Fluid Effect Required that Won't Tack Up Too Quick

[Joe Macclesfield]

I've made a preparatory drawing for a flower still life (see attachment), composed after the manner of Ambrosius Bosschaert (1573-1621). The flowers are selected individually (drawn by me from photographs) and composed around a central axis drawn with a straight edge in the centre of the picture plane. The intended painting will be 8"x10". The background is painted first. As you can see that means cutting-in around intricate shapes. I've worked in watercolour in the past. I want to do this in oils. To obtain the fluid effect required from tube colour entails thinning somewhat. This could be done by the use of turpentine alone or a lean medium (such as a stand oil/linseed oil and turpentine mix). You'll understand I'd like the paint to remain fluid and workable while painting this background---without it tacking up too quick.

Any recommendations folks?

 

[Hermes2020]

Poppy oil increases the fluidity of oil paints and dries more slowly than linseed oil. It yellows less than linseed oil. Winsor & Newton and Daler Rowney both have excellent poppy oil mediums.