Oil Medium & Solvents

Artists use oil painting mediums and solvents to tailor their materials to suit their techniques and desires for a painting. Mediums allow for adjusting the thickness, texture, and drying time of oil paint, while solvents thin the paint for underpainting and simplify the cleanup process. These mediums expand an artist’s capabilities, enabling layering, glazing, or quick sketches with thin washes of color.

‘An oil painting medium is designed to alter the viscosity, surface finish or drying time of oil paint. Knowing when and how to use a medium will help you to control your paint, add variety to your mark-making, and broaden your technique by giving you more paint possibilities.’

– Julie Caves, Jackson’s Art Supplies Expert

Artists have been using oil painting mediums for centuries. Early mediums were mixtures of oils, resins, and pigments, often combined with lead compounds.

Painters like J.M.W. Turner and Joshua Reynolds relied on such formulations, with Turner using a carefully crafted ‘megilp’ made of mastic resin, linseed oil, turpentine, and lead acetate. This medium allowed faster drying times and enabled luminous color glazes, which became a hallmark of Turner’s work.

Modern oil painters benefit from a vast array of mediums and varnishes, offering greater versatility and durability for various techniques and applications.

At Jackson’s, we pride ourselves on providing a comprehensive range of oil painting mediums and solvents. These include popular brands like Gamblin, Michael Harding, Chelsea Classical Studio, and our range of Jackson’s Oil Painting Mediums.

Whether you need to alter drying times, adjust paint consistency, or safely clean your brushes, our range of mediums and solvents has you covered. With our 4.8-star Trustpilot rating and a commitment to quality, you can trust us for reliable and effective art supplies.

Shop Oil Painting Mediums and Solvents

Enhance your oil painting process with our range of top quality mediums and solvents. Whether you’re a beginner experimenting with your first oil painting or a professional refining your technique, Jackson’s offers products tailored to your needs.

For help, visit our Contact Us and Help & Advice pages. Ready to paint? Shop now.

What Types of Oil Painting Mediums and Solvents Are Available?

Jackson’s offers a wide selection, including linseed oil, stand oil, alkyd mediums, turpentine, and odorless mineral spirits. Each product is tailored for specific purposes, such as thinning paint, enhancing flow, or increasing gloss.

If you’re not sure of the exact medium you need, visit our Guide to Oil Painting Mediums.

How Long Does Oil Paint Take to Dry with Oil Mediums or Solvents?

The drying time depends on the product. Lean mediums can speed up drying to a few hours, while fat mediums may extend it to several days or weeks. This is perfect for techniques requiring extended blending.

How Much Medium or Solvent Should You Add to Oil Paint?

Add a small amount at a time to maintain control over the paint’s consistency and effect. Adding too much too quickly can dilute the paint unevenly or compromise its adherence.

How Do Certain Oil Mediums and Solvents Change the Consistency of Oil Paint?

Oil paint straight from the tube is often thick and buttery. Mediums can make it thinner and more fluid for glazing or thicker for impasto techniques. Solvents, like turpentine, are used to achieve thinner, wash-like effects.

Which Oil Mediums and Solvents Are Best to Adjust Drying Time?

To speed up the drying time of oil paints artists use alkyd mediums. For slower drying, opt for stand oil or poppyseed oil. Both types allow artists to tailor their workflow to suit their techniques.

What Are the Advantages of Using Oil Mediums and Solvents to Increase or Decrease Drying Time?

Increasing drying time allows for extended blending and smooth transitions, while faster drying enables quicker layering, reducing the time needed to complete or display a painting.

How Should You Store Oil Mediums and Solvents for Oil Painting?

Store oil mediums and solvents in tightly sealed containers, away from heat and direct sunlight. Avoid plastic containers as they may contaminate the contents. Always keep them in ventilated spaces and out of reach of children and pets.

Can Oil Mediums or Solvents Be Used to Varnish an Oil Painting?

Dedicated oil painting varnishes are the best choice for protecting your artwork. Using mediums as a varnish can risk compromising the durability and appearance of your painting.

How Do Oil Paint Mediums and Solvents Help Artists Implement the ‘Fat-Over-Lean’ Technique?

The ‘fat-over-lean’ technique is used by artists to create a stable and long-lasting artwork when using oil paints. The technique requires that each successive layer of paint has an increased oil content compared to the one beneath it. Lean mediums or solvents are ideal for base layers, while fat mediums like linseed or stand oil are perfect for upper layers.

For more information, read ‘How Oil Paints Dry, and the Fat-Over-Lean Rule’ on Jackson’s Art Blog.

What is ‘Oiling Out’?

Oiling out is a technique used to revive the sheen of dull patches on an oil painting’s surface by applying a thin layer of oil medium.

A Guide to Oil Painting Mediums