For you
Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about colours, painting mediums and techniques.
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Do Lascaux colours contain animal byproducts?
All colours and painting mediums by Lascaux are free of animal byproduct, which means they are vegan.
The Lascaux brushes have synthetic hair. Natural hair comes mostly from animals kept in uncontrolled breeding farms. For ethical reasons Lascaux does not offer brushes with natural hair.
How safe are Lascaux colours from a toxicological point of view?
Lascaux Colours are certified as non-toxic in accordance with the Swiss Chemicals Ordinance and the relevant EU Directives. To protect the paints from micro-organisms and fungi, we add small quantities of preservatives similar to those used in household products.
How long can Lascaux colours be kept?
The shelf life for unopened containers is as follows:
- Artist, Studio Original, Sirius, Aquacryl, Crystal, Serigrafia: 5 years
- Painting Mediums, Perlacryl: 4 years
- Gouache, Decora, Neon : 3 years
- Studio Bronze Original, Resonance Gouache, Resonance Interior Paint: 2 years
- UV Protect Sprays: 5 years
- Fixative Spray und Fixativ liquid: 10 years
Always make sure the bottles and tubes are closed properly after use. The paint should always be sprayed from the bottle or dispensed with a clean painting utensil.
Are Lascaux colours lightfast?
Yes; we only use pigments that have maximum lightfastness or very good lightfastness properties (except Lascaux Neon). For outdoor use and/or conditions of strong light incidence we recommend that you protect the colours against UV radiation by using Lascaux Transparent Varnish UV.
Are Lascaux colours resistant to the effects of weather?
Lascaux Acrylic colours (Artist, Studio Original, Perlacryl, Sirius Acryl) are resistant to the effects of weather. The Studio Bronze Original colour hues 995 and 997 are suitable for outdoor use. The other Bronzes have a greater tendency towards oxidation. With all outdoor applications we recommend a finishing varnish using Lascaux Transparent Varnish UV. Lascaux gouache and watercolours (Gouache, Decora, Resonance, Sirius Water and Aquacryl) are not suitable for outdoor use.
Why are Lascaux colours more expensive than other acrylic paints?
| We believe that choosing high-quality raw materials is of the utmost importance. Therefore only Pigments, binding agents and additives of best quality are used. Lascaux colours and mediums are especially unique, as all colour ranges and mediums are finished on the three roll mill. As a result the customer obtains a Swiss premium product refined through fine craftsmanship that is not only more resistant to ageing but also of higher quality than cheaper acrylic colours. |
How compatible are acrylic and oil colours?
In general, we do not recommend mixing acrylic and oil colours. The same applies to acrylic and gouache paints. However, an underlayer of acrylic paint can be overpainted with an oil colour. “Thick on thin” is the rule. Painting acrylic onto oil is only possible after a few years, when the oil paint’s oxidation process is completed.
How much paint do I need per square metre?
| We recommend between 150 and 200 ml/m² per coat. The amount of paint required can vary depending on the technique and the substrate. |
How much priming do I need per square metre?
| Consumption varies greatly depending on the nature of the support. Please refer to our technical data sheets. Lascaux Primer (PDF) |
Can Lascaux acrylic colours be diluted with water?
| All our products can be diluted with water (guideline: should not exceed 20 to 25%). Use Lascaux Mediums if higher dilution ratios are required; this will ensure that adhesion is maintained. |
Can I use Lascaux colours for airbrush technique?
| All our colours are suitable for airbrushing. Recommended nozzle size: min. 0.15 mm to 0.5 mm. |