Oil painting represents painting at its most sincere: elegant, luxurious and the medium of the old masters. But it can be as contemporary as it can be classical, with the help from leading brands like Winsor & Newton, Michael Harding and Daler Rowney catering to both aspiring artists and professionals.. Valued for its viscosity and gloss, oil paint takes a longer time to dry than acrylic or watercolour, which means oil painters are practised at painting in layers. Oil paint isn't water-soluble so is used with white spirits, linseed oil and other minerals instead of water when mixing. Vary your impasto with different brush strokes, change the finish of your oil paint with the various mediums available, and enjoy the pleasure of painting with oils, whether you're a beginner or a professional.