How the Pigment to Oil Ratio Changes the Way Your Paint Dries and Ages
New research shows your pigment to oil ratio shapes how oil paint ages — and that zinc white behaves unlike any other pigment tested.
Category: Painting Mediums
The substance that binds the pigment in paint. The plural is mediums. It is also called a binder, vehicle, or base. In acrylic paints, this is a synthetic substance consisting of acrylic polymers. In oil paints, it is a natural oil such as linseed or poppy oil. In tempera paint, it is egg yolks or gums.
Cold Wax Medium in Oil Painting – Good Technique or Risky Combination?
Cold wax medium in oil painting – revolutionary or risky? Discover how oil paint sticks and wax enrich textures while learning best practices to avo…
Varnishing Oil Paintings: Long‑Term Behavior of Spirit- and Oil‑Based Varnishes and Mediums
Guide to varnishing oil paintings: dammar vs mastic, spirit vs oleoresinous media, yellowing, reversibility, and best-practice application.
Varnish Removal: How to Remove Artists’ Varnishes—Safely
Professional varnish removal for oil and acrylic: brand-specific methods, safe testing, gels, solvents, and isolation coats for conservation-minded re…
Oil Painting Solvents: Effects on Underpainting, Layers, and Varnish
Learn how oil painting solvents affect underpainting, layers, and varnish—swelling, leaching, and chemistry—to choose safer techniques.
Solvents in Oil Painting: Insights for Contemporary Artists
How turpentine and mineral spirits affect oil paint—swelling, diffusion, leaching, evaporation, reactivity—and studio steps to limit sinking-in an…
Leonardo da Vinci’s Lead Ground: A Study in Oil Saponification and Technique
Discover how Leonardo da Vinci prepared his lead ground using oil and PbO—based on new analysis of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
Preventing Yellowing in Oil Paintings: Techniques and Best Practices
Discover effective techniques for preventing yellowing in oil paintings. Learn how materials and storage affect color stability.
Mastering Glaze Medium: Historical Techniques for Modern Artists
Learn to create glaze mediums with historical oil painting techniques to improve texture, color depth, and durability in your artwork.
Oil Paint Drying Times: Why Do Some Pigments Dry Faster?
Discover the science behind oil paint drying times. Learn how pigments, oil types, and environmental factors influence drying speeds for better painti…