Contemporary Oil Painting Mediums
Our contemporary oil painting mediums are true to historic working properties, yet safer and more permanent.
Galkyd
24 hour dry time. Our fastest drying painting medium. Galkyd thins oil colors and increases transparency and gloss. When used in greater proportions with oil color, Galkyd will level brush-strokes, creating an enamel-like surface. Great for creating glazes, apply glazes thinly. Do not pour apply. Not a varnish. Learn more.
Galkyd is available in the following sizes: 4.2 oz, 8.5 oz, 16.9 oz, 33.8 oz. SDS
Galkyd Lite
36 hour dry time. Galkyd Lite supports all styles and phases of painting. Thins colors while retaining brushmarks. Great for thin glaze layers. Do not pour apply or use as a varnish. Learn more.
Galkyd Lite is available in the following sizes: 4.2 oz, 8.5 oz, 16.9 oz, 33.8 oz. SDS
Galkyd Gel
Our fastest drying gel. Created for artists that love the body of oils but want a quick dry time. Galkyd Gel speed-dries colors, maintains slip, and doesn’t become sticky. Galkyd Gel is useful in all stages of painting. Ideal for painters who want texture paint and glaze layers. Not a varnish. Learn more.
Galkyd Gel is available in the following size: 150 ml. SDS
Galkyd Lite Gel (Neo Megilp)
Galkyd Lite Gel (formerly called Neo Megilp) imparts a smooth, silky feel without turning fluid. Creates thin and textured glaze layers while holding brushmarks. Remains workable for hours and dries within 4-5 days to a shimmery finish. Not a varnish. Learn more.
Galkyd Lite Gel is available in the following size: 150 ml. SDS
Cold Wax Medium
Makes paint thick and matte. Made with 100% pure beeswax. Holds the thickest and sharpest marks, formulated to knife consistency. May be used to reduce gloss in other mediums or as a varnish. Learn more. 
Cold Wax Medium is available in the following sizes: 4 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz, 128 oz. SDS
Cold Wax uses
Painting Medium
As an oil painting medium, Cold Wax Medium can be used to make oil colors thicker and more matte. Its soft paste consistency can be thinned to brush consistency by dissolving in a small amount of Gamsol. The surface of paintings made with Cold Wax Medium will become only as hard as a beeswax candle. Please note, painters who are using more than 1/3 cold wax medium to 2/3 oil paints should paint on rigid supports (e.g. wood painting panel) or paintings may crack when moved. By mixing 1/2 Cold Wax Medium and 1/2 Galkyd Gel, painters can paint on flexible supports like stretched canvas.
Matting Agent
You may add Cold Wax Medium to Galkyd oil painting mediums or Drying Oil (linseed/Stand) to reduce gloss. Use up to 25% wax to reduce gloss in a painting medium without adversely affecting the strength and flexibility of the medium.
When adding wax to thicker mediums like Galkyd Gel, Neo Megilp or Solvent-Free Gel, blend directly with a palette knife.
When adding Cold Wax to a fluid medium, thin it first with Gamsol. On a separate palette, add a small amount of Gamsol into some Cold Wax and blend thoroughly with a palette knife until you achieve a very soft paste, nearly slurry consistency. This is your matting agent. Add the desired amount of Cold Wax slurry into a premeasured amount of fluid painting medium. Mix/shake thoroughly until you can hold the jar up to the light and it looks uniformly cloudy (no wax bits floating about).
Wax Varnish
Straight Cold Wax Medium can be applied to a dry painting as a removable, matte varnish. Once applied, the Cold Wax can be left to dry for a matte finish or gently buffed for a soft luster. Cold Wax Medium can also be used to reduce the gloss level of Gamvar Picture Varnish. Please see our Tips & Techniques article on this subject for more information.
