Introduction To Oil Painting Mediums

Oil painting is an incredible medium in itself. However, to bring forth more creativity in the art form, different modifiers can be used to change its behaviour. Usage of oil painting mediums is indeed a matter of taste and not just requirement. There are several artists who don’t use any paints at all, except a little oil to make the right consistency of the paints, as some are very thick. Different artists may differ in their opinion on the quality and effectiveness of the oil painting mediums. Before using an oil painting medium, artists must keep the following things in mind:

• Read all the warning labels
• Always work in a well-ventilated area
• Wear gloves on your hands to protect the skin

Different oil painters swear by different mediums of oil painting. Some of the most popular oil painting mediums used for this form of art as the following:

Linseed Oil

Linseed oil derived from the seeds of the flax plant. Linseed oil had a different role to play in the history than it has today. It was originally, used just as a final varnish on paintings done using egg as the medium. But, today linseed oil is used as an effective binder in oil paints. It dries thoroughly and forms a stronger paint film. The slow drying property of the linseed oil allows the paint to stay in a workable state for long. However, a disadvantage of using linseed is that it tends to turn yellow with time. Therefore, some painters avoid using it with colours of a lighter shade. Some of the common forms of linseed oil available in the market today are discussed below:

Different Forms of Linseed Oil

Cold Pressed Linseed Oil

This form of linseed oil is made by extracting oils from raw flaxseed. The extraction of oil is done with the use of pressure and not heat. Thus, the linseed oil created is the purest form. Apart from using the cold pressed linseed oil as a binder in oil paints, it can also be utilised as a medium to thin oil paints. This helps in heightening the gloss and transparency. This also reduces the visibility of brush stroked, creating a smooth flow in the painting. This form of linseed oil generally results in a low yield, and thus this oil carries a heavy price tag.

Steam Pressed or Refined Linseed Oil

When the seeds of the flax plant are steam heated and then the pressure is applied to it, it tends to yields more oil. This makes the refined linseed oil more affordable binder for the use of the artists. The steam heating procedure used to create oil from the flax seeds produces more waste.  This waste needs to be removed by using a refinement process. The linseed oil extracted is then treated with an acid, which helps in removing the waste materials. This acid is neutralised with the use of an alkali solution. The refined linseed oil thus formed can be used as a medium in oil paints to improve its brilliance and transparency.

Sun-Thickened Linseed Oil

This is a thicker form of linseed oil that is generated using the heat of the sun. To produce sun-thickened linseed oil, equal amounts of linseed oil and water are mixed together in a container and left in direct sunlight for several weeks or more. Eventually, water and linseed oil separate forming thicker oil, having the consistency like that of honey. This sun-thickened linseed oil is not used as a binder in oil paints. Instead, it is used as an independent medium to improve the flow and shine. This form of linseed oil has a tendency to turn yellow and also speeds drying.

Stand oil

It is also a thick-bodied medium just like the sun-thickened linseed oil. When linseed oil, kept in an air-tight container, is heated to a very high temperature, it results in a very thick oil form with a honey-like consistency.

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