Thinners

Refined linseed oil

The linseed oil is extracted from the mature seed of flax. The seeds are grinded and pressed. Basically there are two ways to produce linseed oil: hot and cold. For the purposes of painting the cold produced linseed oil is the best. It is clear or light yellow in color, and has very specific smell. The linseed that was produced via hot extraction has heavier smell, and has darker color – deep yellow to light brown. The refined linseed oil is very suitable for the production of oil paints, emulsions for tempera paints, thinners and for the preparation of classical primers and oil varnishes.

Quick drying linseed oil 

The quick drying linseed oil is refined linseed oil mixed with siccative. In small quantities it may be used for dilution of the oil paint to get the desired consistency. When mixed with the paint the drying period is shortened. It may be found in the constitution of many primers and emulsions.

Working ferniz – medium 

While working with oil paints it is recommended to use working ferniz in order to dilute them. This medium contains basic thinner for oil paints and linseed oil, which protects the colors and softens the unwanted effect of the basic thinner. The working ferniz is not the final varnish, and it is not suitable for cleaning the brushes and the palette knifes. This medium is used to dilute the paints up to the desired consistency, betters the drying process and adds gloss and transparency of the oil paints.

White alcohol – deodorized 

This is a thinner for oil paints, without color and smell. The deodorized white alcohol is mineral turpentine, made from petrol distillates, that is extremely well refined product. It may be used as substitute of the turpentine oil. The difference is that the smell of the deodorized while alcohol is definitely not that strong as the one of the turpentine oil and the color is very clear. The white alcohol is neutral to the oil paint – it doesn’t make any difference, as it doesn’t form any tarring. Because of the removal of the aromatic hydrocarbons, the deodorized white alcohol cannot be used to make varnishes. It doesn’t dilute resins such as dammar resin and mastics. The deodorized white alcohol can be used for dilution of the oil paints, cleaning the brushes and for removing layers of not dried oil paint layers. It is preferred by painters who can’t stand the smell of the turpentine oil.

Turpentine
Balsamic turpentine oil

The balsamic turpentine has very characteristic pleasant smell. It is made by distillation of raisin, which leaks from the trees. This diluter for oil paints fastens the drying process, as it loses part of its essential oils. It successfully dilutes raisins and balsams. It may be used as final varnish in combination with dammar raisin. During the working process the balsamic turpentine oil may be used for dilution of the oil paints, cleaning the brushes and for cleaning semi dried layers of oil paints. It is ideal to make varnishes and fernizes from dammar raisin and mastix.  

What is oil paint?

The oil paint is a drying oil, which is mixed with different pigments and fillers. The oil paints may be used to draw on textile, wood, stone, metal etc. It is highly recommended to apply a primer on the surface before the paint itself. Compared to the acrylic and tempera paints, the time for storage and preserving the oil paints is much longer. The oil paint can be cleaned with turpentine or alcohol, but after it forms an insoluble film. For cleaning the brushes and the palette knives usually are used white alcohol, warm water and soap. In the composition of the oil paints there are drying oils, which are used in pure form or the form of different mixtures. The proportion and the kind of the oil depend on the specification of the pigment; the point is to achieve good drying and minimal yellowing of the dry film. The oils are actually a product of squeezing plant seeds, so they are natural products and their composition depends on the environment, the climate, the season etc. Another different component of the oil paint are the pigments. The type of the pigment affects the drying time, it may vary between 1 - 2 days up to 10 - 12 days. Other factors which affect the drying time of an oil paint are: • The temperature of the environment • The surface that the oil paint was applied to • The thickness of the layer • The light is actually a catalyst and speeds up the drying process During the drying process the oil paint forms elastic insoluble film, which with the time passing is gets more solid. It is possible to fasten the process of drying, in order to do that is needed to add siccative, but not more than 2 %. The white alcohol and the linseed oil are ingredients that are not supposed to be used to make azure and velaturas tones. These two ingredients in fact dilute the oil paints, but they decrease the quality and notably change the tone. If the oil paints is diluted with too much white alcohol or linseed oil, the mixture: • Will get dry slowly • There is a high chance that after get dry the paint will rumple • With the time passing the affinity of the paint to get yellow will increase • The colors look grey and have no shine In order to avoid all these effects, it is recommended to use working medium that is produced especially for oil paints or a mixture of dammar varnish and linseed oil (1:1) might be also used.

Oil Painting Basics

Oil painting provides excellent opportunity to express yourself, by creating beautiful paintings. If you are a beginner I will give you some hints about what you need in order to start your oil painting adventure.

If you want to create oil paintings you will need a comfortable place to work and store your supplies and paintings. The supplies that you will need in the beginning: oil paints of course, brushes, a flat surface and tool to mix the colors, surface to paint on and don’t forget that you will need to clean after you finish your painting. I would recommend choosing high quality paints and brushes, because they are way easier to work with and by the final painting you can see if the materials that you used were high quality.