Gamblin Artists Colors
Working with Low Viscosity Mediums


Low viscosity increases fluidity. Monet used a low viscosity medium to make crisp impasto surfaces. The purpose of his oil/solvent medium was only to adjust viscosity and manage dry time. He used approximately 90% oil colors and 10% painting medium.
MEDIUM COHESION / SLOW DRY

The oldest form of painting medium is made from mixture of Solvent and a drying oil, such as Poppy Oil or Linseed Oil.
  • Adding a drying oil makes paint feel more slippery and easy to brush.
  • A medium containing more oil than solvent makes the paints glossier.
  • A medium containing more solvent makes oil colors look more matte. Cezanne, for example, used a medium containing more solvent.
  • Solvent is not a binder so it should be used sparingly as a medium.
  • Alkyd resin painting mediums add binder (increases adhesion) and speed up drying.

MEDIUM COHESION / FAST DRY

Galkyd Lite is a good all round painting medium because it is the easiest to adjust.
  • Its viscosity is the same as the "Ralph Mayer Medium:" 1/3 linseed oil + 1/3 turpentine + 1/3 dammar varnish.
  • Increase its "slip" by adding oil.
  • Decrease its sticky feeling by adding a little solvent.
  • Slow the drying time by adding small amounts of Poppy Oil.

LOW COHESION / SLOW DRY

Galkyd Slow Dry keeps the surface open all day. Slow drying painting mediums are useful for painters blending colors, such as portrait painters who need more time to blend flesh tones or abstract painters who may need more time to complete a color gradation.

Caution: Gamblin does not recommend painters modify Galkyd Slow Dry.

 
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Gamblin Artists Colors Co. PO Box 15009 Portland, OR 97293 USA
Telephone: 503.235.1945  Fax: 503.235.1946