Linseed Oil Paint
The medium of Van Eyck and Rembrandt — pigment ground into pressed flax oil.
Slowly grind dry pigment into linseed oil until you get a thick, shiny paste — that's oil paint.
- ▸Oil dries by hardening with air, not by evaporating.
- ▸Takes days to dry, which lets you blend smoothly.
- ▸Same recipe Rembrandt used.
Steps
- 01
Pile a small mound of pigment on the slab; make a well in the center.
- 02
Add a few drops of linseed oil; mix with a palette knife to a stiff paste.
- 03
Mull in slow circular motions for 5–10 minutes per color, adding oil sparingly.
- 04
The paint is ready when it pulls cleanly from the muller — like soft butter.
- 05
Store in small jars or empty paint tubes; cover with a drop of oil to prevent skinning.
Materials3
- — Cold-pressed linseed oil (food grade or refined artist grade)
- — Dry pigment (earth, oxide, carbon, ultramarine)
- — A glass muller or smooth round stone, on a glass slab
Safety
Involves dust, mild chemistry, sharp tools, or solvents. Use PPE and ventilate.
- Spontaneous combustion risk on rags
- Airborne dust — respiratory irritant
- ☐Lay oil-soaked rags flat to dry, then submerge in water
- ☐Never crumple oily rags into a bin
- ☐Wear an N95 / FFP2 mask when handling dry powders
- ☐Mix in a tray to contain dust; wipe surfaces wet
- ☐Work in a ventilated area; keep food and drink out of the studio
- ☐Read each material's safety data sheet (SDS) before starting
- ☐Have water, soap, and a first-aid kit accessible
Heuristic guidance derived from listed materials. Always consult each material's safety data sheet (SDS) and a qualified instructor before attempting.
Notes
Earth pigments take little oil; carbon black drinks it. Dries in days, cures over decades.