Hi Denver,
 
I forgot to tell you about some comparisons that I was able to conduct in class last week.  Gordon had told the class about instructors being asked to use the School of Color paints.  Naturally there were questions about quality.  So I placed dabs of Burnt Sienna on a disposable palette and invited class members to see for themselves.
 
The paints I compared to School of Color paints were from Gamblin and M. Graham, two brands that I had in my palette.  When placed on the palette and then mashed and extended with a palette knife, the Gamblin and M. Graham paints were thick and quite opaque.  The School of Color paints were much more "workable" and nicely transparent.  I took that opportunity to talk about the labeling that School of Color uses, and how it is an advantage to the artist to know the type of paint, rather than just the name of the paint.
 
We also compared School of Color green-blue with the Cerulean blues that Gamblin, M. Graham, and Quality Paints manufacture.  Quality Cerulean is very grayed and, to my eyes, unattractive, not closely resembling any Cerulean that I've ever seen.  I pointed out that M. Graham paints are excessively oily, making them hard to control and messy.  Gamblin compares favorably with School of Color Cerulean, but of course doesn't have the unique labeling.
 
Then we discussed pricing.  I reminded them how important it is to finish their color swatches, and that by using their color swatches to mix the exact color they needed, they wouldn't be wasting paint and in the long run, would actually get more value for their money.  I think that I gave them a lot to think about.
 
I am very favorably impressed with the quality of School of Color oil paints.  Thank you for sending me the tube of Burnt Sienna so that I could compare it with others.  Needless to say, I am switching brands.
 
Thank you,

Tonja Skriiko