Starting with oils - help asked for medium!

[Eileor]

Well, I decided to finally try oils instead of acrylics.... but I do know almost nothing about them! This question may sound VERY stupid, but I'll ask it anyway:

I've got a quick-drying medium (Talens... if it matters), but don't know what to do with it >:D .

How much do I use? How do I use it? Where do I put it? Do I mix it with other stuff?

I tried searching on CA but couldn't find answers on there very basic questions. Please help. :)

Eileor

[Dizon]

I just started oil painting myself. My advice is to start simple with the basic stuff you need. You don't need to do some advance methods right now.

I use linseed oil as my medium. I use this to thin the paint that comes out of the tube stiff. A drop or 2 is enough. For cleaning my brushes, I use poppy oil. You can also use linseed oil, safflower oil, etc. for cleaning and painting. While working, I gently remove some of the paint from the brush by using a piece of cloth, and then I drop some of the poppy oil on it so the rest of the paint becomes less dense, thus easier to remove with the cloth. When your done with the session, do the same, then rinse the brush with warm water, wipe it gently with your cloth, then leave it to dry for the next session.

Just get drying oils( linseed, poppy, safflower, etc.) for the moment. Some advanced painters have their own "mixture" for their medium, to get desired effects in oil paints( i.e. make drying time longer or faster, less yellowing of colors, etc.). But you don't need that right now. Keep it simple.

[Flake]

Loads of interesting reading on oil painting over here..

http://forums.studioproducts.com/

[Eileor]

Patdzon - Thank you very much, that's very helpfull! I'ts all so confusing when you start, and people tend to forget to mention the most basic things. I'll try the oils and maybe post the results later on.

Flake - bookmarked the link, thanks!