Oil paint

Rich color, layered paint, smooth transitions, or visible brushwork are likely.

Visual traits

• layered color
• rich color
• variable brushwork

Expected changes

• Layered color becomes more likely
• Smooth blending or visible brushwork becomes more likely

Definition

Oil paint is a coloring material that combines pigment with an oil-based medium such as drying oil. It is distinct from oil painting as a whole-work medium, a particular brushwork, or a period style.

In more detail

Oil paint can create rich color and surfaces ranging from layered smooth transitions to thick brushwork. Appearance varies with viscosity, medium, support, and application.

Includes

• Oil paint material that uses an oil-based medium

Excludes

• Oil painting as a whole-work medium
• a technique such as impasto
• water-based paint

What this does not imply

• A particular school, era, artist, or subject
• An invariably thick paint layer

Variability

Sheen, thickness, and brushwork vary with medium, viscosity, and application.

Usage

• Use as a material modifier; specify technique and art movement separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Distinguish from oil painting as a medium and from impasto

Typical uses

• Portraits or landscapes with oil-paint layers
• Painting expression that adjusts brushwork and blending

Possible failure modes

• It becomes merely photographic color grading
• It is fixed to thick impasto