Oil Painting Techniques You Can Use Right Now

Want your oil paintings to look richer, last longer, and feel smoother? You don’t need a fancy art school—just a handful of proven techniques. Below you’ll find the most useful tips for choosing the right medium, fixing mistakes, and adding a little flair to every canvas.

Choosing the Right Mediums

Most beginners start with linseed oil because it’s cheap and easy to find. It thickens the paint, slows drying time, and makes colors pop. But linseed isn’t the only player. Coconut oil has become a popular swap for artists who want a lighter, less yellowing finish. It works best when mixed with a small amount of walnut oil or poppyseed oil; too much coconut can make the paint too fluid.

When you’re deciding, think about three things: drying time, gloss, and yellowing. Linseed dries slow, gives a glossy finish, and can yellow over years. Walnut oil dries a bit faster, stays clearer, and is great for lighter colors. Poppyseed oil dries the fastest but makes the paint a bit matte. Experiment with a teaspoon of each in a small test tube—watch how the paint behaves, then stick with the one that matches your style.

If you love the old masters, you might try the Goya technique. Francisco Goya mixed his pigments with a tiny amount of oil and a little resin, creating a velvety texture that holds light nicely. The secret is to add a drop of alkyd resin or a modern glazing medium to your oil mix. The result is a smooth, almost glass‑like surface that’s perfect for portraits and chiaroscuro effects.

Common Techniques and Fixes

Even seasoned painters make mistakes. When a layer dries too quickly or a color looks wrong, stripping is your safety net. Stripping means removing the unwanted paint without wrecking the canvas. For thin layers, a soft brush dipped in mineral spirits works well—just swipe gently and lift the paint. For thicker builds, use a plastic scraper and a little turpentine, but avoid metal tools that can gouge the canvas.

Another quick fix is “wet‑on‑wet” blending. Instead of waiting for each layer to dry, keep a small amount of medium on your brush and blend colors directly on the canvas. This creates soft transitions and reduces hard brush marks. Remember to work in small sections; the paint can dry faster than you think.

For added depth, try glazing. Mix a tiny amount of oil medium (linseed or walnut) with a transparent pigment and apply a thin, translucent layer over a dry base. The glaze will deepen color without covering the underlying details. Artists often use multiple glazes to build rich, luminous tones—think of it as layering stained glass on a wall.

Finally, clean up right. Use a jar of odor‑free solvent for your brushes, then wash with soap and water. A clean brush lasts longer and gives you more control in the next session.

These techniques are simple enough for a weekend project but powerful enough to impress anyone who sees your work. Grab a canvas, pick a medium, and start experimenting. The more you practice, the faster you’ll develop a personal style that stands out.