what is best way to thin oil paints?

Question

mix of turps and linseed in which quantities?

Answer 1

I've never used anything but turps and the paint straight from the tube. I love the smell of turps!

Answer 2

How To Thin Oil Paint

Answer 3

First of all, DO NOT USE TURPENTINE! I work in an art supply store, and I'm sick of people saying they use Turp because it 'smells good'. During a 3 hour painting session about 80-90% of Turp evaporates into the air of your work space. Bad stuff. Instead try OMS(odorless Mineral Spirits). The best I've found is GAMSOL which is made by Gamblin. Only 15-20 evaporates in the same 3 hour period. (OMS should not be used with very traditional mediums and varnishes like Damar or Copal because it will make them cloudy.) Don't forget that these are solvents, so they basicly break down the binder of the paint which in most cases is linseed oil. So if you are mixing it straight into the paint, don't use very much or your paint layers will be to weak and eventually start to crack.
If you want to mix your own medium, it's normally 1 part oil to 2 parts solvent. Use the 'fat over lean' principle which means that you use less oil in the beginning layers and more as you biuld up. So normally you don't pre-mix them. Keep the oil and solvent in 2 separate containers and mix as you go. Don't use more than 50% oil in your mix. Never mix straight linseed, Poppy, walnut oil, etc. straight into the paint because it will cause your paint films to wrinkle over time.
Like other users suggested, a medium that you mix straight into your paint like Liquin is great. It also speeds drying time (add linseed oil to slow it down), improves gloss and flow, and increases the strength of your paint films. Another good one for glazing and thin layers is Galkyd which speed drying time and dries hard, almost like a laquer while still being flexible.
Which ever medium you use, just remember that you should never use very much. I personally never use more that 10% medium to paint, but you can experiment.
Hope that helps!

Answer 4

I know it's days late but I used to use linseed oil until I discovered that just about any oil based product works. I've used olive oil, sunflower oil and all sorts. White spirit works too, but you have to keep it in a glass jar because it dissolves through plastic, as I discovered (caused a big mess which I had to clear up). Turps also works, but I wouldn't use it if I were you. Linseed oil is probably the most commercially used and least dangerous but it does take ages to dry.

Answer 5

I have always used Liquin for my oil paints. That's what was suggested when I took a painting class in college & the use of it speeds up the drying time as well as thins out the paint.

Answer 6

I like to use when i first start out on the background, turpenoid with the background, just a little bit though. And then for the other layer i start use liquin(origianl quality) and then for when i get into the fine details or later layers I start using liquin and linseed oil, just a alot of liquin and a tad bit of linseed oil. But for me, i like transluent layers over painted gesso. Different textures. It all comes with expermentations.

Answer 7

Linseed oil works best. Turpentine makes the mixture of oils a bit slurpy, watery. Try a mixture of 70% linseed oil and 30% turpentine, but in small quantities to see if you like it.

Answer 8

while at uni i had to do painting as part of my fine art sculpture which i don't like greatly as they were a pine measuring everything but they had a thing about poppy oil for thinning oils it is sold in art shops

Answer 9

Use just cold-pressed linseed oil. Turpentine melts your brain. So if you are looking for a career as an artist you better choose away the turpentine now. C.p. linseed oil is the absolute healthiest choice.

Answer 10

honestly, the best thing to do is experiment and see what you like. different mixtures have different effects, and it all ends up being very personal.

Turps is definately the best binder when mixing different things. But it's also most toxic. Try Turpenoid. You can also get into Damar varnish, liquin, mineral spirits, different oils, etc.