Michael Harding Oil Colour, A Labour of Love…
‘I started making oil colours back in 1982 while I was studying Fine Art. I had always been inspired by Rembrandt paintings in the National Gallery and I wanted to try and recreate his paint effects and glorious colours in my own work.
Not suprisingly, after a number if aborted attempts, I realised something was missing. It wasn’t just his genius that I lacked, but the actual materials I was using. They would not behave in the same way as the paint in his work, and the colours had a totally different appearance.
Intensive search
My quest began, I was determined to get what I needed – oil paint that was of the same quality and consistency as that used by the Old Masters. After a number of months doing intensive research I turned my flat into a small oil paint factory.
There were various experiments before I hit upon the right consistency and then gradually the hard work began to pay off, I produced my first paints and suddenly found myself in business. Almost immediately I started supplying the Royal College of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Word spread and demand for my paint grew at an alarming rate.
I still make my own paint and am still excited by the process, the materials and the colours. Artists now write to me from all over the world and we discuss colours, techniques, problems and recipes. That dialogue is very important to me so that you can share their views, their ideas and the valuable information that has been generated.” – Michael Harding
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