Drying Oils or Mediums

Drying oils or mediums are added to oil paint to modify the way the paint handles or to change the characteristics of the paint—make it glossy or matt, transparent or opaque.

Linseed oil is used to add gloss and transparency to paint, although it has a tendency to yellow. A thicker processed form of linseed oil is called “stand oil.” It’s often used for glazing. Linseed oil can also be sun-thickened or sun-bleached. These three forms yellow less.

Poppyseed oil and safflower oil are pale oils that are more transparent and less likely to yellow than linseed oil. They dry more slowly.

Walnut oil is used to make oil paint more fluid. It also yellows less than linseed oil, but is expensive.

Boiled oils are faster drying and give a glossy finish, but tend to yellow and darken with age.