Oil painting

Painting technique in which oil such as linseed, poppy or nut oil is used as a binding agent for the color pigments (sometimes mixed with light-colored soft resins such as balsam or mastic). The colors mixed with oil can be applied thinly and glazingly, as well as opaquely and impasto, without running into each other. Oil painting differs from tempera painting and acrylic painting in the richness and depth of its colors. Oil paints do not change when dry. However, yellowing of the binder can cause later changes in the color effect of an oil painting. In addition, the shrinkage of the oil in the paints can cause cracks to form in the surface of oil paintings after a certain time. Wood was initially used as a support for oil painting, but canvas became increasingly popular in the second half of the 15th century. In addition, cardboard or thin metal sheets are also used.