Artist oil paints in tubes and sets for oil painting

Oil paints for canvas, wood and canvas board

Oil paints don't dry by evaporation but through oxidation of the binder in the air, so they stay workable for a long time. You can paint wet-on-wet, blend shades right on the painting or build depth with thin glazes. Thick impasto with a brush or palette knife works just as well.

How to choose artist oil paints

Sets are good for getting started, single tubes for adding specific colors to your palette. Check the information on pigmentation and lightfastness: it tells you how strong a shade is and how well it holds up to light. You paint on primed canvas, wood, canvas board or other primed surfaces. Drying time depends on layer thickness and pigment – thin layers are often touch-dry after a few days, thick areas take much longer. Apply the final varnish only once the painting is completely dry. Work with turpentine substitute in a well-ventilated room.

• Artist oil paints in single tubes and sets
• Brands such as Schmincke, Pébéo and Talens with its Van Gogh line
• Painting mediums and turpentine substitute for thinning and cleaning
• Varnish to protect the finished painting

Tip: Follow the “fat over lean” rule: lower layers contain less oil than the ones above. This way the layers dry in the right order, and the painting is less prone to cracking.