Oil Paint Mediums

Oil Paint Mediums

At Art to Art, we understand that exploring painting mediums is not just about adding variety to your toolkit—it's a transformative experience that deepens your connection with every stroke and color. It’s about engaging more fully with the creative process, empowering you to bring your personal artistic visions to life in a purposeful way.

We stock a range of high-quality oil paint mediums to help you achieve an array of effects for your artworks. Choose from linseed oil, glazing gels, impasto, wax paste, and damar varnish, ensuring that whatever your vision, you have the tools to realize it. Our selection includes trusted brands such as Art Spectrum, Gamblin, Langridge, Winsor & Newton , and more!

These easy-to-use oil paint mediums can be mixed in with your professional oil paints or applied as a primer for a smooth finish. We recommend applying thin layers to achieve a quick drying time. By experimenting with these mediums, you not only enhance the aesthetic quality of your work but also gain a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship involved in painting. This holistic approach to your art materials allows you to express yourself more fully and distinctly.

Shop art mediums today at Art to Art. Get same day dispatch and free shipping over $100. You can also buy now and pay later with Afterpay. Need to stock up on more art supplies? We have a wide range of shippable oil mediums and art canvas too. 

Feel the difference in your art as you explore the diverse effects and textures that our oil paint mediums facilitate. Dive into the world of possibilities with Art to Art, where your creative expression knows no bounds.

1. Which brands offer these mediums?

Trusted brands offering these oil paint mediums include Art Spectrum, Gamblin, Langridge, Winsor & Newton , known for their quality and reliability.

2. What types of oil paint mediums are available?

Various oil paint mediums available include linseed oil, glazing gels, impasto, wax paste, and damar varnish, each offering different effects and finishes.

3. How does exploring different painting mediums enhance an artist's connection to their craft?

Exploring different painting mediums deepens an artist's connection by immersing them fully in the creative process, fostering a closer relationship with the tools and techniques used.

When engaging in oil painting, artists have a variety of oils at their disposal that can significantly influence their work. Each oil brings its unique properties to the table, modifying aspects such as colour viscosity, gloss, and drying time.

Common Oils Used in Oil Painting

1. Linseed Oil:
• Properties: Enhances gloss and extends drying time.
• Use: Ideal for creating smooth, glossy finishes.
2. Walnut Oil:
• Properties: Slower to yellow over time compared to linseed oil.
• Use: Suitable for mixing with lighter colours.
3. Poppy Seed Oil:
• Properties: Slower drying and less likely to yellow.
• Use : Perfect for delicate, lighter shades and fine details.
4. Safflower Oil:
• Properties: Dries slower and maintains colour integrity.
• Use : Best used in the final layers of a painting.

Enhancing Paint Flexibility

Using these oils helps maintain the flexibility of paint films, particularly important in techniques like "fat over lean," where layers of paint vary in oil content. This ensures the longevity and durability of the artwork, providing a professional finish and preserving the piece over time.

By choosing the right oil, artists can tailor their paintings' texture, appearance, and drying characteristics to their exact needs, resulting in a truly customized work of art.

When choosing oil painting mediums, an artist should consider several key factors to achieve the desired effect.

Finish and Texture: Do you want a glossy or matte finish? Should the paint appear smooth or have a textured feel? These decisions can dramatically influence the final look of your artwork.

Transparency and Consistency: Consider whether you want the paint to be transparent or opaque. Additionally, think about the flow of the paint—do you prefer it to slide effortlessly or have some brush drag for added texture?

Oil paint mediums are a great way to change the characteristics of your oil paints. Use them to increase gloss, reduce drying time, build transparency, or create a range of stunning effects. These mediums can also enhance the paint's texture and consistency in numerous ways, each tailored to specific artistic needs and techniques.

• Modify Texture and Consistency: You can increase or reduce viscosity to thicken or thin the paint respectively, making it suitable for techniques like impasto or detailed line work. Mediums can also make the paint more glossy, matte, or satin, depending on the desired finish.
• Adjust Drying Times: Artists can control the pacing of their work by using mediums to slow down or speed up the paint's drying time. This is particularly useful for blending colors on the canvas or when working in layers.
• Enhance Colour Quality: Use mediums to boost the paint’s transparency for glazing techniques, or opt for a medium that prevents yellowing to maintain the vibrancy of pale colors over time.
• Specialized Applications: Some mediums are designed for specific effects, such as creating a textured black or white ground, or adding a protective, removable layer that also controls flow and dispersion.

FAQs

What is an oil Painting Solvent?  

Solvents are Used for cleaning tools & brushes for oil painting, Specialized Artist solvents are odourless and are less toxic than other brands of Odourless Mineral Spirits, mineral spirits, or turpentine because the harmful aromatic solvent component has been removed. Aromatic solvents are the most harmful types of petroleum solvents.

Do you need mediums for oil painting?

Using an oil paint medium is up to the individual artist – you can still achieve stunning results without them. But if you want to change the characteristics of the paint such as the drying time, consistency or transparency, we recommend using an oil paint medium. 

What is the most typical medium for oil paint?

The most common medium used for oil painting is linseed oil and safflower oil as it's great for holding pigments together. It also helps with slowing down the drying time, which is good if you have thick, painted layers. It is also great for creating interesting effects. We also stock a range of other high-quality mediums, so you can find the perfect option for your art. 

Do I need paint thinner for oil paint?

Depends on what design you're aiming to achieve. Some artists prefer to use oil paints without thinners, but if you find thin consistency easier to work with, we recommend mixing in a small amount of an oil paint medium. 

Can you use olive oil as a medium for oil painting?

You cannot use olive oil as a medium as it does not contain hardening properties, meaning it won't dry the paint. Instead, we recommend using an oil drying medium as you will easily be able to change the characteristics of your paint and achieve your desired outcomes.