Art Supplies
How to Use Linseed Oil in Oil Painting?
Linseed oil makes paint flow, adds gloss and slows drying. How much to use, in which layer, and what to watch out for.
Linseed oil is one of the most commonly used materials in oil painting, but it should be used with some care. Unlike turpentine, linseed oil does not simply thin the paint; it adds oil to the paint and changes the way it behaves.
What linseed oil does to the paint#
When linseed oil is added, the paint becomes smoother and more fluid. It can make the brush move more easily across the canvas and can be helpful when working on certain color transitions. It can also increase the gloss of the paint and affect its drying time.
For this reason, rather than mixing a large amount of linseed oil directly into the paint, it is better to use small amounts. Especially if you are using it for the first time, try it with a small amount of paint on your palette and observe how the consistency and behavior change.
To use linseed oil more precisely, I also recommend using a dropper. A dropper allows you to add the oil a few drops at a time instead of accidentally adding too much at once. This makes it easier to adjust the consistency of the paint gradually, especially if you are new to using linseed oil. My recommendation is to start with a very small amount and increase it little by little if needed.
Layer order: fat over lean#
Another important point is the layering of the painting. Oil painters generally pay attention to the “fat over lean” principle. This means that the early layers are usually applied with less oil, while the oil content can be gradually increased in later layers. For this reason, instead of adding too much linseed oil to the first layer, it is better to use it carefully and according to the stage of the painting.
What happens if you use too much#
Using too much linseed oil can make the paint excessively glossy, slippery, or slow to dry. It can also create an unwanted oily appearance on the surface.
Linseed oil is not something to add randomly just because “the paint is too thick, so I’ll add some oil.” It should be used carefully to change the consistency and working properties of the paint. If your main goal is simply to make the paint thinner and more fluid, turpentine will give you a different result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does linseed oil do in oil painting?
Linseed oil adds oil to the paint. It lets the brush move more freely, deepens the colours and extends drying time so the paint stays workable longer. It also makes the dried paint film more flexible.
How much linseed oil should I use?
A few drops. Stop as soon as the paint starts to flow. Too much oil makes the surface unnaturally glossy, stretches drying into days and speeds up yellowing over the years. The most controlled way is to keep the oil in a separate well and pick it up with the brush a little at a time.
In which layer is linseed oil used?
In the upper ones. In oil painting each layer should contain more oil than the layer beneath it. The first layers are thinned with turpentine, lean and fast drying, and linseed oil comes in as you move up. Reversing that order leads to cracking.
Does linseed oil yellow a painting?
It can yellow slightly over time, most visibly on oil-rich surfaces kept in the dark. Used sparingly the effect is limited. In whites and pale blues, poppy oil is often preferred over linseed to reduce it.
