I’m Confused about Oil Painting Mediums, What are they For?
Cold pressed oil, thickened oil, drying oil, refined oil, stand oil, poppy oil, linseed oil, safflower oil — what are they all for? It may seem that an array of oil mediums is needed for oil painting, not to mention alkyds. Does the artist really need all these mediums? Below is a simple guide to oil mediums and what they do.
What Oil Mediums Are For
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| Oil Mediums in Art Techniques |
Although great oil paintings are possible without mediums, it helps to know what they do. The artist can then make informed decisions about which medium to use for certain effects. Separate articles cover alkyd mediums and water‑mixable mediums.
Simple Guide to Oil Painting Mediums
Oils and solvents alter the properties of oil paint. Linseed oil is the carrier of oil paint and adding more makes the paint more translucent and runny, similar to adding water to watercolour. This is why linseed oil is the most commonly used medium.
Solvents such as artist’s spirits or turpenoid clean brushes and add flow, but unlike linseed oil, they do not add gloss. Too much solvent results in a chalky, rapidly drying paint. Linseed oil can be mixed with solvent to create a balanced thinning agent.
What Drying Oils Do
All drying oils accelerate drying time and add gloss, flow and transparency — ideal for glazing and detail.
Drying Linseed Oil
This oil has the fastest drying rate. It increases transparency, flow and gloss, but dries darker and is unsuitable for pale colours.
Thickened Linseed Oil
This oil speeds drying, improves flow and adds gloss. It is paler and syrupy, not ideal for intricate detail. It behaves similarly to stand oil but dries quicker and slightly darker.
Drying Poppy Oil
A fast‑drying, pale, non‑yellowing oil ideal for pale colours. It increases gloss and transparency and is often used as the carrier for titanium white.
Fast‑Drying Art Mediums
Alkyd mediums (liquins) dry much faster than traditional oils. They halve drying time — a painting that normally dries in 6–12 days becomes touch‑dry in 3–6 days.
Slow‑Drying Art Mediums
These oils keep paint workable for longer — ideal for blending over several days. They increase transparency, gloss and flow.
Cold Pressed Linseed Oil
Extracted without heat, this high‑quality oil retards drying slightly and increases flow and gloss. It has a yellowish appearance.
Refined Linseed Oil
The most popular oil medium. It dries more slowly than cold‑pressed oil, is paler, lighter in texture and slightly yellowing. It adds gloss, transparency and flow — ideal for detail.
Linseed Stand Oil
A pale, viscous oil that slows drying and resists yellowing. It leaves a smooth enamel finish and reduces brushmarks but dries slightly yellowish.
Safflower Oil
A slow‑drying, pale, non‑yellowing oil ideal for white pigments and pale colours. It increases gloss and transparency.
Walnut Oil
Similar to linseed oil but slower drying and more resistant to yellowing. It adds translucency and gloss and is ideal for glazing and blending.
Oil Spike of Lavender
A strong‑smelling, highly solvent oil distilled from lavender. Excellent for runny glazes; use sparingly.
Artist Painting Medium
A slow‑drying gloss medium ideal for detail, glazing and eliminating brushmarks. Commonly used for oiling out.
How Oiling Out Helps
Refined linseed oil or painting medium can be used to renourish dull patches caused by solvent overuse or absorbent surfaces. Apply lightly with a clean rag once the paint is dry. Never mix varnish with oil mediums.
Which Oil Medium Should I Use?
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| Different Art Mediums for Oils |
Drying oils speed drying; other oils slow it down. Some oils yellow; others remain pale. Safflower, poppy and walnut oils resist yellowing and suit pale colours. All oils add gloss, transparency and flow. An artist can get by with linseed oil and solvent, but experimenting reveals preferences.
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