Oil paint is a type of slow-drying
paint that consists of particles of
pigment suspended in a
drying oil, commonly
linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as
turpentine or
white spirit, and
varnish may be added to increase the
glossiness of the dried oil paint film. Oil paints have been used in Europe since the 12th century for simple decoration, but were not widely adopted as an artistic medium until the early 15th century. Common modern applications of oil paint are in finishing and protection of
wood in
buildings and exposed metal structures such as ships and bridges. Its hard-wearing properties and luminous colors make it desirable for both
interior and exterior use on wood and metal. Due to its slow-drying properties, it has recently been used in
paint-on-glass animation. Thickness of coat has considerable bearing on time required for drying: thin coats of oil paint dry relatively quickly.