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So with some looking into youtube gurus like BuyPainted, Les Bursley, and the like, I decided to give oil washes a go. And a peculiar thing has happened. The very first two tests model I did, the oil wash was practically perfectly slipping into the recesses, making clean, crisp, and solid lines.

Since then, a few things have changed. For one, the oil paint/pigment separates from the spirits in the palette. That's not a huge issue, but the problem is it is happening unusually fast, and without vigorous, frequent stirring, it ruins the wash.

Second, the wash is not as crisp and clean as it was on the original test model. Instead of drying a solid black, it's more of a deep gray, and sometimes requires several layers in order to get even that far. The recesses look more like they have been dirtied than black-lined. It's more like what you would get washing over satin varnish, really.

Third, the drying time is unusually fast. The gurus frequently refer to how long the drying time is for oils, and how it makes clean up and corrections such a wonderfully easy thing. My washes dry in a matter of minutes.

For the record, I am using Winsor and Newton Winton Lamp Black oil paint, and Winsor and Newton Artist's White Spirits. I gloss varnish with Liquitiex Gloss Medium and Varnish. They are the same materials I used when I had the original success with my 2 test models.

Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

How is the paint coming out of the tube looking? Is it the same consistency or did you get a bunch of thinner oil heavy stuff?

I'd also give it a try in a new mixing surface. Like some aluminium foil or something, just in case there's something in your normal mixing place.

oil paint can start to separate given time. that sounds like what might be happening, lower pigment and faster dry time because its not mixed properly. knead the tube prior to use. then instead of squirting out a blob, poke a toothpick into the end, swirl it around and draw it out covered in oil paint. hope that helps.