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I've been told that casein paints are great to use but that they will spoil over time, unlike acrylics and oils.

How long will casein paints last in the tube? Is there any way to extend their shelf life?

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I do not think you have to worry about commercial casein paints in tubes unless you are leaving them alone for months. Doubt they would spoil, one site said you can refrigerate them if you wish, but do not freeze.

Maybe you are thinking about egg casein which is mixed fresh from egg whites? Or other methods that start from powders? Those would go bad but the tubes seem to be stable.

"Casein paint tubes may harden a bit if they aren't handled frequently. Squeezing the tubes circulates the emulsion with the pigments, keeping them moist and pliable."

FAQ 1 - good overview of casein tubes. source of quote.

FAQ 2 - more focused on freshly mixed caseins

FAQ 3 - about underpainting with casein, talks about true casein spoiling though

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  • I am leaving them alone for months. – kevin Sep 6 '17 at 20:41
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    Still sounds like the tubes will be okay for months, just stir them up. Doubtful they are using spoilable materials in their mixtures. Its the ones you mix up from powders or are made using traditional (ie. ancient methods) that are going to go bad. Refrigeration is mentioned if you want to be extra careful. – rebusB Sep 7 '17 at 23:18

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