Oils and Acrylics

A cobalt drier in white spirit, to be added sparingly to oil colours to accelerate drying. Learn More

When Roberson Florentine Medium is mixed with oil colour, it is possible to paint freely on textile fabrics, which will stand up to subsequent hand-washing with soap and water. It may also be used when painting with oils on unprepared paper. Learn More

Roberson Impasto medium is a crack-resistant medium for impasto effects. It retains palette knife and brush strokes, giving the paint sharp, defined edges. It remains thick and doubles paint easily, drying to a matte finish. To retain colour strength, mix one part medium to one part oil colour.

Contains: Stand Oil, Damar Resin, Turpentine, Bleached Beeswax.

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Mix with tube oils or pigment to improve flow and translucency, resulting in a satin finish. Contains silica driers. May darken if cap is left off bottle; if this happens, replace the lid and leave overnight to restore the colour with no lasting ill effects.

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Mix with tube oil colours or pigment to improve flow and translucency. For thin glazes, fine details and smooth brushwork.

Contains: Turpentine, Damar Resin, Stand Oil, Cobalt Dryers.

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This is a traditional, high-oil "fat" painting medium, made using the highest quality materials. It will retain colour strength, is resistant to bleeding, has good flow release, is ideal for blending, and can be mixed with oil colours in any ratio. When dry, it creates an enamel-like surface.

Contains: Stand oil, Cold-pressed Linseed oil, Canada Balsam, Rectified Spirit of Turpentine, Beeswax, Driers.

Clean tools in white spirit. Do not use as a varnish, always mix with oil colour.

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Roberson Maroger Medium can be mixed in equal parts with oil colours to give a lasting brilliance and workable consistency to paints. It prevents sinking when using a wet-in-wet techniques.

Contains: Damar Resin, Gum Arabic, Linseed Oil

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From the Winsor & Newton website: This quick drying gloss medium offers a slight gel that brushes out smoothly and is ideal for artists looking for a non-drip effect when mixed with colour. Speeds drying (touch dry in 1-6 days depending on colour and film thickness). Ideal for glazing. Resists yellowing. Not suitable as a varnish or final coat. Learn More

From the Winsor & Newton website: The most fluid of the Liquin family of products, this quick drying, gloss medium is ideal for fine details, glazing and blending, or to produce a smooth surface picture. Speeds drying (touch dry in 1-6 days depending on colour and film thickness).Resists yellowing. Not suitable as a varnish or final coat.

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From the Winsor & Newton website: A quick drying, semi-gloss medium which thickens slowly and extends tube colour retaining crisp textures brush marks without any visible levelling. Speeds drying (touch dry in 1-6 days depending on colour and film thickness). Resists yellowing. Not suitable as a varnish or final coat.

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From the Winsor & Newton website: This reliable favourite is a general purpose semi gloss medium which speeds drying, improves flow and reduces brush stroke retention. Halves the drying time of conventional oil colour (touch dry in 1-6 days depending on colour and film thickness). Resists yellowing. Not suitable as a varnish or final coat. Learn More

This product does not contain turpentine, and can therefore be suitable for artists with allergies.

From the Schmincke website:

A neutral, nearly non-yellowing, painting and thinning medium for oil colours. Suitable for all painting techniques except for early layers on absorbent undergrounds (not lean enough); has a low impact on drying time. For dilution, use terpin (max. 30%). Dosage: 10 to max. 20%. Contains: alkyd and acrylic resin, mineral spirit.

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Slightly thinner than Alkyd Gel, Daler Rowney Alkyd Flow Medium increases the transparency and flow of oil colour, allowing paint to be brushed out more smoothly. Reduces drying time. Learn More

Fast drying, increases flow and transparency of oil colours. Paint Fast drying, increases flow transparency of oil colours. Learn More

A gel medium that increases the buttery character of oil colours and decreases their drying time. Useful for impasto techniques and knife application. Add to oils in a maximum ratio of 1:4. Contains alkyd resin.

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Highly siccative painting medium. Dries on the palette with 40 minutes. Use sparingly to prevent gloss.

From the Schmincke website:

Medium for oil colours rich in resin (“lean”). Accelerates drying; increases gloss and depth; makes the colour layers more resistant. Close immediately after use. Dosage: 10% to 20%.

Contains: aldehyde resin, mineral spirit, siccative, stand oil.

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A slow-drying medium that allows for extending the working period, wet-in-wet painting and blending techniques.

From the Schmincke website:

Medium for oil colours rich in oil. Retards drying; allows wet-in-wet painting; its high content of oil and resin improves the gloss and develops a smooth, elastic film. Dosage: 10% to 20% maximum.

ontains: sunflower oil, stand oil, mineral spirit, aldehyde resin

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From the Schmincke website:

Low-fat (“lean”) painting and thinning medium for oil colours. Recommended for thin grounds and to create transparent layers over gouache, tempera and acrylic paintings; thins without hardly affecting the drying time and gloss. Dosage: 10% to max. 20%

Contains: Safflower oil, natural and synthetic resins, mineral spirit.

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Schmincke Solvent-Free Transparent Gel Oil Medium improves gloss and transparency of oil colours. To be mixed in ratio 1:1. Starts to dry on palette within 30 mins. Alkyd resins/mineral spirit. Learn More

From the Schmincke website:

Jelly-like medium for accelerating the drying of oil colours. Preserves consistency and degree of gloss. Dosage: 10% to 30% maximum. Contains: Siccative, stand oil, resin solution, mineral spirit.

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Renaissance Materials by Dr. David Cranswick.

A thick glazing medium of the 'Old Masters'. Liquid Glass Mediums facilitate building up layers of transparent glaze. Gloss or Satin.

Contains: Damar resin, linseed oil and beeswax (for Satin medium only)

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From the Winsor & Newton website: This new medium slows drying & improves flow. Ideal for blending, glazing, stroke work, antiquing and staining. Improves transparency and depth. Dries to a durable gloss finish.

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A strontium-based siccative, milder than cobalt driers. Add sparingly to oil colours to accelerate drying, particularly recommended for pale colours. Learn More

Neo-Megilp Medium is produced by Gamblin. They say:

"Neo Megilp is a contemporary version of Maroger. This soft gel medium maintains the body of oil colours, increases transparency and flow, and imparts a smooth, silky feel. Neo Megilp dries at a moderate rate and remains workable for hours. Neo Megilp gives colours a satin gloss."

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* Only available online.* Cold Wax medium is made by Gamblin. They say:

"Cold Wax medium is made from naturally white, pure beeswax. Formulated to knife consistency, Cold Wax Medium makes oil colours thicker and more matte. Cold Wax Medium can be used to make Gamblin mediums and Gamvar more matte. It can also be applied alone as a matte varnish."

Please see below for more information.

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Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid is an oil painting medium created by the American company Gamblin. They write:

"Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid painting medium gives oil colours more flow and transparency. It has a moderately fast drying rate and increases gloss. Made from safflower oil and alkyd resin, Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid is non-toxic and contains no Gamsol or petroleum distillates. To ensure proper drying and prevent beading-up of paint layers, Solvent-Free Fluid should be used in moderation with oil colours – no more than 25% by volume. To avoid wrinkling, apply mixtures of Solvent-Free Fluid and oil colors thinly. For underpainting, we recommend adding Gamsol to Solvent-Free Fluid."

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Galkyd Light is produced by Gamblin. They write:

"Galkyd Lite thins oil colours and increases transparency and gloss. When used in moderation with oil colours, Galkyd Lite will retain brushstrokes. Galkyd Lite is more fluid and less glossy compared to Galkyd. Thin layers will be touch-dry in 24 to 30 hours."

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Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel is manufactured by the American company Gamblin. They write:

"Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel is the only solvent-free painting medium that supports a broad range of painting techniques with minimal compromise. Solvent-Free Gel gives colours more flow and transparency, yet holds the shape of your brushmark. Solvent-Free Gel has a moderately fast drying rate and increases gloss. Made from safflower oil and alkyd resin, Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel is non-toxic and contains no Gamsol or petroleum distillates. In comparison to other solvent-free mediums, Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel supports the broadest range of painting techniques with the least compromise across color, dry time, texture and mark-making. To ensure proper drying of paint layers, Solvent-Free Gel should be used in moderation with oil colors. No more than 25% by volume. To avoid wrinkling, apply mixtures of Solvent-Free Gel and oil colors thinly. To paint solvent-free, we recommend Gamblin Safflower Oil for cleaning brushes while you are working. After your painting session, brushes can be further cleaned using Gamsol and/or soap and water."

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Galkyd "G" Gel is produced by Gamblin. They say:

"Galkyd Gel is a stiffer gel compared to Neo Megilp that holds thicker, sharper brushmarks and dries more quickly. Galkyd Gel increases transparency of oil colours and creates impasto."

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