Art Encyclopedia - Linseed Oil

Art information > Art Encyclopedia > L > Linseed Oil

Linseed Oil
Linseed oil is oil from flax seed. It is the most common medium for oil painting. Modern painters use raw linseed oil diluted with turpentine. Linseed oil is obtained by pressing, followed by an optional stage of solvent extraction. Cold-pressed oil obtained without solvent extraction is marketed as flaxseed oil.

Linseed oil is the most commonly used carrier in oil paint. It can also be used as a painting medium, making oil paints more fluid, transparent and glossy. Linseed oil is available in varieties such as Cold Pressed, alkali refined, sun Bleached, sun thickened, and polymerised.