Which white to use for staining the canvas?

Raffi

Hi everyone,

While I'm familiar like you are with Mark's recipe for the canvas stain, I'm in a pickle.
I have W&N burnt umber, which I think is fine. But I cannot decide on the white to use as I don't have the quick drying one. I have these:
W&N titanium white
Old Holland titanium white
Michael Harding titanium white
W&N flake white hue
I also have Gamblin white oil ground, but they told me it can only be used up to 1oz Gamsol:32oz Ground, so that cannot work as I need the stain to be almost fluid).
Any ideas?

Thank you so much!

oilpainter1950

W&N titanium white

Richard_P

I think all 3 of the titanium whites here would work (which ever is the cheapest). However if you can get Winton, Van Gogh or Georgian Titanium Whites I've found in my tests they dry a lot quicker than the artist grade versions.

For just toning a canvas that might help.

Raffi

cool, thanks! have only 2 days before starting painting and with covid around I cannot go out, nor order in time. Will try with W&N! Tons of Gamsol :-)

broker12

I never use white in the staining process.  Something like raw umber and ultramarine to make a gray.  Wipe it down, let it dry, and paint.

Raffi

thanks @broker12 , that is a good mix and I used to do something similar before. At this time I am trying to follow DMP accurately, hence the white. Turned out that W&N worked quite well and when mixed with Gamsol it did not take too long to dry.
cheers