Recommended Painting Mediums

Refined Linseed Oil

Mixed with an equal part of Mineral Spirits, Refined Linseed Oil makes for an excellent general painting medium, adding flow to stiff paint.


 

Gamblin Refined Linseed Oil

Gamblin Refined Linseed Oil

Gamblin’s Refined Linseed Oil is pressed from American flax seeds and refined using an alkalai process. This low acid oil is about as light and pure as it gets. Use linseed oil to thin oil colors and increase their brilliance and transparency.


Gamblin Refined Linseed Oil


 

Stand Oil

When combined with the right mix of turpentine and damar varnish, this mixture becomes Mayer’s Medium, which is one of my favorite for oil painting.


 

Gamblin Stand Oil

Gamblin Stand Oil

Gamblin’s Stand Oil, manufactured by heating a pure refined linseed oil, is an oil that wets pigments well. Stand oil is linseed oil that has been polymerized by heating. Thicker than cold pressed or alkalai refined oils. Has almost no tendency to yellow. – Stand Oil


Gamblin Stand Oil


 

Galkyd

I prefer Galkyd for glazing techniques, when I’m not using a traditional medium, or need a fast-drying alkyd alternative.


 

Gamblin Galkyd Mediums

Gamblin Galkyd Mediums

Gamblin offers a great range of contemporary mediums. Using today’s safer materials, they recreate the properties of traditional mediums. – Galkyd Slow Drying


Gamblin Galkyd Mediums


 

Liquin Original

While I don’t use this often, when I need a fast-drying alkyd based medium, this works well. I’ve heard that it will discolor if you use too much medium in your pigment, but I have not seen that first hand. When I use this it is typically in “Duck Sauce” fashion (1/2 Liquin Original and 1/2 Mineral Spirits). That makes for a very fast, slippery medium for quick plein air painting.


 

Winsor & Newton Liquin Mediums

Winsor & Newton Liquin Mediums

Durable, non-yellowing medium for thinning oil and alkyd colors, and for speeding drying time. Excellent for glazing and producing fine detail. – Liquin Original


Winsor & Newton Liquin Mediums