[George]

Here is the link to the article: https://www.naturalpigments.com/artist-materials/solvent-free-alkyd-mediums

naturalpigments.com

What “Solvent-Free” Really Means: A Practical Guide to Alkyd and Oil-Painting Media

Learn how solvent-free alkyd mediums speed drying without toxic fumes. Compare brands, read SDS data, and apply safer oil-painting practices.

[George]

We have not made a specific video on the 12 Rules of Oil Painting, but the discussion is part of the Painting Best Practices webinar.

[George]

To answer this question accurately, we need to consider what “solvent free” means in commercial use. I will prepare an article on the Natural Pigments website, as well as here, to provide the correct answer.

[George]

This is one of my questions about the study or how the authors measured the drying. Our experiments found that egg-oil mixtures seized quickly, although they may not have been cured. This is something we can discuss in more detail.

[George]

Although acrylic primers contain acrylic polymers, they are not transparent since they also contain pigments. So, the issues regarding applying oil paint over clear or transparent acrylic polymers do not apply to acrylic primers. However, you wrote that your painting is on Senso Clear Primed Linen, which is an entirely different issue. This product is advertised as linen “primed with clear, acrylic primer gesso.” This statement is an oxymoron because gesso denotes a compound of gypsum or whiting, which this clear coating does not contain, so the issues associated with oil paint over clear acrylic polymers do apply to your painting on Senso Clear Primed Linen.

[George]

That’s a good question, Jan. Oleogel is not a paste medium. It is a gel medium. What distinguishes paste mediums from gel and liquid mediums is that they do not contain any pigments or extender pigments (fillers). Although Oleogel contains fumed silica, fumed silica is not an extender pigment, but rather an additive, since it does not provide sufficient solids to affect the pigment volume concentration (PVC).

[George]

We add a small amount of bodied linseed oil to all our umber oil colors to help mitigate sinking-in and slow drying times (which can lead to drying cracks). I cannot say which one is best in this regard. You can avoid some of these issues, too, by painting thinly and painting on less absorbent substrates.

[George]

We usually have the Cohorts meeting on the last Saturday of the month at 11:00 AM Pacific Time. We are traveling in Russia through June 11, and we will attempt to have it at that date and time. We will announce at least four days ahead of time.

[George]

Overall, the concnerns about using lead white paint in a professional practice is overstated. With normal hygiene practices you can keep yourself safe from personal exposure to lead. Normal hygiene should be practiced in every studio regardless of whether you use lead white or not, because we cannot assume that all materials we use in our studios is safe and non-toxic. My view is that we should not assume that any thing is non-toxic and handle all materials with appropriate caution.

[George]

There are no pigments available at this time that offers all of these qualities otherwise we would recommend alternatives. The most essential quality is the self-healing properties of lead white on oil paint.

[George]

Let’s answer these questions at the next Cohorts meeting. I will let yu know when we will schedule it.

[George]

The original article is referenced in the article on egg yolk.

[George]

Adding Oleogel (or oil) to paint decreases the PVC of an oil paint mixture since it reduces the pigment volume in the mixture. In comparison, paste mediums (mixtures containing pigment solids) maintain the PVC of the oil paint mixture close to its original PVC since it adds pigment and binder.

[George]

The next one will be on the last Saturday of June.

[George]

Lithopone is not a substitute for lead white. It is a good white, but cannot provide the same benefits as lead white. Lead white can be used safely, if kept away from children and pets, and your work area is kept clean. It does not require special handling. You should be doing these regardless of the paint you use.