Oil Paint

Why Does Bob Ross Use Liquid Black?

Liquid Black creates a thin wet dark base for Bob Ross-style painting, allowing lighter or transparent colors to blend into the ground and produce dramatic value shifts.

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Liquid black applies canvas to create a black wet base coat. It allows any paint to blend naturally with the black base coat and create unique effects. It adds many cool attributes, and the main 2 are:

  1. Adds natural contrast: Bob Ross's painting "Grassy Hills."
  2. Adds shadow: Trees shadow naturally, bush shadow naturally, sea wave shadow, and more.

In this article, I will explain the following:

Which liquid black does bob ross use? Alternative?

Ross used Bob Ross Liquid Black, but compatible dark wet-on-wet mediums can serve a similar purpose when their viscosity, drying, and paint compatibility suit the technique.

Grade Note
Bob Ross Liquid BlackArtistic and Bob Ross brandBob Ross uses this product

Liquid black vs. liquid white

Liquid Black and Liquid White are both wet base mediums, but one darkens and subdues color while the other lightens mixtures and supports brighter atmospheric effects.

Liquid BlackLiquid White
Uses forCreate naturally blending shadow effect, dark and add natural contrastCreate naturally daylight, bright effect
Base coatblack oily surface white oily surface 
ThicknessThinThin but Thick then black
BrightnessLow brightness High brightness 

How do you make liquid black for wet on wet technique?

A homemade dark wet-on-wet base should match the flow and binder balance of the painting system; simply thinning black paint excessively can weaken handling or film quality.

Before making the recipe, you need to understand something.

  1. Liquid black is coming from the blackest paint
  2. It is thinner than liquid white 
  3. Smoother than liquid white 

So making your own version of the liquid black you need.

  1. Black pigment paint
  2. Linseed oil
  3. Airtight storage like a jar or paint tube

Here is the list of necessary materials 

Material typeGradeNote
Winsor & Newton Winton Oil ColorBlack paintArtistic gradePopular black oil paint pigment in the artist 
Winsor & Newton Refined Linseed OilLinseed oilArtistic gradePopularly uses in different painting projects 
6 x 14ml Paint Tubes & Lids by SAAPaint tubeArtistic gradeAirseal paint storage 

How can you make your own version of liquid black?

Step 1: Put linseed oil and black pigment paint 60:40 ratio (linseed oil: black paint) on any clean surface. Like a paint palette.

Step 2: Blend the 2 materials properly with a putty knife. You should feel it is so smooth. And your liquid black is ready.

Step 3: Store the liquid in an airtight jar. But the great option is to store the liquid in an airtight paint tube.

Is liquid black the same as black gesso?

Liquid Black stays wet to support blending, while black gesso is a primer or ground that dries before painting, so the two products serve different stages of the process.

In the other articles I already explained:

Black GessoLiquid Black
UsesGesso is used as a black primer for the canvas. It may apply to make the canvas background dark, like night scenery.Liquid base is used as the black base coat of paint. It helps to create natural shadow, contrast
Touch feelFeel like chalk.Feel like oily
Ready for project After gesso properly dryBefore liquid white dry
CleaningEasy to clean with waterA little bit hard to clean 
Drying TimeWithin 20-90 minuteTake around 10-90 hours to dry
Number of Coats2 or 3 coats1 coat enough 
Ease of UseEasy to apply Apply a bit harder
BrightnessDim brightnessDim brightness 

Learn how liquid black fits alongside other Bob Ross base coats, canvas preparation, and wet-on-wet oil painting materials.