PAINT TALK: Do You Need Medium or Paint Thinner?

Welcome to Paint Talk! The weekly show where I answer your questions on oil painting. If you have a question leave it in the comments section and I just might answer it on the next paint talk.

Books

Materials I suggest for beginners:
Titanium White, Cadmium Red Hue, Cadmium Lemon, French Ultramarine, Yellow Ochre, Cerulean blue

Hi, I am the son of two artists and began painting in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia before I could walk. I was a rare combination of artist and athlete so I moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to play football for USC. I left the team my sophomore year to focus on painting and filmmaking, applying the same focus and discipline from my football career to my art. I primarily work in oils, and spend most free days painting "en plein air" in my new home of Sarasota Florida.

DISCLAIMER: Links in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

[KataDugmonits-gq]

That "tiny alien" got me:D I love your videos so much, I also learn so much from you, thank you!:)

[MichaelBrooksmsb]

My very first Oil Painting was done on a 30"x40" hand-stretched Canvas....painted a Castle from a Post Card. Yes, I primed the Canvas, and no paint thinners or mediums were used in the process, I did no layering, and just paint to brush to canvas. The only time I used thinner was to clean the brushes. The painting was done in my Junior Year in High School, In Independent Study Art.

[MarianaIsabelCampos]

I love you so much You answered so many questions in such simple way, and made oil painting so much fun and simple for me I feel like crying! This will be gold for my isolation days because of covid. Thank you so so much!!

[babythestars]

Yo. I love your stuff. You are a great teacher. No BS, straight to the point and actually great tips. Thanks im sub to your patreon.

[La.created]

I just started painting in March.. I was painting with acrylic but I recently switched to oil. A little intimidated! Thank you for your content. Its a God send 🙏

[bozmundarts]

I use thinner (walnut oil) mixed with paint (gray/lightish tone) as a first coat, rub it off to a fair degree with paper towel and get on with it, so i have a tone to have a better compositional feel, and wetter surface to lay paint on without thinning out too

[jasminepothumulla]

I only use galkyd gel medium because it was on the store shelf at the time of me buying oil paint for the first time. I like it. I like that I can just blob it on my pallet beside the colors that I want to use.

[mountainside]

I'm brand new to oil painting and just trying to gather information and materials. I've been seeing a lot of videos about solvent free studios- as compared to using toxic chemicals that are unhealthy and environmentally not great. It seems as though everything is easier with solvents but I'm hoping to be able to work without them. I hope you do a segment on how to work solvent free.

[kimlanoue]

I find that I have purchase a lot of medium, and yes you really don’t need it. What a waist of money. I rarely use it. I do use linseed oil for glazing on my dry painting which gives my paintings a delicious glow!

[allenvoss]

I use Gamsol for the block in and then after that I use a little bit of linseed oil and then pretty much pure paint at the very end.

[davidgetchell]

Great video. Always find you have the best advice for beginners and even more experienced people.

[Aliceoberdorf]

I’m going to try switching from acrylics to oil and am pretty at sea about how I’ll approach it. I’m ordering the book you recommended. Thanks.

[SparkPlug-mlci]

Since I began oil painting at the beginning of the year I've used Liquin Original but recently I've got some Refined Linseed Oil and Odorless Mineral Spirits ( Gamsol ). I still really like Liquin Original and now I like using mineral spirits for cleaning. However I'm not too comfortable with Linseed oil yet.

[Aliceoberdorf]

I’m new to oils. What should I put my brushes in while painting (cleanup being later).

[gurbym]

Hi Chris, is it ok to copy paintings? I have seen many paintings I have loved and attempted to paint them both to get practice but also because they inspire me. Is it better to stick to photographs and imagination? Thank you.

[BlueEyedMatt]

Thank you for the answers! It’s good to know the drying time. Do you just dip your brush in it, or actually pour some out? Joining patreon today!

[mediocreshakespeare]

I have a question that’s super silly. I don’t understand drying with oil paint. I’ve heard a lot of people say it takes like a year for oils to actually dry but Theres no way an artist is going to wait a year to send a client a commission. I know one medium speeds up drying time and some paints dry faster than others but I’m still super confused on drying as a whole with oils. But how would an artist spend two weeks on a painting with or without those fast drying mediums and then ship it to the client without it ruining the painting? Super silly, right? I’m not even sure if that question makes sense. I absolutely love your channel btw!

[bio-plasmictoad]

Gamvar can be applied when the paint is tuch dry, fantastic stuff.

[bettygunn]

With no medium how would I paint layers on trees . I am having trouble painting trees even after watching your video on trees. Highlights don't work for me they just mix into paint before HELP

[ajayllar]

So helpful! Loving your vids and will subscribe. Also couldn’t help laugh at the butchering of the user name “tiny alien” 🤣