Why are Lascaux Colours more expensive than other acrylic paints?

We believe that choosing high-quality raw materials, from pigments to binding agents to additives, is of the utmost importance. Another reason why the processing of Lascaux products is so unique is that virtually all the colour ranges and mediums are finished on the three-mill roller. As a result the customer obtains a premium product that is not only more resistant to ageing but also of a higher quality than cheaper acrylic paints. What’s more, as a Swiss company domiciled in Brüttisellen we develop and manufacture our products exclusively in Switzerland.

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.

The shelf life for unopened containers is as follows:

- Artist, Studio Original: 5 years
- Mediums: 4 years
- Gouache, Decora, Sirius, Aquacryl: 3 years
- Studio Bronze Original, Perlacryl, *Resonance Gouache: 2 years

*Shelf life to be optimised in 2007

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.

Yes; we only use pigments that have maximum light-fastness or very good light-fastness properties (see colour charts). 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. 

Lascaux Acrylic Colours (Artist, Studio Original, Perlacryl, Sirius Acryl) are weather-fast. Of the Studio Bronze Original colour tones, 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 Water Colours (Gouache, Decora, Resonance, Sirius Wasser and Aquacryl) are not suitable for outdoor use.

In principle we recommend that you do not mix acrylic and oil paints. 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 always the rule. Painting acrylic onto oil is possible only after a few years once the oil paint’s oxidation process is completed.

Mixing acrylic paints by different manufacturers can cause compatibility problems such as altered colours, film flaws, loss of adhesion, etc. We therefore do not recommend it and advise you to keep to one system. Lascaux Acrylic Colours can be mixed with one another and are compatible. Studio Original Bronze should not be mixed as a matter of principle or else stability may be compromised.

Consumption varies greatly depending on the nature of the support. Please refer to our technical data sheets (Link).

All our products can be diluted with water (as a guide: no more than 20 to 25% water). Use Lascaux Mediums if higher dilution ratios are required; this will ensure that adhesion is maintained.

All our Colours are suitable in principle for airbrushing. Recommended nozzle size: min. 0.15 mm to 0.5 mm.

Works with acrylic paints for indoor use:
We recommend Lascaux Transparent to protect works against dirt or scratches. Works hanging near large window areas should be protected with Lascaux Transparent Varnish UV.

Works with gouache paints or water colours for indoor use:
Works with gouache paints or water colours can be surface-protected (e.g. against fingerprints) using a Lascaux Fixativ spray.

Works for outdoor use:
In principle we recommend Lascaux Transparent Varnish UV as a protection for outdoor use. A finishing varnish can be dispensed with in cases where paint applied has maximum light-fastness and natural ageing is desired.