Grumbacher - Linseed Oil
Linseed Oil
Thin oil paint smoothly and boost gloss with this classic medium
Linseed oil thins paint while maintaining the working properties that make oil painting distinctive. Cold-pressed from flax seeds, this medium extends color without compromising pigment saturation, letting you build transparent glazes or adjust paint consistency for smoother blending. The oil increases gloss and improves flow across the canvas, useful when tube paint feels too stiff for your technique.
Mix linseed oil directly into colors on your palette, or combine it with Grumtine or turpentine to create custom mediums that match your working speed. Traditional fat-over-lean layering relies on progressively increasing oil content in successive layers, start with paint thinned primarily by solvent, then gradually add more linseed oil as you build up. This approach prevents cracking as the painting cures.
Grumbacher's formulation works reliably whether you're glazing shadows in a portrait or adjusting the viscosity of thick titanium white. The oil yellows slightly over time, a characteristic of all linseed oil that matters less in darker colors. Drying time extends as you add more oil to your mixture, so plan your layering schedule accordingly.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
- Improves paint flow and increases gloss
- Traditional medium for oil painting
- Mix directly with paint or thin with solvent
- Creates custom oil mediums when combined
- Essential for classic painting techniques
