Collection: Oil Paints

Oil paints, a timeless medium for artists

Oil paints are a type of slow-drying paint that have been a mainstay for artists over many centuries. 

What are oil paints?

Oil paints consist of pigments, which can be natural or synthetic, bound by a drying oil such as linseed oil, poppyseed oil or safflower oil. The drying oil holds the pigment particles together to form an impermeable film when dry. 

What are the unique qualities of oil paints?

Oil paints are extremely flexible and versatile which makes them very popular with artists. 

Slow drying - this allows time for artists to blend colours smoothly, create depth by layering glazes and to make adjustments, sometimes days or weeks later. 

Rich and vibrant colours - the oil binder in oil paints creates a luminous quality, allowing a wide range of colour intensity. 

Versatility - oil paints can be thinned and used as a wash or layered on thick for a textured impasto effect. 

Durability - Once dry, if properly maintained, oil painting can last for centuries. 

What different types of oil paint are there?

Oil paints have evolved over the years and alongside traditional oil paints you can now also find fast drying oil paints and water mixable oil paints. 

Traditional oil paints

Traditional oil paints are formulated from a combination of pigment and drying oil, such as linseed oil. Oil paints are slow drying and can take anywhere from two days to many weeks to completely dry. Artists' Oil Colour and Winton Oil Colour from Winsor & Newton and Bob Ross landscape oils are all types of traditional oil paint.

Fast drying oil paints

Fast drying oils have been formulated to have the same brilliance of colour and texture as traditional oils, but a much faster drying time. Fast drying oils will usually be touch dry within 18 to 24 hours, depending on the room temperature and the thickness of the paint. Winsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd Fast Drying Oil Colour is an excellent range of oil paints. 

Water mixable oils

Water mixable oils were developed to form a paint that looks and works like traditional oil paint but without the need for hazardous and strong smelling solvents. The drying time of water mixable oils can be anywhere form two days to more that five. Explore the range of Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour.