How Alkyds are used in Oil Painting
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| Types of Liquins for Oil Colors |
Alkyds are designed for glazing techniques as the medium adds translucency and accelerates drying of oil paints. The drying rate of tradition oils can be speeded up to fifty percent, although factors such as the thickness of the paint and environmental factors will come into play. But an oil painting that becomes touch dry in 5 – 12 days will become touch dry in 2 -6 days with the addition of alkyd mediums. This may help the artist choose whether to use alkyd medium or oil medium in a painting. Or the artist may opt for watermixable oils.
Alkyds also leave a semi-matt finish that is in contrast to the glossy finish that different oil mediums such as linseed oil leaves. Having said this, there are is array of alkyd mediums on the market. What are they all for?
How to Use Alkyd Mediums
Although alkyds mediums can be added to traditional oil paints that possess linseed as its carrier, I personally would never use both alkyd medium with an oily medium in a painting. This is because of the two conflicting drying rates of alkyd (fast) and oil (slow). If one area of the painting has more alkyd medium and another has a lot of linseed oil, then conflicting drying rates will be set up and cracking of the paint layer could result. Another no-no is mixing varnish with an alkyd or an oil medium, as some artists do. Varnish is designed for just that, a varnish, not a medium. With this, let’s take look at the different types of alkyd mediums that are available on the market.
Liquin Also Known as Liquin Original
Liquin is a general-purpose alkyd medium that offers a semi-gloss finish to the oil paint. Of course, it will accelerate the paint’s drying time. It is ideal for glazing techniques and detailed work as it improves flow and reduces brushstrokes. It also doesn’t yellow as some oils tend to do. Although it dries to a pleasing, hard enamel, don’t be tempted to use it as a varnish.
Liquin Fine Detail Medium
Also known as ‘alkyd flow medium,’ this is the most fluid of the alkyds. This medium is designed for the application of high detail and fine glazes as it is lighter in consistency and promotes more flow in the paint. It is non-yellowing and dries to a hard, enamel-like, even surface, ideal for smooth effects.
Liquin Light Gel Medium
This alkyd medium is similar to Liquin fine detail medium, but leaves a gloss finish, like linseed oil. Again, this medium would be ideal for detail, glazing, and adding flow. A very durable alkyd that is a little heavier and durable than Liquin fine detail medium.
Liquin Impasto Medium
Again, a quick drying alkyd medium that leaves a semi-gloss finish. This paint adds body to the oil paint, making it go further and is ideal for impasto effects. Another impasto medium, oleopasto medium offers a more matt finish. Both impasto mediums have a brownish appearance that does not affect the color of the oil paint once mixed in. Add about 1 part medium to 4 parts oil color to thicken the paint. Too much and the pigment in the paint will lose too much of its tinting strength.
Liquin Oleopasto Medium
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| Alkyds and Impasto Mediums |
What Alkyd Mediums are For
All alky mediums have characteristics in common in that they are non-yellowing and fast-drying, unlike the oil mediums. They also leave a hard, durable finish. Alkyd paints comprise ground pigments suspended in alkyd, not to be confused with oil paints. However, the alkyd medium can be used with oil paints, hence ‘alky oils.’ Alkyd paints are designed for glazing techniques, but some alkyd mediums such as oleopasto will bulk up the paint for impasto techniques. By their nature, alkyds offer less gloss than oily mediums and accelerate the drying time of the oil paint. Never use an alkyd medium and an oil medium in the same painting, as their differing drying rates could set up pressures in the paint layer, causing cracking. Similarly, never mix alkyd medium with a varnish to be used as a medium or indeed as a varnish.
More Advice about Using Oil Mediums and Other Matters
What different oil mediums are used for
Alkyd versus oil mediums
Guide to alkyd mediums
Water mixable oil mediums for oil painting
How to glaze an oil painting
How to use impasto medium
My science of color website
Ideas on what to paint
10 comments:
I have used the Liquin in the past and found that it did yellow my painting. The painting in question was a white study that changed to an "antique" grayish brownish tint in less than a year.
Hi thanks for comment. Sorry to hear about this. Liquin on the face of it is supposed to be non yellowing, as it is an alkyd resin rather than oil based. I have used it without problem, but sometimes unexpected things happen with art materials due to any one of many factors. It might be worth cleaning the painting with a dedicated painting cleaner or removing the varnish (if it is varnished) as this will attract dirt. Chemicals in art materials can denature if exposed to heat or light. You could contact the manufacturer to alter them of this problem.
Rachel, thanks for your reply. No, the painting was not varnished when this happened. It was only 6 months old at the time this happened. I did find that the Galkyd light that Gamblin does not yellow like the Liquin, so I switched over. So far, so good.
By the way, I just want you to know that I did not post what I did to advertise Gamblin or anything. I tried some other alkyds, too. The walnut M. Graham had some yellowing but not much. I tried the Galkyd light because someone else was trying it. I had it dry out in a container. It had a white color to it instead of a yellow-y goldish color or brownish color when it dried.
Thank you for your blog. It is very helpful.
Thanks for your post about alkyd. Somehow I never found any info about it and thus I had to postpone using this medium several years. And now in these days I had to try it because of some reasons.
If I had read your post before the first step, I had save a lot of time: I used it with varnish mixed and wondered why painting cracking so badly. I guessed wrong way, that alkyd might attack the underground (another sheet of oil painting). So, I tried this way or this way. A lot of wasting time, really.
Now I read in your post, you ought to use alkyd alone. Wonderful.
Just another question: what happens when I mix alkyd with terpentine?
Best greeting
Walnut alkyd medium was new to me a year ago when I retired and took up painting again, so I was elated to discover how the oil colors "popped" once I brushed it over an old oil painting of mine like a varnish. Well, after about a year, my 30" x 40" oil painting (never varnished), has yellowish-brown ripples running over the surface. Ack! Is it possible to remove the medium? I tried rubbing the surface with Mona Lisa paint thinner, but it didn't come off. Would turpentine work, do you think? Any other suggestions? I really like this painting and planned to show it in a big regional show last spring, but it was canceled due to the virus. Good thing I didn't sell it to someone considering what it looks like now.
Hello Namby. thanks for your question. How unfortunate. As I understand, you have used Walnut alkyd medium as a varnish. Some oils yellow with age and therefore I varnish my paintings only with varnish (not a medium) of the sort that are non-yellowing such as the nonorganic kind. I have never used a medium as a varnish. Is the painting on canvas or panel? Are you able to post an image of the oil painting on this blog, or elsewhere and provide a link. I will try to come up with a suggestion. Best wishes.
Fantastic. How do you do this that this blog is so good? For more info: alkyd resin
Hello, thank you for all the great information. One question, you mentioned that alkyds leave a matte finish when compared to oils but most of the mediums discussed had gloss/semigloss finishes. Could you clarify that or perhaps offer an example of an alkyd medium that has a matte finish? I am working on a project and desire a finish that is not too glossy. Thank you!
Hello and thanks for question. The Winsor and Newton Griffin range is a good selection of alkyd paints that offer a matte finish. It is fast drying and glazes can be applied quickly. I always stick to the tried and tested brands. Good luck!
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