Mixing It Up: A Guide to Oil Painting Mediums

Oil painting mediums offer a fusion of characteristics that elevate traditional oil painting techniques. By blending seamlessly with oil paints, these mediums imbue each stroke with fluidity, depth, and brilliance, allowing artists to achieve effects ranging from subtle glazes to bold impasto.

Popular among artists for their versatility and transformative properties, oil painting mediums empower creators to explore a multitude of styles and techniques, from classical realism to contemporary abstraction. Whether you're a seasoned artist honing your craft or a budding enthusiast eager to experiment, this guide is your gateway to mastering the enchanting world of oil painting mediums.

Join us as we delve into essential supplies, techniques, and expert tips to unleash your artistic potential. From selecting the perfect medium to tips and tricks for using them safely and effectively, let's embark on a journey of discovery and innovation with oil painting mediums!

Why Use an Oil Painting Medium?

Mediums in oil painting serve several important purposes:

Modify Consistency: Mediums can be added to oil paint to alter its consistency, making it thicker or thinner as desired. This allows artists to control the texture and application of the paint.

Extend Drying Time: Some mediums are designed to slow the drying time of oil paint. This can be useful for techniques such as blending or wet-on-wet painting, where longer drying times allow for smoother transitions and layering.

Accelerate Drying Time: Conversely, other mediums contain drying agents that speed up the drying process. This can be beneficial for artists who want to work in layers or need to finish a painting more quickly.

Increase Transparency: Certain mediums, such as linseed oil or dammar varnish, can increase the transparency of oil paint. This allows underlying layers to show through, creating depth and luminosity in the painting.

Enhance Glossiness: Mediums, like stand oil or damar varnish, can impart a glossy finish to oil paintings, increasing their visual impact and depth.

Improve Flow and Brushwork: By altering the viscosity of oil paint, mediums can improve the flow and handling properties of the paint. This makes it easier for artists to manipulate the paint with brushes or palette knives.

Create Special Effects: Some mediums are specifically designed to create unique effects, such as impasto (thickly textured applications) or glazing (thin, transparent layers). Artists can use these mediums to add depth, texture, and visual interest to their paintings.

Protective Coating: Certain mediums, such as dammar varnish, can be used as a final protective coating for finished oil paintings. This helps preserve the colours and surface of the painting over time while enhancing its overall appearance.

Overall, mediums play a crucial role in the creative process of oil painting, allowing artists to manipulate the characteristics of the paint to achieve their desired effects and bring their artistic vision to life.

How to Choose the Right Medium

Choosing a medium when working with oil paints depends on the specific characteristics and effects you want to achieve in your painting. Mediums can alter the drying time, consistency, texture, and finish of your oil paints, so it's important to choose one that suits your artistic goals. 

Here are some common types of mediums and their uses:

Linseed Oil: This is the most commonly used medium for oil paints. It increases gloss and transparency and can also slow down the drying time of the paint. It is a good all-purpose choice for most paintings.

Stand Oil: This is a thicker, more viscous form of linseed oil. It creates a smooth, enamel-like finish and also extends drying time. It is useful for creating glossy effects and minimising brushstrokes.

Safflower Oil: This oil is slower drying and lighter in colour, which can be advantageous when painting with lighter hues. It’s often used for white and pale colours to avoid yellowing.

Alkyd Mediums: These are fast-drying mediums that can accelerate the drying time of oil paints. They can be useful if you want to speed up your painting process.

Galkyd or Other Synthetic Alkyd Mediums: These are alternatives to traditional alkyd mediums and are popular for their fast-drying properties. They also create a strong, durable film.

Liquin: Liquin is a fast-drying alkyd medium that speeds up the drying time of oil paints and creates a glossy finish. It is popular for its versatility and ease of use.

Turpentine: Turpentine is a common solvent used to thin oil paints and clean brushes. It can be harsh, so consider using odourless mineral spirits instead if you're sensitive to fumes.

Odourless Mineral Spirits: Odourless mineral spirits (OMS) serve a similar purpose to turpentine as a solvent and thinner but with less odour. OMS can also be used as a medium to thin paint.

Oleogel: This is a relatively new type of medium that thickens the paint and gives it a buttery consistency. It's useful for artists who like to work with impasto techniques.

Cold Wax Medium: Cold wax medium is a mixture of beeswax and solvent that can be used to thicken oil paint, creating a matte finish and adding texture.

Damar Varnish: While not technically a medium, damar varnish can be mixed with oil paints to add gloss and durability. It is typically used as a final varnish to protect paintings.

When choosing a medium, consider the following:

Drying time: Different mediums will speed up or slow down the drying time of your paint. If you like working wet-on-wet, you may want a slower drying medium. If you prefer to layer quickly, a faster drying medium might be better.

Consistency: Mediums can change the viscosity of your paint, making it thicker or thinner. Think about how you like your paint to feel and choose a medium accordingly.

Finish: Mediums can alter the final appearance of your painting, such as making it glossier or more matte. Choose a medium that aligns with the final look you want.

Safety and Fumes: Consider the safety of the medium and its impact on your health. Some solvents and mediums have strong fumes, so you may want to choose odourless options.

Experimenting with different mediums is a good way to find what works best for you and your style. Start with small amounts and see how they affect your painting before committing to a particular medium for a larger project.

Our Top Tips for Using Mediums

When using mediums with oil paints, there are some helpful tips and best practices to keep in mind to ensure you achieve the desired results while maintaining the quality and longevity of your artwork. Here are some tips for using mediums with oil paint:

Understand the Medium: Different mediums have different properties and effects on your paint, so be sure to understand what each medium does. For example, linseed oil increases gloss and transparency, while alkyd mediums speed up drying times.

Follow Fat Over Lean: This principle is important for the stability of your painting. It means starting with thinned-down paints (lean layers) and gradually building up to thicker, oilier layers (fat layers) as you progress. This helps avoid cracking in your painting.

Use Mediums in Moderation: While mediums can enhance your painting process, using too much can weaken the paint film and cause issues such as yellowing, cracking, or slow drying times. Follow manufacturer recommendations and add mediums incrementally.

Mix Well: Always mix your medium thoroughly with your paint to ensure an even consistency. Incomplete mixing can result in unpredictable drying times and inconsistent finishes.

Start with Small Amounts: When experimenting with a new medium, start with a small amount in your paint to see how it behaves. Gradually add more until you reach the desired consistency and effect.

Avoid Using Mediums with Premixed Colours: Many oil paints come premixed with their own additives for consistency and drying times. Adding extra medium can interfere with the paint's original properties, so be mindful of how much you use.

Work in a Well-Ventilated Area: Some mediums, particularly solvents like turpentine, can produce strong fumes. Work in a well-ventilated space or use odourless alternatives if you're sensitive to fumes.

Use the Right Medium for the Right Purpose: Choose a medium based on the effect you want to achieve. For instance, use linseed oil for a glossy finish, alkyd mediums for fast drying, and oleogel for impasto techniques.

Practice Safe Disposal: Dispose of used mediums, solvents, and paint rags properly to prevent environmental contamination or health hazards. Check your local regulations for proper disposal methods.

Keep Records: Keep notes on which mediums you use in your paintings, as well as the ratios and effects you achieve. This can help you replicate successful techniques in the future.

By following these tips and experimenting with different mediums, you can find the right combination that suits your artistic style and helps you achieve the desired results in your oil paintings.

If you need further guidance or you want to check out our range of mediums and varnishes, come and see our friendly staff in store. Many of our staff are artists themselves and they are always happy to share their expert knowledge.