Mediums and Siccatives

From the Cranfield website:

A pereparation of pure beeswax in white spirit, this is used to achieve a soft sheen on your finished painting. It will retard drying, allowing you to achieve a range of effects.

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From the Winsor & Newton website: A slow drying, gloss medium which is ideal for fine detail work, glazing and smoothly blended areas with no brush marks. Reduces consistency and improves flow. Suitable for oiling out and enriching dull patches. Resistant to yellowing. 

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From the Cranfield website:

An almost transparent painting medium based on refined linseed oil and alumina. It is similar in consistency to Studio Oil Colours in tubes. It does not promote quick drying and may be used to extend oil colours. It can be used in large ratios where the desired effect is to increase yellowing and darkening of pale colours. It will not increase gloss.

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From the Cranfield website:

This free flowing, slightly thixotropic medium is alkyd based and will not increase gloss when added to oil colours. It is quick drying.

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From the Cranfield website:

This is a thixotropic alkyd medium designed to mix with oil colours, retaining the body of the paint. Spectragel is a gloss medium and is quick drying. It is a clear medium based on a synthetic resin that improves the weather resistance of oil colours; ideal for glazing and extending colours while retaining gloss and structure of paint.

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Lefranc Bourgeois are a paint manufacturer with a long history of supplying to artists since their beginnings in 1720.

From their website: The Harlem Duroziez drying medium increases the brilliance and transparency of glazes. It enables the build-up of layers over the course of half a day thanks to the rapid drying effect of thin layers. It is completely dry within three days.

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Lefranc Bourgeois are a paint manufacturer with a long history of supplying to artists since their beginnings in 1720.

From their website: The Flemish glazing medium enables artists to create glossy amber finishes in the style of the Flemish masters. It creates a transparent look. It also greatly enhances the brilliance of the oil. After half a day’s work, the colours can be layered over each other.

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LeFranc Bourgeois are a paint manufacturer with a long history of supplying to artists since their beginnings in 1720.

From their website: The slow-drying J.G. Vibert painting medium holds brush marks, creates a painterly satin film and prevents any sinking. It creates a uniform top film and enables artists to rework old colours for long periods of time.

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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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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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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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* 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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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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PM1 is a basic paint medium, designed to increase the flow of your oil paints and the gloss and transparency of your paint layers, adding to the depth and beauty of the your pigment colour. The inclusion of linseed stand oil in the recipe of this oil based medium prevents the “yellowing” of your paint film.

Recommendation: Add 10-20% to your oil colour as you require.

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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

Clove Bud Oil 60ml Learn More

MM0 Miracle Medium is a solvent-free, odourless, vegan, and plant-based Medium that serves as an alternative to traditional turpentine. This medium offers artists a natural and sustainable option for thinning oil paints, cleaning brushes, and glazing (see our MM2 Quick Dry Dammar Varnish Miracle Medium) without the use of harsh chemicals or toxic fumes. CAN EXTEND DRYING TIME. ADD 5-10% TO OIL COLOUR AS NEEDED. Oil paint artists use MM0 Miracle Medium in several ways: Artists may dip their brush in MM0 Miracle Medium before applying it to the paint to achieve the desired consistency. Clean brushes: MM0 Miracle Medium can be used to clean oil paint brushes. After painting, artists may rinse their brushes in MM0 Miracle Medium to remove excess paint and then wash the brushes with soap and water – Use as a painting medium to mix with oil paints, enhancing flow and transparency – Clean brushes by dipping them in the medium and wiping them clean. – Dilute or thin oil paints without the use of traditional solvents. – CAN EXTEND DRYING TIME. ADD 5-10% TO OIL COLOUR AS NEEDED. – Available in 100ml, 250ml and 1 Litre. Learn More

Introducing Michael Harding Solvent-Free Mediums: Miracle Medium™—crafted for artists seeking safer, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional solvents. Derived from renewable vegetable sources, our Miracle Medium offers an odourless formula, eliminating the need for solvents in your studio. With MH Miracle Medium, artists can enjoy a studio environment free from harmful effects associated with solvents. The Miracle Medium™ plant-based range not only ensures environmental sustainability but also creates a safer space for artists and their loved ones Learn More

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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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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