Beginners Oil Painting Mediums
Which Mediums? I’m a beginner. What Oil Painting Mediums should I have to start Oil Painting? Let’s talk about it…
A Little Bit About Mediums
What are paint mediums?
Well there are two kinds of mediums to artists;
The medium (materials) an artist uses to create with such as oil paint, acrylic etc.
The mediums that artists put into paint to change its characteristics. Paint mediums alter the properties of oil paint (and acrylic mediums alter the properties of acrylic paint etc).
In oil painting they can add lustre, speed up drying, aid glazing, thicken paint for impasto and in oil paint feature in the fat to lean method.
Beginners Oil Mediums
Where to start with beginners oil paint mediums?
In my opinion I would start with the basics and with a small selection to get acquainted with using them. Ready mixed by paint manufacturers is a good idea to get a feel for the different types and experience using them.
The first question is how or/and what are you painting in oils? Are you oil painting in impasto? Are you curious about learning how to paint in a traditional way? Or are you looking to learn about how to use them just in general?
Depending on what you want to paint or how you want to paint I have a few suggestions:
Fat to Lean Method
The traditional method of painting fat to lean. Where the artist builds up the layers of their painting going from more solvent and less oil (fat) to more oil (fat) in the upper layers. This is meant to help with longevity by prevent cracking as the painting moves over time.
But what paint mediums should I use with the fat to lean method? I hear you ask.
If you are someone who does not want to use an alkyd resin based medium (due to its inability to mix with dammar resin or preference for a more traditional painting method .
I would recommend purchasing The Chelsea Classical Studios Oil Painting Cube Sampler Set.*
This is not a paid ad for the product but a true recommendation of the product.
This is probably the most affordable and also the best way to have an introduction into a great range of oils and mediums.
The sample sizes are perfect for a beginner experimenting for the first time and also bigger versions of the products are available should you want to go on with the range.
The cube also contains a varnish, brush cleaner and a brush soap as well as the mediums so you get a very good starter kit in traditional oil paint mediums.
They natural and high quality and have been certified AP non-toxic.
Great for the fat to lean method**
Within the cube you get:
1oz. bottle of Linseed Oil Extra Pale Cold Pressed. - Can be used in medium recipes and also in the upper level of paintings with white (although safflower or poppy seed is better due to their non yellowing properties) to create highlights. (Keeping to the “fat on lean technique”)
1oz. bottle of Walnut Oil Extra Pale Cold Pressed - Same as above.
1oz. bottle of Lean Medium for Oil Painting - Use this in the lower layers of a painting it is ideal for the "fat on lean" technique
1oz. bottle of Fat Medium for Oil Painting - Use this in the upper layers of a painting it is ideal for the "fat on lean" technique
1oz. bottle of Lavender Spike Oil Essence - This is a solvent - Use this mixed with paint in the underpainting stage (direct onto gesso) to sketch out or block in shadows (may show through as a darker area under the paint layers) can be mixed with mediums, varnishes and paints to make them thinner and leaner.
1oz. bottle of Lavender Damar Varnish - Final painting varnish - when a painting has dried for 6-12 months and been cleaned - this can be applied to preserve and protect your painting.
1oz. bottle of Lavender Brush Cleaner - Is a natural solvent for cleaning brushes. Will thoroughly clean brushes after painting.
2oz. bar of Lavender & Olive Oil Soap for Brushes - Cleans and cares for the brush hair, and moisturises it. Apply after cleaning with brush cleaner or solvent. Then rinse off with warm water.
This set also contains instructions, info cards and is pleasant to use. You could also add a glaze medium such as Michael Hardings Balsam Resin Glaze Medium*** to use to create glazes after the lean medium or potentially after the fat medium (try at own risk not experimented with as yet). Please note Michael Hardin glaze mediums contain turpentine.****
Everyday Oil Painting Mediums
For a simple set of Oil Paint mediums I would recommend the above set and then add the Michael Harding Balsam Resin Glaze Medium*** or Michael Harding Oleo Resin Medium.*****
As this kit covers almost all the bases of a basic medium kit. The Lean Medium and Fat Medium can be used to try out the fat to lean method generally within your painting.
Below is an alternative list of mediums to The Chelsea Classical Studios Oil Painting Cube Sampler Set*
Simple Beginners Medium List:
Solvent - Safer options than Turpentine: Oil of Spike or Michael Harding Miracle Oil Paint Medium. Or Traditional: Turpentine
Oil - Linseed Oil (Recommend Pale) or Walnut Oil and Poppy Oil (For mixing with white in the top layers of painting does not yellow) or Safflower Oil (Does not yellow as much as linseed oil)
Glaze Medium - Michael Hardings Balsam Resin Glaze Medium*** or Michael Harding Oleo Resin Medium***** or Roberson Glaze Medium.
Varnish - Michael Harding Damar Varnish****** or Roberson Dammar Varnish*******
Brush cleaner/solvent and/or soap (not classed as medium except for the solvent) look after your brushes with - Bristle Magic******** and The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver********* Alternatively use a solvent and a liquid soap.
Impasto Mediums
To create impasto a number of mediums are available I would recommend: Michael Harding's PM4 Beeswax Paste********** or Roberson Impasto Medium***********
Alkyd Resin Mediums
I personally do not use Alkyd resin Mediums however I can list one that artists use:
Winsor & Newton Liquin
Your Medium Kit
In the end mediums are a personal choice that reflect the painting style and intention of the artist. Beyond the basic set experiment with different brands and mixes and choose what you find works best for you.
Things to think about
If you have decided to use water soluble or mixable oils I would look at the manufacturers list of mediums and use those to preserve the ability to use water with them.
* The products are also natural, traditional oil painting media of the highest quality. They are made using traditional techniques and recipes, contain no harsh chemicals and are certified AP non-toxic.
All oils are cold pressed, non-toxic and naturally cleaned. Painting media, solvents and varnishes are produced without turpentine or petroleum benzine and therefore do not give off any carcinogenic vapours.
** Fat on lean is a traditional method used to prevent cracking of the painting in the future. Fat to lean can be translated to mean oil to solvent. The painting starts off with more solvent to oil paint in the first layers of a painting with more oil being added until the top layers have more oil to oil paint. This can be done by using mediums.
*** Michael Harding Balsam Resin Glaze Medium is a historic paint medium, based on Austrian larch turpentine (Venice turpentine), fused with dammar resin and linseed stand oil.
**** Michael Harding Balsam Resin Glaze Medium is a historic paint medium. If you are someone who wants to paint traditionally I would recommend this brand of mediums and paint.
***** Michael Harding Oleo Resin Medium is a historic glaze medium based on light coloured Canada Balsam, fused with dammar resin and linseed stand oil.
****** This Dammar Varnish is made from dammar resin which has been dissolved in double rectified maritime turpentine and carefully filtered. It is a versatile final picture varnish which can be applied to thoroughly dry oil paint. Please note that a 6 month drying for normal oil paintings is a minimum; you should allow up to one year if the oil paint is very thick.
This varnish has a subtle gloss finish and can be used with opaque and semi-opaque colours.
******* Roberson Dammar Varnish is a made with a combination of Gum Damar and Turpentine. It dries hard and clear, and when put on thinly it gives a low gloss.
Roberson Dammar Varnish is less prone to blooming than mastic varnish. It is non-yellowing and removable with turpentine or white spirit.
******** Bristle Magic is a non-toxic brush cleaner and reconditioner from the US. Perfect for those who have invested in good quality brushes - this will extend their life and keep them feeling like new. It cleans most paint types, and can even remove dried-on oil or acrylic paint.
********* The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver cleans, conditions, and restores your paint brushes in one step. Using only water The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver cleans wet and dry oil paint, acrylic, alkyds, watercolour, stains, and varnishes.
**********Michael Harding's PM4 Beeswax Paste has a high oil content and is based on linseed stand oil and bleached beeswax. This paste increases the body and flexibility of oil colour with a satin-matt finish. This is especially useful with opaque colours. Contains turpentine.
You should add 5-10% to neat oil colour as required.
*********** Roberson Impasto Medium is a crack resistant medium for impasto effects. The medium holds palette knife and brush strokes. To retain colour strength mix 1 part medium to 1 part oil colour.
