Stepping into the World of Oil Painting: A New Medium, A New Adventure

After years of working with acrylics and water-soluble media, I’ve recently dipped my brushes into the world of oil painting—and wow, what a shift! While my painting journey will always be a lifelong evolution, I feel confident in how acrylics behave: fast-drying, versatile, layer-friendly, and with a wide array of mediums I’ve grown to rely on.

But oils? Oils are a whole new universe. The longer drying times, the rich buttery texture, and the depth of color are fascinating—but so is the world of oil painting mediums.

In acrylics, mediums are second nature to me—flow improvers, modeling pastes, retarder gels, and more. But in oils, the landscape is a bit more mysterious and nuanced. I'm at the beginning of this part of my journey, and thought it might be helpful to share some of the insights and resources I’ve found as I learn.

If you're like me—comfortable with acrylics but just discovering oils—here are some great starting points, especially focused on understanding oil mediums:

🔍 Resources I’m Exploring Right Now:

1. Gamblin's Mediums Guide👉 https://gamblincolors.com/oil-painting/mediums/

2. Natural Pigments (Rublev) Mediums Overview👉 https://www.naturalpigments.com/artist-materials/oil-painting-mediums.html

3. Michael Harding Mediums and Oils👉 https://www.michaelharding.co.uk/mediums/

4. Winsor & Newton Oil Painting Mediums 101👉 https://www.winsornewton.com/na/education/oil-mediums/

🧪 Key Oil Mediums I’m Learning About:(with rough acrylic comparisons)

• Linseed Oil – Extends drying, increases gloss. Like a flow improver—but slower.

• Stand Oil – Thick, syrupy, glassy finish. Feels a bit like self-leveling gel.

• Walnut Oil – Smooth, non-sticky, slow drying—great for blending.

• Galkyd / Alkyds – Fast-drying, semi-glossy. Perfect if you miss the drying speed of acrylics.

• Cold Wax Medium – Adds body, matte finish, and texture—I'm especially intrigued by this!

• Solvents (OMS, turpentine, etc.) – For thinning and cleaning, but require care and ventilation.

🌟 Artists Who Inspire Me (Bold Use of Oils & Mediums)

🎨 Mark Thompson (@markthompsonartist) Incredible texture and expressive gestures—his dynamic brushwork and layered surfaces made me want to truly understand how oil mediums can be pushed.

🎨Lynn Boggess (@boggess_fine_art) Master of plein air painting with a palette knife—his thick, sculptural application of oils turns landscapes into living textures.

🎨Simon Kenny (@simonkennyart) Creates cosmic, abstract works with a luminous, fluid quality—his technique with oils feels like stardust in motion.

🎨 Michael Claxton (@michaelclaxtonartist) British artist renowned for his atmospheric, semi-abstract seascapes and landscapes through expressive brushwork, textured layers and use of oil mediums.

🎨Neil Nelson (@neilnelson) Haunting portraits and atmospheric realism—his lighting and glazing techniques in oil are deeply moving and precise.

🎨Marina Syntelis Art (@marina.syntelis.art) Seascapes that feel alive—she captures the energy of water and crashing waves with dramatic light and elegant movement.

🎨Scott Laurenson (@scottlaurenson) Australian seascape painter whose work captures the mood and intensity of the ocean with bold brushwork and rich color.

🎨Catherine Bobkoski (@cbobkoski) Wonderful tutorials on painting roses and florals in oils—clear, elegant, and incredibly helpful for still-life lovers.

🎨RICHARD K BLADES (@richard.k.blades_art) Expressive, semi-abstract landscapes with lush textures and confident mark-making—beautifully moody and atmospheric.

🎨Nial Adams-Art (@nialadams) Specializes in dramatic skies and sweeping English landscapes—his oil techniques focus on light, depth, and subtle tonal transitions.

🎨Jacqui Bassett (@jacqui.bassett) Paints serene and poetic abstracts with soft palettes and textured layers—peaceful, meditative, and full of quiet emotion.

🎨Jaime Byrd (@jaimebyrd) a mixed-media artist who combines oil painting with encaustic techniques, incorporating layers of wax to create depth and texture.