Oil paints are a favorite painting medium for a variety of reasons. They help to create a painting with greater realism, and it is possible to include stunning effects of color and lights. Here are a few of the most pleasing benefits of using oil paints:

Simple to work with

Oil paints are one of the simplest mediums to use for an artist. Other more difficult mediums include pastels and watercolor. Because of the ease of use, a lot of artists that are just starting out will use this type of paint. It does not run or move when applied to the canvas which means it is possible to complete a very precise painting. Plus, there is the option to make corrections to the work on the canvas. The paint is easily removed by scrapped with a knife or similar tool. This will leave a blank canvas area which can be repainted as desired.

Flexible application

Oil paints offer complete flexibility and may be applied using a variety of techniques, from dense and thick to thin and diluted using turpentine. This type of paint makes it very easy to create a complete range of shades and tonal transitions, as well as a greater richness in the color scheme. Also, there isn’t likely to be much of a change in color once the paint is dry, which means it is possible to create transparent and opaque effects, while gloss and flat finishes are also an option.

Dries up slowly

They are slow to dry to give artists the opportunity to work with the paint for a lot longer. This makes it easy to complete a painting over a long period of time and increases the ability to blend and layer. In fact, it is possible to leave oil paints out in the open for a few days without having to worry about the paint drying.

Blends well

A major advantage of oil paints is the ability to easily blend with the surrounding paint. This makes it possible to create distinctive features in a picture, such as unique brush strokes. However, this is only an option when the right type of canvas is used.

Are there any negatives?

Beyond the many benefits of oil paints, the only real drawback is the fact the paint will stay wet for a long period of time. Wet paint is easy to damage, especially if the painting is touched or knocked over before it fully dries.

Article originally published at Source by Leo Eigenberg