Hello, fellow art enthusiasts!
The other day at the Summer Party of Creations Atelier, the networking community for artists and creatives I run with architect Natalia Giacomino, one of our members asked me for some info on Oil Paint. It was purely to do with materials and some techniques for speeding up the drying time. I've written an detailed post on Creations Atelier you can check out, but I thought I'd post a brief overview here as well,
Types of Oil Paint
There are three main types of Oil Paints. Traditional Oil Based, Alkyd Based and Water-Mixable Oils. Well, there are also materials like oil paint pastels (a different product from oil pastels) but we won't cover those right now.
Traditional Oil Paints, my Favourite
Traditional oil paints have been the medium of choice for both artists and art collectors since the 15th century. These luscious, slow-drying paints consist of pigments suspended in drying oils, typically linseed oil.
Key characteristics of quality oil:
Sumptuous, buttery consistency
Excellent colour depth and luminosity
Slow drying time (both a blessing and a curse)
Traditional, time-tested formulations
Best for: Creating works with rich, luminous colours, they allow both for subtle blending and impasto technique. Perfect for the patient artist who doesn't mind waiting days (or sometimes weeks) to work to work on the different the layers of a painting.
Alkyd Paints: When Time is of the Essence
The difference between traditional oil and fast drying oil
Alkyd paint is a type fast-drying oil paint. These modified oil paints contain alkyd resins that accelerate drying time dramatically. I like to use them when I have a deadline, like I did for a recent portrait commission.
Key characteristics:
Quick-drying (often touch-dry within 24 hours)
Indistinguishable appearance to traditional oils when dry
Shorter workable time on the palette
Best for: Artists who want the look of high quality oil without the interminable waiting. Also brilliant for underpainting or for those who work in multiple layers of thick paint.
Water-Mixable Oil Paints: Having Your Cake and Eating It Too
Water Vs Solvent
Water-mixable oils are the eco friendly compromise in the art world—offering the characteristics of oil paint without the need for smelly solvents.
My studio has always been at home and my children like to hang out with me, so I use water-soluble oils a lot more since I have kids.
Key characteristics:
Clean up with water (hallelujah!)
Similar working properties to traditional oils
Environmentally friendlier option
Less toxic studio environment
Best for: Home studios, shared spaces, artists with sensitivities to solvents, or anyone who values their relationship with their housemates.
Introduction to Oil Painting
Oil painting as we know it emerged in the 15th century, though oil-based paints had been used sporadically before then. The real revolution came with the invention of collapsible metal paint tubes in 1841 by American portrait painter John Goffe Rand. Before this, painters stored their paints in pig bladders sealed with string. Yes, apparently so.
Imagine explaining that one to airport security!
Tubes allowed artists to paint outdoors easily, giving birth to Impressionism. So next time you're admiring a Monet, spare a thought for the humble paint tube that made it possible.
Toxicity: Not All Pigments Are Created Equal
Many traditional pigments are toxic. Some more and some less. Lead white, cadmium, and cobalt have all been used historically, with varying degrees of toxicity.
I once attended a conservation lecture where the speaker tested a 19th-century painting for lead content. The detector lit up like a Christmas tree, and she cheerfully informed us that the artist had likely suffered from chronic lead poisoning. "Explains the peculiar brushwork in his later years," she quipped.
Today's paints are much safer, but some pigments still require caution:
Toxic (handle with care): - Cadmium colours - Cobalt colours - Lead white (rare in modern paints).
Moderately concerning: - Manganese colours - Some chromium-based pigments
Generally safe: - Earth colours (umbers, siennas, ochres) - Modern synthetic organics (phthalos, quinacridones)
Always read labels, avoid eating your sandwich while painting (tempting as it may be), and perhaps don't lick your brushes to point them (a horrifying habit once encouraged by some of my art teachers).
Surface for Oil Painting: It's Not Just About Canvas
Traditional supports include: - Stretched Canvas (cotton or linen) - Wooden panels - Prepared paper - Aluminium panels
I once attempted to paint on an unprimed piece of wood I found in my garden shed. Six months later, the painting had developed more cracks than my grandmother's antique teapot collection. Lesson learned: proper preparation prevents poor performance.
Most surfaces need priming with gesso, which creates a slightly textured, absorbent surface that helps the paint adhere. Think of it as making the bed before you sleep in it—technically optional but highly recommended.
Painting in Oils Over Acrylic Colour?
Can you apply oil paint over acrylic paint? Yes! Acrylic provides good grip for oil paint and the film of the oil won't crack (at least not because of the acrylic base).
The reverse, acrylic over oil? Absolutely not, unless you fancy your masterpiece cracking and peeling like it was painted exclusively in lead white.
Thin Your Paint with Oil Medium
Oil paint colours are basically pigment particles suspended in a drying oil—typically linseed, but sometimes walnut oil, poppy oil, or safflower oil.
The Most Popular Oil Painting Medium
The most popular painting medium to thin paint is by far refine linseed oil (Linseed oil is a Refined Flax Oil but for eating make sure you get the edible version). It slows down the drying process further and gives your painting a glossy finish.
Other Mediums for Oil
Other professional oil mediums include Stand Oil which reduces the appearance of bristle brush strokes and Liquin, which speeds up drying time and comes in a number of variants, such as Liquin for fine details. Most popular brands produce a variety of oil painting mediums which make it easier to paint details, glazes, and impasto.
There are also professional mediums which are used to clean brushes.
If you're on a budget, you can also clean and dilute oil paint with turpentine, like I did when I was a student.
The Tools: Brushes, Palette Knives and Palettes
Any guide to oil painting needs to include a bit of info on the artists tools, because different oil painting techniques call for different tools.
Oil painting brushes come in various shapes, like flats for broad strokes, rounds for detail, and filberts for blending—and are typically made with stiff hog bristles, ideal for the thicker consistency of oil paint.
Softer synthetic brushes for oil may also be used for glazing or fine detail.
Palettes, available in wood, glass, or disposable paper, provide a surface for mixing colours;
Palette knives have flexible metal blades. They are used for mixing paint cleanly without damaging brush bristles, and many artists like me also use them directly on the canvas to create expressive textures and bold, sculptural marks.
Varnishing: The Final Touch
Types of varnish:
Retouching varnish: -
Can be applied before the painting is fully cured
Provides interim protection
Can be painted over if needed
Final varnish: -
Applied when the painting is completely dry (traditionally 6-12 months)
Provides permanent protection
Unifies the surface appearance (matte, satin, or gloss)
Should only be applied to a fully cured painting
Can be removable or not
The Oil Painter: Final Thoughts
Whether you choose traditional oils for their timeless quality, alkyds for their speedy drying, or water-mixable for their convenience, remember that every great painter was once a beginner who probably got paint on their favourite jumper.
Start Painting, You Will Not Be a Beginner Forever
So go forth, make a mess, create beautiful things, and perhaps invest in some good quality aprons. Your wardrobe will thank you.
Happy painting, and remember—there are no mistakes in art, just unexpected creative opportunities!
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