öljymaalaukselle

Öljymaalaukselle is a Finnish term referring to oil painting. It is a painting technique using pigments suspended in a drying oil. The most common drying oils used are linseed oil, poppy seed oil, safflower oil, and walnut oil. Oil paints are known for their slow drying time, which allows artists to blend colors smoothly and create subtle gradations. This characteristic also enables artists to work on a painting over extended periods, making adjustments and refinements.

The history of oil painting is extensive, with its origins tracing back to ancient times, though its widespread use and development as a distinct medium began in the Middle Ages. Its popularity surged during the Renaissance, becoming the dominant painting medium for centuries due to its versatility, richness of color, and ability to achieve depth and luminosity.

Oil paints offer a wide range of effects. Artists can achieve thick, impasto textures by applying paint directly from the tube or with a palette knife, or create delicate glazes by thinning the paint with mediums. The slow drying time facilitates techniques like scumbling, where a thin layer of opaque or semi-opaque paint is brushed over a dry underlayer, allowing some of the underlayer to show through. Conversely, wet-on-wet or alla prima techniques allow for immediate blending and layering of colors before they dry.

The materials used in oil painting include pigments, the drying oil binder, solvents for thinning and cleaning, and various mediums that modify the paint's properties. The supports for oil painting can range from canvas and wood panels to metal and cardboard. The archival quality of oil paintings is generally excellent, with well-executed works often lasting for centuries.