Õlimaal

Õlimaal is a painting technique that uses oil-based pigments suspended in a drying oil. This method has been widely used since the Renaissance and remains popular today for its versatility and rich color depth. The binder, typically linseed oil, but also poppy oil, safflower oil, or walnut oil, is crucial to the paint's properties. These oils undergo a process of polymerization when exposed to air, creating a durable and flexible paint film.

The characteristic slow drying time of oil paints allows artists to blend colors seamlessly on the canvas, create subtle gradations, and work on a piece over extended periods. This extended working time also facilitates techniques like glazing, where thin, translucent layers of color are applied over dry underlayers to modify hue and value, creating luminous effects. Conversely, impasto, a technique involving thick application of paint, can be achieved due to the paint's body and ability to retain brushstrokes.

Oil paints are typically applied to a prepared surface, most commonly canvas stretched over a wooden frame or wooden panels. Priming the surface, often with gesso, provides a stable, non-absorbent ground that prevents the oil from damaging the support and ensures better adhesion of the paint layers. The range of mediums that can be mixed with oil paints is extensive, including solvents like turpentine or mineral spirits to thin the paint and alter its drying time, and various oils or resins to modify its consistency, gloss, and drying characteristics. The enduring appeal of õlimaal lies in its capacity for rich color, depth, and textural possibilities, making it a foundational medium in art history.