In 1841 a portrait painter and tinkerer, John Golf Rand, invented the collapsible artist’s paint tube. I’ve read that Renoir said, “Without tubes of paint, there would have been no Impressionism.”
Really?
Like most stuff you read on the Internet, those types of “quotes” remind me of that game of “Gossip” we played as kids. Go ahead, google Renoir’s quote and see what pops up.
You could no more have held back “Impressionism” with pig bladders than you could “turn back the hands of time.” (Artists used pig bladders to store their paint until Rand’s invention.)
Googling Mr. Rand, you don’t find much in the way of his artwork. Other than the paint tube, his other inventions weren’t as memorable.
The tube
So what was the big deal about the paint tube?
It allowed artists to store paint in an air-tight container. We all know that air can be the enemy of paint. As soon as oil paint meets air, it begins to oxidize. (Not evaporate, by the way, there is a difference.)
We’ve used jars for our Magic White™ for a couple of years. They seemed a better choice than cans. We removed harmful solvents and thinners from our paint, so we didn’t need to use cans. Air still seeped into the jars, though.
Tom Anderson, our Master Class instructor, had been begging us to tube Magic White™. That wasn’t practical, though. There were no 8oz tubes that we found suitable. We thought about tubing it in 5oz tubes, but then we’d have to package two tubes which would add to shipping costs.
Baby food
About six months ago, Dawn, who handles customer service for us, found something. She discovered a container while looking at pouches for baby food. At first glance, it seemed too good to be true. An air-tight container that would allow you to pump just the amount of paint you needed. It appeared as if there would be no residue – at all – left in the pump.
So we started using the containers for Magic White™. From the reviews coming back from customers, it worked! Tom, especially, raved about the new container. You can put out exactly the amount you need. The pump automatically pushes the paint to the top.
But here’s the great news!
Not only do we now have a great container, but it’s also what’s inside the container that’s more important. Our Magic White™ is now using our crystal clear oil!
What that means to you is that your paintings will be bright and beautiful as never before. Folks who are using our Magic White™ tell us they’ve never had paint move as well on the canvas. With no solvents and thinners, you don’t have to worry about breathing harmful fumes. (Odorless doesn’t mean you’re not breathing fumes. You just can’t smell them.) Our paint is as safe as we can make it.
After 177 years
After one hundred seventy-seven years, Alexander Art continues the innovations that Bill pioneered. Bill created the first Magic White™. We’ve taken his invention to the next level. We’ve done it for you! We want your paintings to stand out from the crowd.
But, please, don’t take our word for it. Try it yourself. Pick up a container of Magic White™ today. See for yourself how much easier it is to paint and how much more beautiful your paintings will look. Check out our two new premium paints too. Hand-made with our clear oil, they also come in the new pumps.
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