Painting glazes allow the eye to mix the various layers of paint so that the colour appears deeper and richer. The light reflects the multiple colours of the glazes rather than one ‘premixed’ colour applied in one layer. Glazing also allows the artist to create a more luminous and ‘glowing’ appearance to their painting.

You can use transparent of opaque paints for oil glazing but it is essential that the paint is applied in thin layers. The opacity or transparency of the paint will create a different effect in the painting so it is important to experiment with the paint colours before applying them to your painting.

Paints can also be mixed with mediums such as liquin which will modify the consistency and the drying time of each layer. Soft brushes are best for beginners as they are better for disguising brush strokes if you are looking for a smooth finish.

You can use oil glazes on any surface you would use for any oil painting, but the smoother the surface, the smoother the finish of your painting.

Single pigment colours are the best to use for oil glazing as they help maintain the saturation of each hue and avoid a muddying effect as the layers are added. Using a colour wheel or your knowledge of colour theory will help you decide which colours to add to achieve the tone or value of the hue you are creating. For example, if you hope to achieve a lime green colour, you would add multiple layers of yellow over blue until you achieve the hue you desire.

Creating a glazing chart will help you to visualise the colours created when applying one glaze over another.