Oil painting is the process of
painting with
pigments with a medium of
drying oil as the
binder. Commonly used drying oils include
linseed oil,
poppy seed oil,
walnut oil, and
safflower oil. The choice of oil imparts a range of properties to the
oil paint, such as the amount of yellowing or drying time. Certain differences, depending on the oil, are also visible in the sheen of the paints. An artist might use several different oils in the same painting depending on specific pigments and effects desired. The paints themselves also develop a particular consistency depending on the medium. The oil may be boiled with a
resin, such as pine resin or
frankincense, to create a varnish prized for its body and gloss.