Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Enjoble Painting Guidelines

Oil painting is a wonderful medium by itself, but you will find modifiers that you could increase oil paint that can change its behavior.

This information will give you an introduction to a few of the more popular oil painting mediums open to today’s oil painters. Using oil painting mediums is really a matter of taste and not essential. Many artists don't use any mediums at all apart from a bit of oil to create the paint more workable, as some paints are quite thick completely from the tube. Other artists recommend certain mediums. It should be also noted that artists differ on opinion when it comes to the effectiveness and excellence of oil painting mediums, so you should try your personal and form your personal opinion. Make certain before using any oil painting medium that you simply read all warning labels and always work in a highly ventilated area. It is also recommended that you work with gloves to protect the skin.

LINSEED OIL

Linseed oil is made from the seed of the flax plant. During its early history, linseed oil had a different role it has today. Originally it was used as a final varnish for paintings which were created using the egg tempera medium. Linseed oil can be used as binder in today’s oil paints. Linseed oil dries thoroughly and forms a strong paint film. Because linseed oil dries slowly, the paint remains in a workable state, enabling the artist to continue focusing on the painting for some time. When linseed oil ages, it will often yellow unfortunately. Many painters stay away from linseed oil with lighter colors like whites and yellows. Below are a few types of linseed oils that are offered to today’s oil painters.

COLD PRESSED LINSEED OIL

Cold pressed linseed oil is made by extracting the oils from the raw flaxseed. The oil is extracted by using pressure and not heat, thereby developing a linseed oil in the purist form. Cold pressed linseed oil may be used as a binder in oil paints, but can also be used as a medium to thin oil paints, heighten gloss and transparency, and lower the visibility of brush strokes. Many painters and manufacturers alike feel cold pressed linseed oil is superior in quality to other linseed oils since there is no refinement made to the oil. Cold pressed linseed oil leads to a minimal yield, so this oil does carry a heftier price tag.

STEAM PRESSED OR REFINED LINSEED OIL

Once the flaxseed is steam heated after which pressed it yields more oil, thereby making refined linseed oil a more affordable medium for artists as well as for use like a binder in oil paints. The process of steam heating the flax seeds produces more waste, which means this waste needs to be removed via a refinement process. The oil is treated with an acid which removes the spend. The acid will be neutralized by having an alkali solution. Refined linseed oil may be used oil painting techniques and increase brilliance and transparency.

SUN THICKENED LINSEED OIL

Sun thickened linseed oil is really a thick bodied medium that is produced using the heat from the sun. An equal amount of both linseed oil and water are mixed together inside a container and left in sunlight for several weeks or longer. Water and linseed oil eventually separate leading to thicker oil with a honey like consistency. Sun thickened linseed oil isn't used like a binder in oil paints but as an independent medium that improves flow and increases gloss. Sun thickened linseed oil has less of a tendency to yellow and speeds drying.

STAND OIL

Stand oil is a thick bodied medium like sun thickened linseed oil. Linseed oil is heated in a high steady temperature, within an air tight container, which results in an exceedingly thick honey like consistency. Stand oil is advantageous as a glazing medium when mixed with turpentine and dammar varnish. Stand oil helps enhance the flow and it has good resistance to yellowing. Stand oil is really a slow drying medium that produces a strong enamel like paint film.

POPPY SEED OIL

Because linseed oil tends to yellow as it ages, other oils came onto the market. Amongst these oils are poppy seed and safflower oil. Poppy seed oil is extracted in the seeds from the opium poppy. Poppy seed oil is a pale slower drying oil and it is not as likely to yellow in comparison with linseed oil. It is often combined with whites, blues and pale painting colors.

SAFFLOWER OIL


Safflower oil is comparable to poppy seed oil in that they both are suitable for whites and lightweight colors. It has less of a propensity to yellow when compared to linseed oil.

WALNUT OIL

Walnut oil is pale oil that helps make paint more fluid and has good drying power. It's a smaller amount of a tendency to yellow in comparison with linseed oil. Walnut oil has to be stored properly or it can spoil.

LIQUIN

Liquin is a popular oil painting medium. Many artists swear by it which is definitely worth an attempt if you have never caused it before. Liquin improves the flow of oil and alkyd colors helping in subtle blending and depth. It speeds drying and serves as a great medium for glazing.

I hope these statements have served like a good overview on oil painting mediums. Remember that working with oil painting mediums isn't a requirement. If you are feeling adventurous then pick one medium at any given time, experiment enjoy yourself.

Enjoy Painting!

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