My DH got a video about oil painting and they used ?liquid white? Is this what I'm suppose to be using to thin out the oil paints? But what about my darker colors? I've been using an additive that adds gloss and accelarates drying to thin out my oil paints.

Oh, I'm using my latest painting as a profile picture here: http://www.brickfish.com/Flackahamm/ Getting close to being done with it...

With oils, you layer in stages. The first layer should be paint and turpentine. Depending on how many layers you intend, work your way to just oil paint. After your layer of just oil paint, then start cutting the paint with linseed oil, and this will create depth and glazes.

My understanding is that liquid white is a Bob Ross product, and not necessarily used by outside of those following Ross' techniques. It is likely a proprietary product.

Paint and turpentine? How much? Enough to make the first layer smooth? What consistancy should I look for? And how many layers do most people have? Cutting paint with linseed oil? Hmmm, I'll have to look that up. I think that's what I've been using to thin my paints in the first place. :duh

Yeah, his video was from Bob Ross. I haven't watched it or read any books. I'm one to paint and ask questions later when my way doesn't work. :lol

Using the turpentine and linseed oil is a basic rule called "fat over lean" (http://painting.about.com/cs/oils/a/fatoverlean.htm). Here (http://www.artists.ca/FCA-7c-07.html) is an link to explain. You can also find some good articles about painting at http://www.wetcanvas.com/

Awesome! :thumb Thank you so much Melissa! I've printed out those articles for future reference. Looking forward to checking out wetcanvas, also.