Oleogel is a solvent-free gel medium that extends oil color, increases transparency for glazing, and improves flow without making paint runny. Use a small amount on the palette to build controllable, brush-responsive layers.
Oleogel does not contain driers, so it is safe to use in oil painting without worrying about cracking. When mixed with colors, Oleogel does not slow the drying time.
To use Oleogel, mix a small amount of the gel directly with your oil paint on your palette, using only a tiny amount at a time to achieve a smoother, more fluid consistency. We recommend using a palette knife to obtain the smoothest and most homogenous mixture. Apply the mixture thinly to your painting as you would with regular oil paint, ensuring you don't use too much gel as it can slow drying time; for best results, use no more than 25% gel by volume mixed with your paint.
Key points to remember:
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Use sparingly: Only a tiny amount of gel is needed to achieve the desired effect, so add it gradually to your paint.
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Mixing on the palette: Mix the gel directly with the oil paint on your palette.
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Thin application: Apply the paint mixture thinly to avoid wrinkling.
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Gloss control: Too much gel can result in a glossy finish.
When to use Oleogel:
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Smoothing dense paints: To make thick or stiff oil paints easier to blend and apply smoothly.
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Creating subtle highlights: Adding a bit of gel to a highlight color can make it stand out more
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Layering effects: Use it to create smooth transitions between colors when layering.