dry long enough for the heat to penetrate or dried at too low a temperature. This is easily resolved by expanding the heating time, and in some cases, by increasing the temperature applied.

After you have heated Genesis® Oil Paints, allow a few minutes for cooling before applying the next layer. After a few minutes of cooling, the paint becomes firm yet still quite flexible.

About the GMC Drying Gun
The GMC Drying Gun was designed to be lightweight and comfortable to use, while delivering an appropriate heat range for drying Genesis® Oil Paints. It is not a hair dryer!

If you choose to user other "heat guns," be careful not to overheat the paint. Most high-powered heat guns will destroy any paint if brought too close. Hair Dryers, on the other hand, have too little heat to bring Genesis® Oil Paints to full drying temperature.

Read the GMC Drying Gun instructions completely before using. Following the instructions and experimenting on trial samples acquaints you with how Genesis® Oil Paints dry. This helps you avoid damaging your work layer.

Larger Oil Paintings
For larger oil paintings, use the convenient "full canvas" (24" x 24") Genesis® Drying Box or dry smaller sections of work with the Drying Gun as you go.

Many artists find success dryi9ng their works for several minutes in a kitchen oven set between 250°F and 280°F (121°C and 138°C). Set the painting on a cookie sheet to avoid getting paint on the inside of the oven. For larger surfaces, explore drying with a radiant heater.

Oven Method
Preheated Oven
If you are working on surfaces that fit into a kitchen oven (approximately 16” x 18”), you should buy an oven thermometer to check the accuracy of your oven. Test the oven by turning it on and finding how long it takes to get to the desired temperature. Notice whether the thermometer temperature matches the setting on the oven dial and adjust as necessary. Because oven temperatures vary, do not leave your painting unattended.

Preheat the oven to 265°F. Place your painting on a cookie sheet slightly larger than your frame. You may choose to place some small spacers between the cookie sheet and the painting to allow heat to circulate. Leave the painting in the oven for at least 10 to 15 minutes, and allow longer time for thicker works.

Remove your painting from the oven and allow it to cool fully before handling or over painting. Never use the broiler to dry, as it is very likely to burn the paint and/or substrate.

Cold Oven
The cold-start method brings the temperature up slowly.
Place the painting on a cookie sheet for easier handling. You might want to place spacers under it to allow heat to flow more freely to the back. Put the cookie sheet with the painting on it on the oven rack at about mid-height in the oven. Close the door and set the temperature to approximately 265°F and leave the painting in for an additional period of at least 10 to 15 minutes (longer for thicker applications). DO not exceed 280°F.

Radiant Heat
Paint and dry at least three small paintings before attempting a large canvas using radiant heat. This familiarizes you with the visuals of drying and helps you gain and understanding of drying speed.

Radiant heaters are readily available in hardware stores and in many general and department stores. They are also available through the Internet and mail-order catalogs. Some radiant heaters have fans to help move the air. Fans might blow dust onto your painting and must be cleaned frequently.

Generally, the heaters have at least two settings. The lower one is generally about half the heat of the higher one. Experiment with the heater you choose. We have found several that work very well when placed between one and two feet away from the painted surface. Because radiant heat can overheat a painting, it is very important to attend to the heating process.

• Time has no bearing on your application. When you have completely blocked in your painting or large section, you can chose to dry this layer.
• With the radiant heater, make large slow passes over the area to be dried in either a vertical or horizontal motion. You'll see the paint dry as you go.
• After the painting dries completely, you can continue to paint.
• Finish painting by using the heat gun to spot dry.
• For added confidence in the finished work, some artists use radiant heat as a final dry.

Drying with a Toaster Oven
For small paintings, a toaster oven is very efficient to use. Place the painting in the oven and set the oven at 225°F. Heat for five to 15 minutes, canvas board and gesso board will dry evenly over the whole surface. If you are drying a stretched canvas, make sure the edges are dry. Because of the wooden frame, the edges may take longer to heat.

Always place the paintings on the wire rack to help heat circulation.

Genesis® Drying Box
Genesis® Drying boxes are excellent because air circulates inside the box and produces an ambient heat. Current models of drying boxes hold paintings as large as 24” x 24”.

Place the painting on stilts or put four pieces of wood on the corners. This helps circulate the heat underneath the painting. Set the heat and fan on high. Heat for 15 to 20 minutes. When drying a large painting, make sure the substrate will withstand the heat. Use good quality canvas board with a strong backing. Some canvas board withstands the heat, but tends to buckle or twist when a large piece is heated. Gesso hard board, made of hard masonite support and stretched canvas will dry evenly when where the canvas covers the wooden frame.

Adhesive thermometers can be used to measure the temperature of your painting when you are drying with any source of heat. By sticking these on to the back of your canvas, you can be sure the proper temperature is achieved. More dense surfaces might require experimentation to find the best position of temperature indicators.

These non-reusable strips change colour to indicate the temperature reached. They can be used several times by taking the temperature to 250°F during the first heating, to 260°F during the second heating, and so on. Some artists also cut the strips in half to use them twice. A useful range is the TL-8-250 that measures temperatures between 250°F and 320°F, or Set No. 4 that measures between 240°F and 280°F.

Storage
Store Genesis® Oil Paints away from heat sources. Do not store in the trunk of a car or in places where temperatures could reach 100°F (38°C) or greater for a sustained period of time.

Palettes and Work Surfaces
Genesis® Oil Paints won’t dry when left in the open on a non-porous surface. Use a glass or other non-porous surface such as chine, polished marble or porcelain for your palette. The recommended mixing surface is ¼ inch glass. Some of the ingredients in Genesis® Oil Paints have an affinity for wax and plastic and will migrate into these or other porous surfaces such as wood, leaving the pigment dry and difficult to work. If this happens, remedy by adding Genesis® Thinning Medium or Genesis® Glazing Medium.

After mixing a colour you like, you don’t need to keep air away to prevent drying, although you should protect it from dust as you would any wet paint. Use clean glass jars for this. Do not cover Genesis® Oil Paints with plastic wraps because some of the ingredients may migrate from the paint to the plastic if they touch.

Using Other Mediums with Genesis®
Mixing Genesis® Oil Paints with solvents commonly used for oil paints is not recommended. However, if you use solvents, remember to protect yourself and follow the directions including the use of proper clothing such as gloves. Genesis® Oil Paints are not water soluble for mixing and thinning.

This is important, so we repeat: Genesis® Oil Paints are not intended to be mixed with other paints such as oils or acrylics or with water. Other mediums have a very different chemistry than Genesis® Oil Paints and results can be unpredictable.

Preparing a Surface Other Than Canvas
Try Genesis® Oil Paints on various surfaces! For best results, prepare the surface with acrylic gesso and roughen the primed surface with 200- to 300- grit sandpaper.

Use any surface that you would use for oil paint. However, make certain to prime with an acrylic gesso. A rabbit skin glue sizing is not satisfactory.

Do not use any unprimed or porous surface.

Safe Handling Practices

• Avoid contact with eyes
• Wash hands after use

For further information, Call us on +61 8 9404 5032.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean up?
Palette: Remove the paint with a palette knife or spatula. Then 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! Soap and water, rubbing alcohol or solvents such as mineral spirits can be used.

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.

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.

How is it for travelling? How do I dry it in the field? What kind of electricity do I need for drying?
Genesis® Oil Paints work well for travelling because the systems are designed for portability. Drying systems are available for a 240-volt electrical service. For field work, you may be interested in a portable generator, found here on our products page.

When transporting a Genesis® Studio Box, will the jars fall out of the trays?
The jars fit snugly in the trays and won’t come out under normal use. If the Genesis® Studio Box stands on end or upside down, the jars may dislodge. Put the lids back on for travel and place bubble wrap or similar filler between the jars and the top of the box to hold them in place for extensive travel. Studio Boxes are not designed for airport baggage handling.

Will Genesis® Oil Paints work on acrylic gesso? Do they 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.

Can I mix it with oils?
No. We have not found an oil that mixes with Genesis® Oil Paints.

Can I mix it with acrylics?
No. As with oils, we have not found an acrylic that mixes with Genesis® Oil Paints.

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–6’ x 6’. 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.

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 Dawn® 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.

What kind of canvas can I use?
Primed cotton or linen.

Is it archival?
The carrying medium and pigments were developed to give Genesis® Oil Paints strong archival qualities.

Is it lightfast? What are the lightfastness ratings?
Pigments are selected for their very high lightfastness ratings.

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.

How long does it take to dry?
Usually minutes. Actual drying time depends on the thickness of the paint and the surface on which it is applied.

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 non-drying base medium The others are based on different chemistries that require various amounts of evaporative drying.

Is the Genesis® Drying Gun safe to use as a hair dryer?
No! The drying gun emits considerably hotter air that a hair dryer.

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.

After drying, are Genesis® Oil Paints soluble in appropriate solvents?
The drying process is not reversible. Some solvents will dissolve Genesis® Oil Paints, 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 your manual for details.

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 Genesis® Drying Gun on a large canvas?
Yes, but it will take some time. The Drying Gun is especially useful for drying small er 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.

Do I need to varnish to protect my work when it is complete?
Genesis® Oil Paints do not require a varnish. Do not apply solvent-based varnishes to protect finished work because they will dissolve and destroy the dried paint, leaving the finish tacky and unable to be dried. Use Genesis® Acrylic Varnish if a varnished surface is desired for protection.

More questions? Call us on +61 8 9404 5032

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Genesis Art Supplies Pty. Ltd.

  Email: info@genesisoilpaints.com.au