Gamblin Artist's Oil Color - Alizarin Crimson, 8 oz Can

This used to be my favorite color until I realized it wasn't the color I liked, but the Cobalt. Cobalt just works. Plus, there are few blues that are light that are also a pure single pigment (not mixtures). Using teal is a great way to lighten your colors assuming you still want to use blue and not yellow or whites. Whites are great, but will create a chalk look to your art. Cobalt teal, or yellows will not do that. I like to assume that whites are not a color, but have special properties. As for Gamblin, they are a trustworthy company. I just wish they would make their caps larger like Winsor Newton do. Still, five stars on their paints. I have been using them for over 20 years. I will say one thing... unless you intend on using all of it in a couple months, avoid the cans and spend extra on the 150 ml tubes. It may seem like you are saving with the cans, but the paint will eventually dry. I know this because I used to buy the cans. Stick with the tubes unless you use paint quickly in mass.

I have always liked this paint... and yes, I do like Gamblin, and yes, they are trustworthy... but be sure to understand what the code number/letters are on the back, and how to use them. For this one, I believe it will be pg17 for your info. This color is great because it is a raw looking pigment when you use it (unlike, say, pthalos), and not a rich one. As you progress, you will find that using only rich pigments, and straight from the tube, will make your art look like a cartoon. As a novice/hobbiest you may like this, but as you progress, you will want more. This is a good pigment to mix with. Still, this is a strongly opaque paint. A good tilting paint for this reason is viridian... which is costly, but a great paint to use for this reason. This color will shift the overall color, and viridian will tilt it. Ultramarine blue is a cheaper way to tilt it because it is also transparent, it won't take over the mix, and also a cool color... plus it is much cheaper.