Extending Paint Potential with Mixing Mediums and Solvents
applied to the surface of a completely dry painting. This is because varnishes are very specially formulated for finishes only, as a consequence dry very hard or brittle, and tend to crack paint over time. Also for this reason, it is imperative that the painting be completely dry before application of varnishes. Many paintings take up to six months to dry completely, depending on the amount of layering, so give your painting at least a few months before attempting to varnish.
Solvents
Using solvents is crucial when oil painting. They are used, as water is used in other forms of painting, to dilute or dissolve oil paints and their mediums. Some solvents are more toxic and caustic than others, but all solvents should be used with caution as they are flammable and emit vapors or odors. You may also find that you may be allergic to a type of solvent, and some are suitable only for certain uses, so be sure to evaluate your choices well before using a particular solvent.
Turpentine, commonly found in hardware stores, is the most abrasive solvent available for artistic use, and tends to leave a gummy residue. It comes in different forms, so be sure to use only artist grade turpentine, otherwise you will find yourself working with a solvent containing water or impurities. Although turpentine is not good to use for cleaning brushes, it is the most effective solvent with damar resins found in some mediums and varnishes. Mineral spirits or paint thinner (petroleum distillates) are the best option for thinning paint and mediums, except for those containing damar. Mineral spirits are less likely to cause allergic reactions and work great for cleaning brushes. A by-product of citrus peel liquer, citrus thinner, is used as a substitute for mineral spirits and speeds up drying time. However, even more useful are odorless mineral spirits made from petroleum hydrocarbon, because of the reduction of harmful vapors found in regular paint thinner. Finally, Turpenoid is a very popular synthetic alternative to mineral spirits and is also odor free.
I recommend using Turpenoid or odorless spirits unless you will be using mediums containing damar. Again, all solvents are flammable and emit at least some harmful vapors so please use caution around solvents at all times. There are regulatory procedures for disposing of solvents, and you should never place rags or clothes soaked in solvents near a flame or in a clothes dryer. Please
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