Vegetable oils like linseed, poppy, and safflower create unique oil colors with different drying rates and consistencies. This guide will explain what the different types of oil mediums are and what they can do.
Why are Oils Used in Painting?
Oils change the consistency, gloss, and drying time of the colour. They can also prevent over-thinning (unlike solvents) and they allow paint film to keep their flexibility. A paint film keeping it's flexibility is particularly useful when working fat over lean.
Linseed Oils
Refined Linseed Oil:
Pale colored oil with low viscosity that dries slowly.
- Reduces the consistency of your oil colour (how the paint flows and behaves with with other colors)
- Allows your paint to become more glossy and transparent
- You can add it to other oils to slow down drying time
Linseed Stand Oil:
Pale thick oil for a smooth enamel finish without brush marks. An enamel finish means that the paint will air-dry to a hard and normally glossy finish.
- Increases film durability
- Great for glazing and fine details with solvent
Drying Linseed Oil:
This oil is darker than Linseed Oil and has the fastest drying time with an increased gloss finish.
- Improves the flow of your oil paint
- Improves the gloss and transparency
- Can be added to other oils to speed up drying time
Cold-Pressed Linseed Oil:
A yellow oil that is extracted without heat and dries quicker than refined linseed oil.
- Improves the flow of your oil paint
- Improves the gloss and transparency
- Reduces consistency and brushstrokes
- Ideal for grinding pigments
Thickened Linseed Oil:
Pale refined oil that dries quicker than Linseed Stand Oil with a darker finish.
- Improves the flow and gloss of your oil paint
- Reduces brushstroke retention
- Increases the durability of paint film
Poppy Oil
Drying Poppy Oil:
Quick-drying oil made from poppy seeds that woks well for whites and pale colors.
- Reduces consistency
- Improves the gloss and transparency
- Resists yellowing
Safflower Oil
Slow drying oil that improves the paint's flow, gloss, and transparency. Ideal for whites and pale colors.
Oil Primers
A pre-made primer in a non-yellowing oil-modified alkyd resin medium. No need to think or stir and you can add a touch of oil colour to create a tinted primer. The primer doesn't leave a chalky finish when mixed with oil colours. Each coat needs to dry for 24 hours.
We hope this guide helps you choose the perfect oil colour medium for your next project! Happy Painting.
