By its very nature, oil colour is incompatible with water and dissolves only in turpentine, white spirit or low-odour thinners. Artists' oil colours are made by dispersing pigments in an oil medium to create a smooth, slow-drying paint. The choice of oil mediums from the wide variety available depends on the surface and the finish required, and the working properties preferred during painting.
An ideal all-purpose painting medium Daler Rowney made of Linseed Stand Oil, White Spirit and Oil of Spike Lavender, which dries to a tough elastic film. Easy to handle, it’s a perfect oil painting medium for beginners.