How to use Mediums in Oil Painting and the "Fat over lean" Rule

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  • Опубліковано 27 лип 2024
  • In this video I try to answer one of the questions I get asked the most frequently : mediums ! I give you recipes here, but I also try to give a complete explanation on what mediums do, starting with the fat over lean principle, following with a few useful recipes to make your own medium and finally techniques on how to use it.
    00:37 The "fat over lean" rule ------------ 04:07 What medium to use (recipes) ------------ 09:09 How to use a medium
    ➡ Thank you for supporting me on Patreon!
    / florentfarges
    Thanks for watching

КОМЕНТАРІ • 418

  • @mymatemartin
    @mymatemartin 8 років тому +130

    I am absolutely new to understanding oil and medium techniques. I found this video very easy informative and very easy to follow. Thank you.

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  8 років тому +3

      Thank you very much !

    • @cocostewart389
      @cocostewart389 7 років тому

      Martin Craig

    • @kosur7247
      @kosur7247 7 років тому

      Florent Farges - arts ......can we use mustard oil instead of linseed oil to make oil paints more thin ........

  • @jaybrown2618
    @jaybrown2618 2 роки тому +1

    I started oil painting over 35 years ago. But haven't lifted a brush since. Now retired I am finding these tutorials extremely helpful to refresh my memory and learn techniques that I have never tried. Thx Florent

  • @lAcedUpLiss
    @lAcedUpLiss 7 років тому +72

    This is the best explanation for the fat over lean rule. Thank you!

  • @memeb5716
    @memeb5716 3 роки тому +3

    The science of art and the artistic side of science, loved this video!

  • @anthonypc1
    @anthonypc1 4 роки тому +2

    This explanation was the most helpful I've seen.
    I love to understand the specific explanations behind rules so I'm not just dependent on following them out of ignorance.

  • @robertjschroff6307
    @robertjschroff6307 3 роки тому +1

    After 5 years it is still a great video. :) Thanks for that.

  • @tylererickson4561
    @tylererickson4561 2 роки тому +1

    Finally. A clear, detailed, and specific video on how to properly use medium and solvents. Thank you for not being vague like all the other tutorialsI I’ve found. Very informative my guy thanks again

  • @sammariofan
    @sammariofan 8 років тому +22

    You're amazing for making these informative videos! Thank you so much

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  8 років тому +4

      +Samescape Thank you very much ! Your support is greatly appreciated

  • @tvtvvtvt8017
    @tvtvvtvt8017 Рік тому

    This was the absolute best description I've seen yet and I've been looking around for a while. I especially liked the following;
    Lean (first layer(s)): 1 part oil: 2 parts solvent
    Next Layer: 1:1 oil:solvent
    Fat (final layers): 2 parts oil: 1 part solvent

  • @christine1439
    @christine1439 4 роки тому

    This is the video I have been looking for! Thank you thank you thank you! I’ve watched sO much content and NONE of it was able to explain this as clearly as you have! Thank you so much!

  • @zzzsleepless6834
    @zzzsleepless6834 5 років тому +123

    I feel like having chemistry class more than art😂

    • @greysky1252
      @greysky1252 4 роки тому +5

      its what we need to hear tho.

    • @sharonbarrett2104
      @sharonbarrett2104 3 роки тому +1

      This is true, but you need to know which mediums dry slow or fast. You cant put fast drying over slow, paint will buckle and your work will be ruined.

    • @robertjschroff6307
      @robertjschroff6307 3 роки тому

      Well, because this video dedicated to the understanding of the paint and its mediums, allow you to create long life valuable, quality painting, rather to get trouble by the time, like cracking darkening etc. It is pretty much a MUST to know if you want to paint artist grade painting in oil, otherwise you can be a good hobbyist with less necessary knowledge.

  • @smaugholmes2136
    @smaugholmes2136 7 років тому +1

    finally someone who explained everything so well and your voice and accent are beautiful

  • @stonewolfsong779
    @stonewolfsong779 4 роки тому

    I’m so glad I came across this video. Finally, a clear explanation of mediums and what fat over lean means. Thank you!

  • @thebookreader287
    @thebookreader287 7 років тому +5

    finally found a tutorial that is easily digestible. thank you. :)

  • @marthansartstudioandgaller3724
    @marthansartstudioandgaller3724 7 років тому

    Thank you. I watched while I tried to figure out my painting. You were very helpful.

  • @giovannisiano574
    @giovannisiano574 3 роки тому

    A very complete scientific but easy to understand guide! So far the best I got...

  • @luistrevino3691
    @luistrevino3691 8 років тому +3

    you are the very frist one that i find on internet that explain just exactly what i want to know and in what consists the REAL techniques behind, I read about this before in other pages, but you explained better faster understandable in a few time just in one small video ! THANK YOU :)

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  8 років тому

      Thank you very much ! I guess I had a hard time collecting scattered information before so I try my best to make it as clear as possible now.

  • @shathabatayneh3744
    @shathabatayneh3744 5 років тому

    I have this book, and I’m so happy to see this video... thank you for sharing.

  • @beckyholt
    @beckyholt 9 років тому +37

    How wonderful it was to come across this stunning and informative tutorial on oil paint mediums. I challenge even the most advanced painters to not to come away with admiration. A simple, clear and informative presentation. Thank you so much for taking the time to produce and share this gem of a video. Subscribed and liked.

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  9 років тому

      beckyholt Thank you so much, I am glad I earned your subscribtion and very happy if it was helpful to you !

  • @bernieborsten32
    @bernieborsten32 6 років тому

    Stunning good explicit video. Thank you for sharing

  • @gerardavenue7547
    @gerardavenue7547 7 років тому

    Excellent love the way you explain, I will just start to oil paint and looking for good advices, this really encourage new painters, thank you so much.

  • @sundarammadduri4442
    @sundarammadduri4442 7 років тому

    Thanks, you have clearly explained the various uses of mediums and how to use them

  • @studiolpcreate
    @studiolpcreate 3 роки тому

    Really well explained video. I particularly like the suggestion of using different mediums with varying oil content to deal with the fat over lean rule. Keep up the great work! 👏

  • @lameesmmi6652
    @lameesmmi6652 7 років тому

    this is the best video for explaining mediums ! thank you

  • @angusyoung9594
    @angusyoung9594 8 років тому +3

    Great videos, very informative.

  • @erinchatham1428
    @erinchatham1428 3 роки тому

    This helped explain so many of my unanswered questions about mediums, thank you thank you!

  • @pauloaa11
    @pauloaa11 8 років тому

    Excellent tutorial. Very clear and informative.

  • @jegr3398
    @jegr3398 2 роки тому

    This is the best explanation of mediums I've found

  • @angelasanchez4413
    @angelasanchez4413 4 роки тому +1

    VERY helpful. I am a self taught abstract Acrylic artist that is really confused. Lol. This is the best information I have gotten so far! I am going to see if you have more instructional videos

  • @coopergurl90
    @coopergurl90 7 років тому

    This was very very helpful and informative for a beginner like me! Thank you and bless you!

  • @jessewaughcom
    @jessewaughcom 8 років тому

    Thank you for the best videos and your paintings are so good!! Am going to watch them all.

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  8 років тому +1

      +Jesse Waugh, I thank you for the support and interest you show to my work. Greatly appreciated !

  • @dagoelius
    @dagoelius 7 років тому

    Thankyou Florent for this video. Very helpful.

  • @rosinniatazar9757
    @rosinniatazar9757 8 років тому +1

    I'm digging this page so much. Everything is well-explained. Thanks.

  • @hadeelabdullah220
    @hadeelabdullah220 8 років тому +3

    you explain everything clearly and at the point ! thank you for all the information .if you can do a video about glazing that would be great

  • @arteyciencia2329
    @arteyciencia2329 9 років тому +5

    amazing thanks for sharing the knowledge , one of the best videos explaining the fat over lean rule

  • @fennycruz6714
    @fennycruz6714 Рік тому

    Thank you... you gave a very practical use of ratio of medium to oil paints. Very useful. It took out the guess work.

  • @reakelly9795
    @reakelly9795 7 років тому

    Super helpful, Florent. I love your indepth descriptions and watchouts about excess. Thank you. I have subscribed and I look forward to learning more from you. Toronto-based fine artist, working in oil, encaustic and at times, acrylic. Merci beaucoup.

  • @bobbytirlea
    @bobbytirlea 4 роки тому

    Superb explanation and teaching! Thank you!

  • @Bumper55
    @Bumper55 4 роки тому

    This video was very interesting and informative. It was just what I wanted to know. Thank you.

  • @aobarts
    @aobarts 6 років тому

    Thank you very much! Amazing video as always! I reaaaally appreciate your help! Thanks! Have a great day

  • @eunsamlee2575
    @eunsamlee2575 3 роки тому

    I always learn new things from your videos. Thanks a lot!

  • @venetiancat
    @venetiancat 6 років тому

    Thanks so much for this very well made, helpful and informative video. They did NOT teach us these things in art school! Thanks to artists like you, I can educate myself here on UA-cam. Incidentally, your English is perfect. :)

  • @annachmiel6338
    @annachmiel6338 8 років тому +1

    Simple and very professional at the same time

  • @reneejaspers5322
    @reneejaspers5322 5 років тому

    Thank you for a good concise tutorial.

  • @thanekaivels312
    @thanekaivels312 4 роки тому

    wonderful explanation loved it !

  • @adamkennedy7036
    @adamkennedy7036 8 років тому +3

    I always get a notification on exactly what I am struggling with as far as my painting, right when I need it

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  8 років тому +1

      +Adam Kennedy This is great, I am very happy about it ! Thanks for watching :)

    • @adamkennedy7036
      @adamkennedy7036 8 років тому

      No problem at all I enjoy being able to talk to and see other artists

  • @jessejzetteart5180
    @jessejzetteart5180 6 років тому

    This is so helpful, Thank you!

  • @lindsaypatterson3547
    @lindsaypatterson3547 Рік тому

    You answered all my questions thank you

  • @jackiemiami6107
    @jackiemiami6107 6 років тому

    Thank you for the tutorial. I learned a lot.

  • @mosespray4510
    @mosespray4510 3 роки тому

    A very helpful video. Thank you!

  • @JessicaJolicoeur
    @JessicaJolicoeur 7 років тому

    This is a great video with great advice. I am quite adept at acrylic and water color painting which I enjoy for the end result and the quick drying time but I really want to move my painting into a more mature realm.
    Oil painting has a quality that is very desirable to me and I have a little bit of experience with it but before I invest in mediums and solvents I needed to understand the relationship to mediums, solvents and oil pigments.
    You explained this very well and I was able to take down some notes while I watched.
    Great video, thank you.

  • @1Bustedfoot
    @1Bustedfoot 6 років тому

    Really really well explained, I feel like i can confidently explain to someone else now.... I don't need to but that's the test!

  • @mya25025
    @mya25025 6 років тому

    Best explanation I've ever seen

  • @joshglover6560
    @joshglover6560 7 років тому

    Great video it's nice to have some well explained and easy to understand advice on this subject, thanks for sharing!

  • @claraedouwesdekker6389
    @claraedouwesdekker6389 7 років тому

    Great tutorial! Thank you!!

  • @valzerna
    @valzerna 7 років тому

    by far the best video about mediums on youtube!

  • @TrevorWaugh
    @TrevorWaugh 8 років тому

    Very informative thank you Florent Farges !!!

  • @ToonNagtegaal
    @ToonNagtegaal 5 років тому

    Great explanation, thank you very much👍🏻

  • @andreaserrano6924
    @andreaserrano6924 6 років тому +1

    Thank you! love your videos!

  • @oilpaintingforbeginners
    @oilpaintingforbeginners 2 роки тому

    Yea! I get headaches from liquin alkyd too. I use the walnut alkyd more now. But always ventilating. Thank you for the video Florent.

  • @nelidagarcia7412
    @nelidagarcia7412 8 років тому +1

    Another excellent video! Merci!

  • @basi0594
    @basi0594 3 роки тому +2

    To bardzo dobry poradnik, konkretny rzeczowy i zrozumiały:-)

  • @lucvrhovnik
    @lucvrhovnik 9 років тому +1

    Thank you, you have really helped me :)

  • @kennethkalaukoa8892
    @kennethkalaukoa8892 4 роки тому

    Thanks for sharing the valuable information! Aloha

  • @norituk9824
    @norituk9824 2 роки тому

    Thanks for this video. There's a lot of advice out there but it's not always useful or to the point, but this video was both useful and to the point.

  • @joelmiller731
    @joelmiller731 7 років тому +1

    thank you so much! this explained it so well

  • @Drmehta183
    @Drmehta183 8 років тому

    Very Nice and Excellent tutorial. Very clear and informative. Thank you very much

  • @lizaya6187
    @lizaya6187 9 років тому +1

    Very instructive and explicit! I've just subscribed to your priceless videos. Thanks.

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  9 років тому

      ***** Thank you very much Liz ! It's really appreciated !

  • @gopicamanethe3600
    @gopicamanethe3600 5 років тому

    Very useful video..thank you

  • @alynneloup7707
    @alynneloup7707 6 років тому

    Mahalo, best explanations ever.!!! I am using walnut oil and medium for first time, not sure about it yet.

  • @nana.naghmana9
    @nana.naghmana9 6 років тому

    Very nice...
    Thanks for many reasons.
    Great Vedio.

  • @balzac617
    @balzac617 5 років тому

    Excellent video

  • @t.bunker2511
    @t.bunker2511 6 років тому +1

    I read good reviews about using Lavender Spike oil instead of linseed oil, turpentine or "odorless solvent", and I think it's made in France.
    I'm planning on trying water-miscible oil paints this Spring. They recommend using the modified linseed medium for thinning painting, not water. You can even use them with limited amounts of traditional linseed oil paints and stand oil, and they'll still clean up in soap and water. Vegetable oil or baby oil can also be used in cleaning brushes instead of mineral spirits before using soap and water with both traditional linseed oil paints and WMO oil paints.

  • @stevestevelinkbtinternetcom
    @stevestevelinkbtinternetcom 2 роки тому

    Very informative video. As a hobby painter, I use only linseed oil as a thinning medium as I don’t like spirits odours for my health. I clean brushes with thinner in a pot with a lid and finish off with bevy oil.

  • @bio-plasmictoad5311
    @bio-plasmictoad5311 5 років тому

    Nicely explained, some make it seem like rocket science when it don't need to be that complicated.

  • @genevieveplowman6845
    @genevieveplowman6845 7 років тому

    Thank you so much you explianed it very good.

  • @airamona
    @airamona 8 років тому

    Thanks for the free lessons

  • @SomethingImpromptu
    @SomethingImpromptu 4 місяці тому

    Great info, well-delivered!
    Just wanted to put it out there, since it didn’t sound like you were familiar with it (unless you just didn’t count it as a solvent-free alkyd medium because it does additionally contain an oil ingredient), but Gamblin’s “solvent-free fluid” medium, which is a mixture of alkyd & safflower oil, is actually the first oil painting medium I decided to try (they also sell it in tubes of a thicker gel consistency), because after some research it sounded like it would really suit my needs: it‘s relatively quick-drying, VOC/solvent-free… It probably isn’t for you, because it does dry quite glossy, but it seems to work really well from my limited experience so far. Granted, I haven’t tried many other oils OR alkyd mediums, so I have little to compare it to. But as someone who is trying to stick to solvent-free for the most part (at least until I have a better studio space to work in), it’s been a really nice material to start off with while I learn the basics. Maybe I’ll wind up preferring something else in the long-term, but I think it was a good option. I just picked up some spike oil as a solvent alternative for underpaintings, & at least where I live that was considerably more expensive. But yeah, I’d be curious to hear how the walnut oil based solvent-free medium you mentioned compared with this safflower+alkyd solvent-free medium from someone who has tried both. It seems like a little goes a long way with this stuff- just a tiny bit on a palette knife can significantly change the consistency of neat paint, & IIRC you’re definitely not supposed to use more than about 25% medium to 75% paint because it’ll become a dilute fluid mess & risk drying problems beyond that point (from my brief experience I’d say 20% is already a generous maximum- you really don’t need that much)…
    I will say that the fat over lean rule seems very simple when I’m just thinking about a simple schema where you’re using a solvent & an oil… Like, obviously, the leanest solvent layer first, then less solvent, then near paint, then paint you add oil to, & so on up to the fattiest oil layer is straight-forward enough… But when you start getting into these mediums that just say “moderate drying time” or stuff like that, or mediums that have some oil in them, but also other stuff, it starts to raise more questions for me. Or for example, if you do some painting with neat paint (which I know has linseed oil in it) but you also use a relatively “quick-drying” oil, then is the quick-drying oil considered more lean, even though you’re technically adding more oil, because it’ll dry faster than the linseed oil in the paint, or does it depend on how thickly you’re painting each layer (because a thicker layer of the quick-drying oil might still dry slower than a thin layer of paint with the small amount of linseed oil that’s in it), or does adding any amount of oil tend to outweigh whatever difference in polymerization-time there may be between the quicker-drying oil & linseed oil?.. It seems like there are quite a few ins & outs that I’ll have to learn. But for now I think sticking with the medium I have & the spike oil should make for a nice, relatively simple, quick-drying, solvent-free painting process, at least while I’m learning & still focused more on acrylic & watercolor.

  • @yutzuwang3035
    @yutzuwang3035 7 років тому +2

    This video is very easy to understand, and it is not as boring as reading textbook. Thank you for making this!

  • @radinka92
    @radinka92 9 років тому

    This tutorial is an amazing introduction to mediums and the best source of information my beginner self found. Thank you very much!

  • @meredithraynor295
    @meredithraynor295 6 років тому

    So enlighting thank you

  • @catharinegriffin2507
    @catharinegriffin2507 3 роки тому

    very helpful, thank you.

  • @PeriodinstrumentfaN
    @PeriodinstrumentfaN 6 років тому

    Ben voilà, j'ai retrouvé votre vidéo !!! pas la peine de répondre à ma question posée y a quelques jours !!! Merci, Florent !!! ^_^

  • @lwitt8448
    @lwitt8448 8 років тому +1

    Very informative video, thank you! I just subbed!

  • @renosmaster
    @renosmaster 8 років тому

    Great tutorial .. thank you . I am a fan .

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  8 років тому

      +Kevin McGregor Thanks a lot Kevin ! Have fun painting !

  • @josievidal8464
    @josievidal8464 8 років тому +2

    so helpful!!!

  • @shealeighhanna1233
    @shealeighhanna1233 3 роки тому

    Now THIS was helpful. I feel like il painting is much less of a mystery now.

  • @surajpandey7186
    @surajpandey7186 6 років тому

    thanks for uploading

  • @gennydavidsonsmith85
    @gennydavidsonsmith85 3 роки тому

    Excellent!

  • @anjanaanu2939
    @anjanaanu2939 8 років тому

    Thnks fr d lesson! Useful

  • @Mo_373
    @Mo_373 5 років тому +1

    Wow very helpful 🎨🤔🤔👏👏

  • @playalot86
    @playalot86 9 років тому +2

    Simply fantastic!

  • @daftasabrush6919
    @daftasabrush6919 8 років тому +3

    As both an Industrial Chemist AND a painter... this is by far the best explanation for this topic that I have ever found.... First class tutorial!!!!!! Many thanks.
    Whats with the 5 inverted thumbs?? :o(((
    C.

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  8 років тому

      +Daftasabrush Thanks ! I am honored that a chemist approved this video ! I'm glad I didn't make any blunder... ; )

    • @daftasabrush6919
      @daftasabrush6919 8 років тому

      It simply couldn't be any better man... thanks again...

  • @crystalrassifineart
    @crystalrassifineart 2 роки тому

    I can’t use turps either. So I only use oils as my medium. Less oil for the bottom layer, and more oil as you add layers. Like you said. The first layer dries to the touch in about 24 hours. The layer can take up to 1 week but not usually that long. I’m okay with that because I just work on a few paintings at a time so that while one dries, I work on the other. Very efficient 😊
    And if you haven’t found water based oils yet, you can get them online. They work like acrylic sort of. I’m not sure what I think of them yet.

  • @patricialintner8284
    @patricialintner8284 7 років тому +1

    Thank you so much for doing this video! I have just started using the water miscable oil by Winsor & Newton. Would these recipes also apply to the water miscable oils?

  • @RapidBlindfolds
    @RapidBlindfolds 4 місяці тому

    If you haven’t already, would you consider making a video showing the different mediums in action? Like say if you were to redo a certain small demo painting but each time with different mediums so we can see the different effect that it produces

  • @bumpty9830
    @bumpty9830 6 років тому

    Excellent.

  • @pixiepaganmoon5897
    @pixiepaganmoon5897 7 років тому

    Really helpful 🙏

  • @Blacksheepneversleepglobal
    @Blacksheepneversleepglobal 9 років тому +3

    wonderful tube thank you info monster. great !

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  9 років тому +1

      BLACKSHEEPNEVERSLEEP Thank you very much, glad you liked it !

    • @Kalembastudioart
      @Kalembastudioart 9 років тому +2

      Florent Farges - arts Thank you for your expert take on the fat over lean rule, the only thing I would criticize if I am to be honest is the use of danmar varnish as a medium. When one removes the top layer of varnish in years to come the layers of paint with varnish in them as a medium will also be removed. I got this advice from conservators in the city I live in, they take care of the museum and art gallery and state library, they restore the 200 year old paintings. Apart from that I loved the video and subscribed!

    • @FlorentFargesarts
      @FlorentFargesarts  9 років тому +1

      Kalembastudio Thanks a lot ! This never occured to me, I guess it's hard to think as a conservator when you paint... To be honest, I added this recipe to give the viewers more choice and let them know that it is another option... but I don't use varnish in my mediums anymore . I recommand the first, simple medium with standoil, but I don't know everything, for sure. What do you generally use as a medium, Kalembastudio ?

    • @Kalembastudioart
      @Kalembastudioart 9 років тому +2

      Florent Farges - arts At the moment I use a mix of linseed oil and odourless turpentine. The ratio I use at the start is 60% Odourless turpentine & 40 % linseed oil, midway through the painting I use 40% odourless turpentine & 60% linseed oil, during the final stages I use 20% odourless turpentine & 80% linseed oil. Stand oil is also good to use in place of linseed oil. People need to make sure they use the permanent colours of a companies range!

  • @amysbees6686
    @amysbees6686 6 років тому +1

    Thank you for some VERY helpful and informative videos! Let me ask you: do you find that your choice of medium is in any way determined by what your support/substrate is? I'm seriously considering eventually working on lead oil primed linen (I work on titanium white acrylic "gesso" on cotton duck canvas).