What is the purpose of using drying oils in paint?

• A. Increase drying times
• B. Decrease drying times and thin the consistency (ex. linseed and poppy oil)
• C. Change color
• D. Remove moisture from brush

Answer: (B)

Drying oils serve as the binder and flow modifier in oil paints. They hold pigment particles together and form a durable film as they oxidize and cure. Because these oils can be mixed into the pigment to adjust viscosity, they thin the paint and make it easier to spread and manipulate on the surface. When you use a drying oil like linseed or poppy oil, you get a paint that handles smoothly and dries more consistently, with drying times that are appropriate for typical oil-painting processes. So the main purpose is to make the paint flow well and to help it dry, rather than to change color or remove moisture from the brush.