Rublev Impasto Medium

Oil Painting Mediums alter the working properties of paint. Although called “mediums,” mediums typically are composed of a binder and sometimes a solvent. Additives, on the other hand, consist of solvents, oils, waxes, resins, extender pigments and other substances that are used to change the consistency of paint. Oil painting additives (or as Natural Pigments prefers to call them “amendments”) are designed to alter the consistency of oil paint in novel ways, different from the varnishes that were introduced into common use during the 19th century. Painting amendments change the handling properties of paint, such as flow out and leveling; increase or decrease tackiness and drag; hasten or retard drying time, increase or decrease gloss, increase transparency, or other characteristics.

In painting, "medium" refers to both the type of paint and an amendment to alter the properties of paint. A painter can prepare a medium with solvents, resins, wax, and other substances in order to control the consistency of oil paint. Often the term "paint medium" refers to the fluid that carries pigments, but this is more properly called a "vehicle," which is typically composed of a solid binder and a solvent or diluent. An example of an artist paint vehicle is watercolor, where gum arabic is the binder and water the diluent or vehicle.

Oil paint is a slow-drying paint consisting of pigment particles suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent, such as turpentine or mineral spirits (white spirits), and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the dried film. In this article, you will find complete descriptions of oil painting mediums or additives (or as we prefer to call them "amendments") made by Natural Pigments. These amendments are designed to alter the consistency of oil paint in novel ways, different from the varnishes that were introduced into common use during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Painting mediums can change the handling properties of paint, such as flow out and leveling; increase or decrease tackiness and drag; hasten or retard drying time, increase or decrease gloss, increase transparency, or other characteristics.

*Drying Time: 1 for slowest and 5 fastest. Drying time is the amount of time it takes for oil paint to be dry to the touch after application. The paint, however, remains vulnerable to damage from wiping or brushing. As oil paint dries, its solid components adhere to each other, a process called 'curing'. When fully cured, you can apply another layer of paint without fear of harm, wrinkling or cracking. For example, oil paint may dry within 6–8 hours, but cure in 3–7 days.

Notes:
1 Underpainting Transparent Base dries very quickly to a matte surface making it ideally suited for underpainting.