Williamsburg founder and painter Carl Plansky entered the paint business as the result of a happy accident. In 1985, Plansky obtained his first paint mill from fellow artist Milton Resnick in return for continuing to make paint for Resnick, a task that had become too arduous for the artist to continue.
Working from his new mill in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, Plansky began making paint for Resnick, himself, and others. Experimenting with materials on a large scale, he eventually discovered how to make an oil paint that was richly pigmented and dense. Although he had no plans to sell his paint, within a year Plansky’s artist-friends had bartered and bought enough paint from him to turn Plansky into the master supplier of the Williamsburg art crowd. The “underground legend” that was Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints was eventually made available to the public.
Today, Plansky’s paint-makers continue to source the best raw materials in the world, importing pigments from dozens of countries. Each is carefully ground to enhance the beauty and luminosity specific to each pigment, then ground into pure, premium, alkali-refined and pH-balanced linseed oil. Every color in the line possesses a unique consistency and texture — some are slightly gritty, and some are extremely smooth.
Every color is made in small batches no larger than five gallons at a time to ensure the highest level of control over the product. In addition, every ingredient is hand-measured, and every ounce of paint is scrutinized.
Carl Plansky died on October 10, 2009, at the age of 58. The artist-craftsmen of Williamsburg Artist Materials, trained by Plansky to make paint like artists, are dedicated to ensuring that his legacy continues. They invite you to experience Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints.
Note — Use this color chart as an approximation of the real color. If exact color matching is necessary, use actual samples of the materials.
I bought a few tubes of paint expecting something great and wanting to do more than I could with other paint (Winsor and Newton, Grumbacher, etc...). After putting a little bit on a brush and putting it on to a canvas paper, I knew from that moment on which oil paint I will use for many years to come. The colors are bold, the texture is very diverse, and the blending and tinting strength (the main power of this oil paint) is unique, strong, and will give you that sense of confidence in your painting. In turn it decreases your frustration of getting "that color" that you want. I never use ultramarine in my paintings, but after using this ultramarine, I am a new believer in the color. I mixed Brilliant Yellow Pale with French Terra Verte and got the most beautiful semi-neutral earthy green you could imagine. I almost feel by using these paints that I'm cheating nature because it seems so easy and painless compared to what it was. You just can't go wrong with this brand. I have previously tried Rembrandt, Winsor & Newton, Old Holland, Michael Harding, Weber Permablba, Winton, Grumbacher, M.Graham, Gamblin, Van Gogh, and Sennelier. While some brands are very nice and rich, nothing compares to the texture, richness, bold colors of Williamsburg. I have sense spent a mini-fortune on this brand and have not regretted it one bit.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A fantastic deal
4/9/2013
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Beautiful oil colors made in USA
By Essi
from Austin, Texas
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
What can I say? By now you aleardy know how fantastic and beoautiful the williamsburg oil colors are. Heavy pigmented, and pure color (no addetives). The colors range is excellent and satisfying the artist's taste of any school, be it realist, expressionist, and so forth. I have one complain though: The permanant lemmon is described as PY37 "cadmium yellow" which is not and is a mixtures of PY3 Arylide Yellow 10G+PW6/titanium Dioxide+ PG18/Hydrous Chromium Sequioxide. Dont get me wrong, the color is beautiful and opaque with good tiniting strentgh. But I would have preffered it to be PY37 as is described in the listing. I hope this does not discourage you from buying this color which is still great quality. I hope DickBlick correct the description so there wont be any misunderstanding in the future.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A fantastic deal
4/1/2013
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
4.0
Bohemian Green Earth
By dp
from MO
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Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
I am just learning to paint with oil and I tend to shop for paint focusing on single pigments as it generally makes color mixing easier for me. One of the items I recently purchased was the Williamsburg Bohemian Green Earth (01571-7903). It is shown on the pigment page as PG23-Green Earth, a single pigment. The paint tube I received is labeled Bohemian Green Earth, but the label shows that it actually consists of 4 pigments: PY119 / Zinc Ferrite Brown, PY43 Synthetic Iron Oxide, PBk28 / Copper Chromite Black Spinel, PW6 / Titanium Dioxide Rutile.
You may want to update the pigment page for this item, as part of the reason I purchased this item is that I believed it was a single pigment paint. I'm sure I'll love the quality of the paint, but I don't have enough experience yet to comment or compare with other brands.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Really nice
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A fantastic deal
3/10/2013
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Absolutely amazing paint!
By Painter in Paradise
from USA
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
These oil paints are simply among the very best I've tried. The colors are bright. They are fantastic right out of the tube. I love the texture of some of their earth colors. It is obvious that the manufacturers care a lot about their work and have made paint making itself into an art form. You can't go wrong with Williamsburg!
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A solid value
10/18/2012
(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
The ONLY panit I'll use!
By E
from South Dakota
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
I recently received my first order of Williamsburg Handmade Oils, and have fallen in love with this paint. I have replaced all my paints with it, and am now painting exclusively with Williamsburg. I use the paint in both direct and indirect methods of painting. It is extremely versatile, and the pigment load is so high it's almost unbelievable how far a little paint will go. I would recommend this paint to anyone.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A fantastic deal
7/28/2012
(5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Wonderful paint
By Esteban
from MA
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
To notch paint and a superb range of colors. Some colors are not available from any other manufacturer. WB colors play well with other brands, though. No appreciable decline in quality since being bought by Golden. Great range of tube and can sizes. Nice to have options.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A solid value
7/23/2012
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Exceptional paints
By LAB FRIEND
from South Bend, IN
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
I am mostly a landscape painter, and I prefer Williamsburg oil paints to any other oil paint I have used. The colors have depth, luminosity, and richness along with an exceptional ease of use. They are forgiving paints but at the same time are amazingly versatile and can easiy adapt to any technique applied. The Blick representatives are also wonderful and great to work with - they are very helpful!
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A solid value
3/23/2012
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
My Favorite Pigments
By Patrice
from San Jose, CA
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
I almost don't want to say a word about these paints because I want them all for myself.
So on that note, you won't be disappointed, believe me.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A fantastic deal
2/8/2012
(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
The Finest Color
By Via Carrozza
from Plymouth, MA
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
I am now using this paint exclusively...sublime range of earth pigments and ochres. Keep in mind that these paints honor the quality of each specific pigment so that some pigments are creamier and others are slightly grittier. I love this...more like the old master workshop paint, yet the colors are bright and pure. If you're an earth-color freak, you'll love 'Italian Green Ochre', 'Italian Terre Vert' and 'Italian Orange Ochre.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
A solid value
11/6/2011
(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Love this paint!!!
By Denise the Artist
from Louisville, Kentucky
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Best Uses
Comments about Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints:
I am very pleased with the quality and pigment content of this paint. I have used many brands over the years and when I discovered Williamsburg paint,my paintings went to the next level.
This product’s quality compared to similar, competitive alternatives is:
Best in its category
The price of this product compared to similar, competitive alternatives is: