Oil Mediums
Beginning oil painters often start out with color, solvent and a small
bottle of linseed oil. As they mature as artists, so
does their palette of color and their subject matter. What they add
to their paint to modify the look, feel and paintability, though, may
not have been examined as thoroughly. The “mediums”
to add to oil paint are numerous and are often misunderstood. With the
following, we will start to examine these products, beginning with oils.
In a future newsletter we will look at solvents, driers and other oil
paint additives.
Cold Pressed Linseed Oil - Pale yellow
in color, increases gloss and transparency. Reduces brush marks. Produces
a flexible film.
Refined or Polymerized Linseed Oil - Hot (steam) pressed oil further refined for artist’s
use. Increases gloss and transparency. Historically considered inferior
to cold pressed oil as heat pressing reduces resistance to embrittlement,
though modern technologies have minimized this fault. Wide range of
colors.
Stand Linseed Oil - Oil heated until
it changes at the molecular level. Heavy, viscous. Yellows less with
age than other oils. Dries to a smooth, elastic, enamel like finish.
Lighter than other oils.
Sun Bleached - Refined Linseed Oil - Polymerized, oxidized and bleached by the sun or modern techniques
that duplicate the sun’s influence. Faster drying than refined
and lighter in color.
Poppy Oil - Natural pale or colorless
oil that yellows less than linseed oils. Slow drying rate. Weaker film
than linseed oils which can promote cracking with aging. Best used in
direct “alla prima” painting.
Walnut Oil - Non-yellowing oil. Dries
at a rate similar to linseed oil. There is much debate over the durability
of the walnut oil film. Although there is documentation that walnut
and linseed oils were used interchangeably through history, many modern
chemists regard walnut oil as inferior. Contemporary technology has
suggested, however, that the findings of the late 19th and early 20th
century chemists were flawed.
Black Oil - Pure walnut oil combined
with lead and a fast drying oil. Used by the old masters. Darkens paint
color. Modern use for antiquing purposes.
The above information should help you determine not only what you add
to your paint but which brand of paint you use. Different companies
use different oils in their manufacturing process. If your color range
is light, avoid yellowing oils. If you are glazing,
use those to increase transparency. Altering the oil in your painting
methods may help you attain your vision on canvas.
Related Articles:
A Word
About Solvents
About the Oil in Oil Paint
About Oil Mediums
Professional Oil Paint at Wet Paint
Getting Started with Oil
