Walking through the picture gallery and admiring the works painted with oil, you are amazed at their beauty. "How to dilute oil paints?" - an urgent issue for any artist who decided to work with them.
Features of working with oil
With oil, everything is much more complicated than with gouache or watercolor. If, when working with these species, it is enough to go to the washbasin and draw in a jar of running water for dilution, then in the case of oil you will have to prepare a special mixture or, at least, visit a store and buy everything you need. However, the result is worth it.
Oil paintings often look more expensive, richer and better. So for a person who has seriously decided to master this material, nothing is impossible. Yes, and special difficulties are not expected. You just need to learn a simple recipe. Some artists act quite simply. The question of how to dilute the oil paint for drawing does not cause discomfort for them, since they do not add anything at all, but are written with a substance in its original consistency. But this option is suitable not for everyone and only in separate works.
How to dilute the paint?
Those who are hindered by density still seek suitable solutions to reduce it. It will be most logical to resort to the help of oil. It is used separately as a separate solvent or as part of a mixture made by painters.
In each art store you can find a bottle with special substances already manufactured or individual elements for their reproduction. In any case, when it comes to this type of paints, oilseed extract cannot be dispensed with , since it alone is the basis of this material. The squeezing of walnut, flax, etc. is well suited. It has no smell, which is quite convenient. Other solvents do not have this advantage.
However, like any coin, there is an opposite, negative side: the picture will dry for a long time. Looking for than to dilute oil paints, it is better to give preference to flax extract.
Cooking Tee
A diluent will be beneficial. White spirit often plays in his role. However, this substance is not used on its own. A combination with a special solution is required. With it, the palette and brushes are washed. Direct adding it to the paint in the course of work is fraught with damage to tools. Canvas may fade, turn yellow and age prematurely. Significant damage to the tissue. For this substance, a separate container should be allocated. The lid that was inactive before this will completely come down.
Giving an answer to the question of how to dilute oil art paints, it is worth noting that of all the compositions, the “tee” is the most popular. You can make it in one action, simply by mixing the components that you will find in the nearest specialized store.
Its first option is based on a mastic or dammar varnish used in painting, flax or hemp oil , as well as a thinner (white spirit). All components are mixed in equal proportions. There is another variation of the mixture in which the last element is changed to turpentine.
What is painted and topcoat intended for?
Painted varnish acts as an additive used with oil paint. The main thing is not to take the coating mixture, it is not suitable for these purposes. The purpose is to protect the already painted picture from external influence after it dries. The varnish is used one year after the end of work.
Finally, the oil image is considered dried up only after a few years. A relative decrease in surface humidity should be expected no earlier than after 3 days. It is during this period, touching the picture, you no longer risk lubricating and spoiling it. Of great importance is the layer that was used during the work, as well as whether the brush was dry or wet. It depends on when to use a topcoat. Also, the substance used to dilute the paint plays a significant role, if, of course, you have to resort to it.
Which extract to choose?
Experienced artists, hearing the question of how to dilute oil paints, are advised to use hemp and flax squeeze as part of the mixture because they are quick-drying substances that form a film that will not dissolve from an organic solvent (for example, water). In painting, materials from other plant crops are also used.
How it is possible to dilute oil paints depends on their composition. As they say, the wedge is kicked out by wedge. It is worth looking at the label and sorting out which oil is part of the material, choosing and adding the same. As a rule, it will be an extract of flax or hemp. On their basis, the majority of paints sold in our stores are made.
As for the diluent, white spirit and gum turpentine fluid are often used in its role . In Soviet times, these and other compositions had special numbers. Evaporation of such substances occurs quickly, so they are stored in closed flasks.
Extract Dilution
If you are looking for a way to dilute oil paints at home, but don’t want to mess with making a “tee,” you should like the option of simply adding plant extract. It is poured into a separate container. It is best to take flax-based liquid, as it dries faster than others. In this case, you will not feel extraneous odors, but you will have to be patient until the picture dries. Masters of painting, telling how to dilute oil paints, are advised not to abuse this method, since it is intended more for lazy people and those who are not in a hurry to varnish their work. When work is in full swing and free space is required, it is easier to make a “tee”. In the case of creating undermining, it makes sense to do without oil at all.
How quickly your creation dries out largely depends on the thickness of the layer applied during painting, the temperature and humidity of the air, the material of the paper or fabric, and, of course, the diluent (“tee” or extract).