It's one of those "put two different kinds of white on my pallette" days.

So, ok. Upper left is my standard white, Lead White--or Flake White, Silver White, Cremnitz White; there may be distinctions you can draw, and some people do, but these all refer to PW1, basic lead carbonate.

Flake White has several desirable properties in oils: it's slightly, but not excessively transparent, it has a great texture and brush feel, and it dries rapidly but not too rapidly.

That said, the great benefit of lead white is structural--it forms extremely durable paint films; if you're hoping for your paintings to last for the long term, it's extremely advisable to use it as your primary white.

What I've added today is Titanium White. It is extremely opaque and, though you may not be able to see it in the photograph, noticeably brighter (and cooler) than the Flake White.

Again, I wouldn't use it for a primary white for structural reasons, but that extra quarter-step up in brightness can make it a fantastic tool for getting highlights, particularly on white objects--as in this in-progress bowl.

(As a last incidental note, I've made a point of getting my metals levels checked every few years. Never been any elevation, and I've decided I could calm down a bit; keep paint out of your mouth and off your cigs, wash your hands before you eat.)