Linseed oil is used in oil painting on canvas primarily to modify the consistency and drying time of oil paints.
How Linseed Oil Enhances Oil Painting
Linseed oil serves several key functions:
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Thinning Paint: It acts as a thinner, making the paint more fluid and easier to apply. This is useful for creating smooth blends and fine details. It's an alternative to using mineral spirits.
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Improving Flow: By increasing the oil content, it improves the paint's flow characteristics, allowing it to spread more evenly on the canvas.
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Glazing: It's essential for glazing techniques, where thin, transparent layers of paint are applied over a dried underpainting. The transparency is enhanced by the oil.
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Increasing Gloss: Adding linseed oil can increase the glossiness of the dried paint film.
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Altering Drying Time: Linseed oil typically extends the drying time of oil paints. This allows for more blending and manipulation of the paint while it's wet.
Types of Linseed Oil
There are different types of linseed oil, each with specific properties:
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Refined Linseed Oil: A general-purpose oil that's been processed to remove impurities. It's the most common type used in oil painting.
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Stand Oil: A thicker, more viscous oil that dries to a smoother, more enamel-like finish. It is less prone to yellowing.
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Sun-Thickened Linseed Oil: Similar to stand oil, but thickened by exposure to sunlight. It also levels brushstrokes well.
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Boiled Linseed Oil: Contains metallic driers to accelerate drying time. However, its use in art is not recommended because it will cause cracking in the paint film over time. Its application should be limited to household uses, and is sometimes mistakenly picked up by artists.
Considerations when Using Linseed Oil
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Yellowing: Linseed oil can yellow slightly over time, especially in dark or poorly ventilated environments.
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Excessive Use: Overuse of linseed oil can lead to wrinkling and cracking of the paint film. The "fat over lean" rule must be observed. Start with layers that have little oil and progress to those with more.
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Drying Time: As mentioned, linseed oil extends drying time, so allow sufficient time for each layer to dry before applying the next.
In summary, linseed oil is a versatile medium that helps artists control the handling properties, drying time, and appearance of their oil paintings.
