PAINT TALK: Oil Painting Mediums Simplified

[@1momsrose]

I'm so glad I found you, thank you!! You've answered some questions I've had as I'm about to do an oil painting. But it's HUGE, 40X60, a consignment. So now this big blank canvas is in my living room. The thing is, I haven't painted oils in 40 years and my lessons were one high school class. This client is my Son so I couldn't pass this up. He says "just have fun".

[@neutrinohanks9226]

All the best :)

[@monicawood4990]

Thank you for posting all of these videos. I was in grade school when I first painted and I continued painting off and on until I was about 40 just figuring it out on my own. I haven’t done it in 20yrs though and want to start again. You have given me so much information about how, what brushes to use, techniques, etc. that I am excited to try it and I really appreciate it!

[@huddypop3491]

I’ve been painting for 30+ years, grad in painting, drawing & design, MICA & still learning. Thank you for your channel 👍. It’s helping me get out of the rut of being stuck in my old ways of painting. Refreshing

[@denis_emanuel]

could you please do a painting showcase.. where u show us all your paintings.. from the first one to the last one, or maybe top 10 favourite ones :D

[@sketchingjohn1678]

I use walnut oil both to dilute the paint and to clean the brushes during the painting session. It requires me to wipe the brushes more, but I only use mineral spirits (mostly) to clean at the very end. This keeps me from breathing the mineral spirits. Thanks for a great video.

[@c.e.schlink9933]

M.Graham oil paints use walnut oil as binder. Do you use that brand?

[@sketchingjohn1678]

@@c.e.schlink9933 I've used their watercolors. THey really load up the pigment. Right now I use a bunch of different brands. A friend got out of the art game and gave me a ton of tubes, so I'm a lucky man.

[@annagreer7748]

Oh, thank you. I have been painting for 5 years now, stumbled into it. I have watched so many You Tube videos on this subject, and yours is the best one I've found.

[@robertaccornero7172]

I've been painting non stop since 1961, and now I only use Winsor and Newton's Liquin...it is bliss.

[@raularts9768]

Perfect!! This is the perfect video for someone who just started painting like me. Not only covered the paint mediums but also great advice to fail and learn on small paintings instead of trying to create a huge masterpiece as a beginner. Thanks so much.

[@Amor-Fati.]

Of all the channels giving painting advice, you are the only one who has teachings that have made such a world of difference in my paintings. Thank. You so much

[@mustafakocabasi3387]

Thank you ! You are practical and No BS person. First time i see someone tells the truth: You don't have to use medium. When i use linseed oil, i use 1-2 drops. Mostly i dont use any mediums.

[@danielalvarez-arevalo688]

Pretty simplified. Solvents aren’t necessary for those wondering. Mediums like galkyd lite (fast drying) can replace it. I tend to mix more galkyd (since I tend to need the layers to dry faster) and some stand oil (slow drying, less likely to yellow, more oil content). Each layer adding a greater amount of stand oil to retain fat over lean. Each layer is also the same paint application thickness, except there is more oil. If time isn’t an issue, then things can be flipped. Meaning each layer have the same amount of stand oil, but a decreasing amount of galkyd lite.

[@terryh3689]

Wish I had heard your advice years ago. It has always taken me several months to complete a painting due to the level of detail I put in. No instructors discouraged me from painting this way.

[@kennarsolonart8815]

I usually use Winsor & Newton's Sansodor + Linseed oil as my medium and it works pretty well with my paints. I also use sansodor in washing my brush (i still don't have turpentine). This video's very helpful Chris! Thanks a lot!

[@TheSoleProprietor]

I don't use turpentine, myself, anymore and would rather use mineral spirits, as it is odorless and seemingly less toxic.

[@JV44HeinzBar]

Fantastic video!! I'm nearly retired from a science based profession and felt the need to explore the more creative side. I've only completed 3 paintings so far, but it's been relaxing. Explaining the effects of mediums is exactly what i was looking for to help spread my paint. Liked & subscribed !!

[@mrdrock]

Seriously good advice on the multiple paintings. I am doing 31 paintings in 31 days this month, each an hour long. I am using open acrylic at the moment, but plan on doing oil later this month. It has been interesting to see how I process the work with each day, but the alla prima has been a great lesson.

[@jakevisconti1765]

This bit of information has cleared some misunderstanding for me, and made oils a bit less daunting, I've been putting off my first attempt at oils because I didn't fully get what was meant by the whole risk of cracking but thanks to you I understand it better now.

[@FatyBdreamer]

Seriously the amount of valuable information I've found in your videos are worth a terribly long time of research .. THANK YOU for just making this available to everyone!

[@tiiulausmaa2427]

Thanks for simplifying the matter! I would like to point out that there are alternatives out there for those who don't wish to use toxic mediums such as Liquin or mineral spirits. After all, even if you personally manage to stay clean of any damage, it will still have to be dumped into the nature in the end and will cause some harm. So anyway, there are paint thinners and mediums available from companies such as Sennelier and Gamblin and M.Graham and surely some others that don't have solvents in them and are therefore safe to use even if you are painting at home. Also, be careful with varnishes as these also tend to be toxic!

[@dannylago2330]

Just purchased supplies and did my first experiment! It was a disaster and it was great

[@euscieu4246]

I don’t understand why you wear caps when you’ve got such a great head of hair! Thanks for making this video... mediums had me so confused

[@paintcoach]

Thanks! Lol I’m glad this helped

[@Omer_Latif]

Exactly, i told him to get rid of the cap in the previous video, one day he will joke that getting rid off the cap was the cornerstone in his carreer:))))

[@namrathasaldanha3977]

That’s how he has such good hair!!!! Protect from all pollutants and keep the hair safe in the cap :)

[@euscieu4246]

@@namrathasaldanha3977 good point 😂

[@ReadyMack-g]

@@paintcoach does Japan dryer or accelerant/ affect the color of reds/blacks.....

[@DannerPlace]

Watching your vids for ideas in hand-coloring B&W photographs, you might be converting me into an oil painter. Your content is very good.

[@lilidzholi9714]

My trick to respect the rule of fat on lean. I prepare my medium. Let’s consider it the « base ». 2/3 of terpentine, 1/3 of oil, some drops of dammar varnish. I make around 5 lays of painting( drawing, imprimatura, darks, lights, glazing...) So I make 5 mediums! In 5 different little bottles. 1-st bottle : pure solvant ( terpentine) 3-rd bottle : the base medium I’ve just described below. So the 2-nd will just have a little bit less oil than the 3-rd. The 4-th and 5-th will have more oil that the 3-rd one Idk if i am clear. Tell me

[@shahrukhs]

You are such an inspiration and a great motivator. Thank you

[@AnimalLover101195]

I've been binging your videos recently. (love your channel!!!!!!!!!!) 11:50 i made my first oil painting today and the only goal was 'let's have fun and get used to oil paint." once I get used to the medium of oil pants, then I will start getting into really refining my skill in them. I have to get used to something first. How it feels, how it handles, how to use it, etc.. As you pointed out in multiple videos, think macro not micro.

[@paintcoach]

This is so great to hear!

[@wiilys6682]

fantastic advice. i use either linseed oil or just thinners, thank you for reinforcing this

[@Lone_Painter]

Thank you, great video. Yes I'm confused.but you explain very well.

[@wwanderful]

Your advice on keeping to linseed oil and Liquin is very helpful. Also, on practicing painting and not creating masterpieces is so important. Thanks!

[@troyingram716]

This is it ! The explanation for the novice, thank you.

[@valerieserrano1245]

I love your videos, recently graduated with my associates in art and specialized in oil painting❤️ Youre so handsome and talented ❤️

[@cloudsofsunset7323]

I came looking for coper. I found gold in here

[@twodumbgamers9285]

Hey man! Love your videos! Just recently I got into oils in the last few months after using acrylics for so long! Anywho, I was gunna ask if you could talk about painting sun rays in a video? Since I’ve started oil painting my happiness in painting landscapes and mainly clouds has gone up exponentially! I still need to study them soooo much more to understand how to paint them and achieve what I want but something that’s got me stumped is light rays! I also don’t want to just use a glaze to get the effect. Also thank you for being such a great paint coach! 😎✌️ edit: your videos have helped so much as well! The way you explain things at least helps me understand parts of painting and the process so much easier! So again Hats off to you sir!

[@lorachristian7030]

Love your videos, and your sense of humor, your information is extremely helpful!

[@hinakhabalooch]

Sometimes I don't use any medium.. You talk about my mind thanks

[@paintwithcaleb]

I really appreciat you discussing this topic! Thanks a ton! You're a great coach!

[@kikiraven2620]

BRILLIANT! Thank you for explaining this so clearly and simply 😊

[@paintcoach]

You're very welcome!

[@roserousan6411]

Your videos have everything I need ! Thank you ♡ Art supplies are a little confusing 😅

[@glenncheney906]

Great advice. A lot of stuff I'd been wondering about.

[@Realone525]

I really would like a video about a head to head comparison on windsor's liquin and gamblin's neo megilp

[@jrlakin370]

I keep it simple. Liquin! Love it. Smooths the paint out too 👍

[@MariaRodriguez-bw4sk]

Chris this was excellent on mediums because I got so frustrated in the beginning of painting with how when and what to use while painting. I now just use thinner and linseed oil, sometimes walnut oil. Thanks

[@paintcoach]

So glad this was helpful!

[@noni7442]

thank you! oil paint mediums are so confusing for me, there are toxic ones and different types and ways to use it etc

[@resdalhogal3]

I use pure solvent for the first layer, then finish the painting with 50/50 solvent to linseed oil as my medium. Works great for me. If I let it dry I simply oil it out with pure linseed oil and continue using my medium. This ensures that it has more oil then the previous layer. After two layers all the modeling is usually finished. If I want to glaze, I let everything dry then use a mix of 75% linseed oil or 25% solvent as my glaze medium. I find that any mixture over 50/50 is removes the control I desire but works well for spreading transparent paint over the surface. So essentially my work flow goes: imprematura- pure solvent/ sculpting/modeling- 50/50, glazing - 75/20. Personally I hate liquin. It creates almost an enamel type finish. Alkyds in general I don’t see the point of using unless you’re doing a grisaille in which you would use linseed oil overtop and want the grisaille to dry quickly. Slow drying time is essential for oils. Literally the best aspect about it.

[@rodeastell3615]

Excellent .. just what I needed to hear. Thank you.

[@Jcakiiiii]

Just the advice I needed thank so much!!

[@maryhruth]

Such helpful instruction! Great big thanks, Chris!

[@BarbrajoanOriginals]

FINALLY! ! ! Someone explains all there is to know about this subject. I think a lot of people are confused about it. Really good easy to understand about mediums. Thanks Chris . And while I’m here stop the backwards “cap hat”. Wearing the cap lets you join ‘the masses’. 🤪🤪🤪

[@jimnicosia5934]

Safflower oil is good too. It's a little thinner and does not yellow.

[@murph6253]

Thanks for the video. I’m about to attempt my 1st oil painting and I was a lil confused on the mediums and this answered a lot of my questions. Your channel has been a big help, seriously. I’ve been nervous to start painting but that part about not being scared to fail helped me get over that and just dive in. Thanks again for the content

[@paintcoach]

Glad it was helpful! Go get painting!

[@teacup3133]

Thank you, you give such great advice.

[@paintcoach]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevenmark5959]

Good advise Chris. My first layer is pretty much always just paint with thinners, and subsequent layers paint with Liquin to brighten it up (and for faster drying😊)

[@AdrianChetty]

Thank you bud, appreciate the advice

[@ryannaellerbee4577]

I have ADD so I do many paintings at once. If I get bored or aggravated with one of my paintings I'll stop and move on to a different one. That way it gives the paint time to dry a bit and I can look at it with fresh eyes. However if you do this you will need multiple pallets and make sure you don't mix those pallets up. You don't need to do an oil painting in one sitting. I love the fact that oils dry slow because of this reason. I use to be an acrylic fan until I bought a oil paint set, now I am obsessed with them.

[@isabellelib1381]

Yours is my favorite art tutorial channel. I love that you bring humor into your instruction. Do you ever do live weekend workshops? I live in Tampa and would be willing to make the drive.

[@AnimalLover101195]

I get that if you go to a class or something mediums can be easy, you basically just use what the teacher tells you to use. But for everyone who is teaching themselves because they want to or they can't go to a class for multiple reasons (Corona, costs, time, etc.) all the different kinds of mediums can be overwhelming at first.

[@zoewhiteart7676]

Thank you for this, the first time I'v understood the fat over lean thing!

[@paintcoach]

Yes! Happy to help!

[@christipatrick1127]

Sooooo helpful thank you!😊

[@jamesking9262]

Brilliant. Thanks.

[@allenvoss7977]

Everything I needed to know !

[@undines3979]

You are too cool and very helpful, thank you!

[@pim1234]

Bought your brush set !

[@meatman2024]

Great advice

[@amiralihodzic46]

Linseed Oil exists.

[@garthok6224]

As far as i know Liquin is toxic if ingested but not if smelled. It does have a smell, but the smell is not toxic.

[@ronitjudelman5688]

You are the best!!!❤

[@monanurag8787]

Sensei how do you clean your brushes during painting session inorder to pick another color

[@noahprisco632]

Paint thinner and a paper towel or sumtin

[@xnagato666x]

Basically have to clean the brush every time you want to change colors. With what the guy before me said.

[@paigecarlson7468]

this was so helpful!!! thank you!

[@teresagrigsby-rose8761]

Does adding linseed oil make the paint fatter?

[@diamondlenasan]

should also mention not using too much Liquin. It does make the paint transparent too, and too much medium can cause problems with paint adhesion.

[@thaliak47]

Great video, thank you!

[@rainbowxwolf]

I think those Windsor and Newton mediums are great. But the small bottles get so expensive it’s outrageous. But I like to use non toxic paint thinner and mediums.

[@DH-634Seriously]

Thank you for your advice ….you are correct in everything you have said in this video I have experienced every emotion you talk about and everything wrong like you said,well almost everything haha😂Thank you very much.

[@genevieveprevost5378]

I wish this video existed when i started painting. i was so confused with mediums and ''recipes''. Nice haircut by the way!

[@paintcoach]

Thank you! 😊

[@katdakota9467]

You're funny! Yep I went to the end of video!

[@MrSonic1953]

Do you have a video on how to use the Strathmore Canvas Pad? Do you take a page out and staple it to a frame? or do you paint on a page taped to a board, etc?

[@jenniferdavis7350]

Hi, love ur videos, would u please do a video on the demonstrating the grisaille method (I think that’s how u spell it) of under painting and then glazing colors on top ? I would really appreciate an in depth look at the method. Thanks!

[@paintcoach]

I'll have to do some research on that. I haven't done a portrait that way in like 12 years

[@40bdg]

Helpful info! What are your thoughts on using Walnut oil?

[@hassaanahmed23]

how cute and smart are you coach

[@lylewyant3356]

i"ve painted with water color and acrylic. Acrylics dry duller than when wet... oils. what you see is what you get. i have traditional and alkyds...

[@ida.ronyah]

Thanks for a helpful and really nice video with jazz music even! 😄 My question is, can I use a water mixable glazing medium together with regular oil paint?

[@beefwater]

I noticed there is linseed oil and refined linseed oil. I wasn't sure which to get, so I just got the plain linseed oil. What is the difference between the two and which one would I need for which situation?

[@GnaReffotsirk]

Use refined.

[@jetsonjoe]

using Walnut alkyd medium...allows paint to dry in a day and a bit...otherwise painting time is excessive

[@noobrajplays]

Thank you for the video. Can I know which is is the fast drying medium while doing/painting plein air,

[@redf7209]

I'm basically an acrylic painter but i can see advantages to oil paint but I've never gone to it basically because of the drying time of finished paintings when i did try it out. However, I keep getting drawn to the idea of picking it up for certain paintings i have in mind. I'm envisioning using thinners and oils as you advise but I also see a role in reserving them for the brush rather than mixing in to help application to canvas . Do you have any thoughts?

[@curly422]

Is it safe to use liquin original for oil paint?

[@rachanack5615]

How u get a sand texture effect in oil painting. What is the best technique. .

[@terriprecha2526]

Love your channel. :)

[@pushpasrivastava4171]

Thanks for this informative tutorial. Which paint thinner you use? I see you cleaning your brush in a small container. Is it thinner? Please let me know. Thanks.

[@timjupp2334]

Hi i use some oil paints thinned down to panel line warhammer minis . But i have an idea of panel lining uv paint i can get the pigment but what medium/thinner do i use so the uv paint will run into the gaps ?

[@srdjannalis3037]

I bave one question. Please help me. I am painting on reverse side of glass by TALENS oil colors. I desperately need media to speed oil drying time. I bought original TALENS media for quick drying but it EXTEND drying time???? What to do?

[@Teddy-rh8vl]

Just a silly question, can you use linseed oil to clean brushes ? I’ve seen that somewhere and I don’t want to believe it that easy 😅

[@viniciuspaolini4007]

Thank you! I was wondering about what you were talking just a week ago. If using medium is getting on the way, just don’t use it. Haha What about cobalt sicatives? what are your thoughts? I’ve never seen something make oils dry THAT fast.

[@Kristina-rt1ty]

So Linseed oil is like water to acrylic painters. Is that right?

[@cherylpage7415]

What do I do if I have a painting that has been set aside for about a year due to not knowing how or what to do next to accomplish the idea I have in my head. How do I start back on it ... I have looked into oiling out ...??

[@BlueEyedMatt42]

Great video! Thank you! I was wondering this myself. Starting out, and all. Working with acrylics a lot I kind of figured out the paint thinner vs straight paint. Do you recommend I get linseed oil to start with, and feel it out?

[@myfredandabby123]

Hi Chris. I have some beautiful LeFranc paints that have Safflower Oil as a binder. I also have many other tubes and brands that have Linseed oil as a binder. I know Safflower oil dries pretty slowly but can I mix the two kinds of paints with different binders together? Thanks so much.

[@GaryYoung-eq1ph]

What is the slowest drying med.?

[@marvellloyd2666]

Flew to Tropics, Didnt know if I could buy thinner there so I took walnut oil to clean brushes, Then started exploring the idea of solvent free painting, using walnut or linseed oil to clean brushes while painting then soap and water when done. Ok what does that do to the blocking in with thin paint option and fat over lean practice. Oh and BTW Walnut vs Linseed. Ghram paints done in Walnut and using Alkyd Walnut medium. Any Thoughts? Also what position did you play and did you give up a free ride when you quit Football? Join a local Rugby club, you'll love it once you get used to the off sides rules and how to actually use your damn foot.

[@sandiegofloraldesign8234]

Is there a non toxic paint thinner you would recommend?

[@hodahoteit6952]

Hi. Thank you for sharing your knowledge ☺️ can I do pouring technique using oil paint?

[@seapossumsforrest8162]

Good tutorial! I have some old oil paintings that I thought about tweeking. They are kind of boring still lifes from the 70's and I want to give them new life. I know there are layers of smoke and dust. Do you have any tips or advise? And I must admit, nice hair dude! I don't miss the ball cap, but you do you! Thank you for sharing!

[@paintcoach]

I would wipe the dust off first lol then you could put a coat of retouch varnish on it to bring the colors back and then use some linseed oil when painting.

[@Pulapaws]

You can use ammonia just a small cap full with 250 ml of water if the painting isn’t vanish to clean up the dirt use a small cotton pad and work slow to make sure paint is lifting and only do it in a very small corner. If it is vanish you can pay a vanish cleaner but work slow and test it on a very small corner first. That will clean the dirt off and not destroy the vanish. If it’s vanish you have to remove it first to be able to paint over the painting successfully.