Oil painting is the most versatile specie of art. Different painting variables can be used and not limited only to the artists' paintbrushes and paints. Aside from oil paints and a canvas, some artists use other media. Varnish is one thing.

The different media used by the artists can be fine-tune or fiddle with the luster or polish of the painting, or may cover up the strokes of the paintbrush, or make the painting appear mobile even if still.

Oil painting gets the hand of only the most adaptable and flexible talents. It has its own varieties.

May it be mixture or in glazes, its new and old result attracts the eyes of the many. Mixture is how the artist thickly applies the oil paint, whereas glaze is how thinly the paint is applied on the surfaces.

The attractiveness of oil painting stretched through Italy during the 15th century. From then one, it has touched many artists across the globe. Color selection becomes paramount most especially in oil painting because the properties of each oil paint may give adverse or good effect.

Conditionally, artists will mix the paints in advance before applying them on the canvas, paper, slate, pressed wood or wooden panel. As artists are trying to establish their own identity, developed in the art of oil painting is the technique of using oil paints in tubes.

It is more convenient, and less messy. First, one may initially paint the surface with a clear paint, or instantly apply charcoal, depending on the theme of the artist.

Artists vary in their style, strokes, and subject matter. In this painting, it matters not the theme or subject matter, but on how well the artist apply the techniques, or even make his own technique. For some, they let the initial coating or the under painting dry first.

However, the new school would already venture on wet-to-wet painting. This is more difficult because considering the component of oil paint that does not dry instantly, applying paint on a wet layer could modify the preliminary design, or my end up revising the entire piece. Artists like Jan van Eyck are too bold to undertake this method.

This is very complex, if not, the intricate piece of work. The oil paint could dry up for years. Some artists would wait for several years before they could apply the second layer, then several years again before it will dry. Oil paints do not dry by evaporation but by oxidization.

Patience is the number one material in this painting. Nonetheless, the masterwork will definitely be a stunning success.

However, oil paintings dry by oxidization, they often leave the painting a hardened surface. That is why it is necessary to scrape its surface to remove the coarse and jagged exterior to give a smooth and leveled facade. To preserve the painting, apply varnish.

However, this medium can alter the color, or the translucency of the painting, so you may just want to have it varnish-free to preserve the original color and tint.