George O'Hanlon
Administrator

Formulas for varnishes and mediums call for measurements that are often confusing for artists. For example, in his formula for a glazing medium, Ralph Mayer calls for a “5-pound cut” of damar varnish.¹ This measurement refers to the amount of dry damar resin with spirits of gum turpentine in a ratio called a “cut,” which refers to the amount of resin in pounds dissolved in a gallon of turpentine. This measurement is simple enough to use when preparing your own varnish, but what if you want to

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Rublev Colours Lead White Artists Oil is an opaque white that is smooth and brushes long. The consistency straight out of the tube is creamy, slightly ropey yet retains its shape as you manipulate it while being soft yet sculptural.

Our lead white is made with pale linseed oil and basic lead carbonate (made according to modern processes) without stearates (a pigment stabilizer), other pigments or fillers to alter the characteristics of the pigment. As a result you get a higher pigment

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For liquid-type oil painting mediums, we recommend a mixture of bodied linseed oil, solvent and, as an option, a resin or blasam. Here are several formulas incorporating Canada balsam:

Canada Balsam-Bodied Oil Medium
3 parts Canada Balsam
1 part vacuum-bodied linseed oil
2 parts gum turpentine

Canada Balsam-Epoxide Oil Medium
3 parts Canada Balsam
3 part Epoxide oil
2 parts gum turpentine

The first formula will dry faster

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The term 'flake white' originated from the fact that when basic lead carbonate is made according to the old Dutch method or 'stack process,' it falls off the metallic pieces of lead as 'flakes.' This is not the case when lead white is made according to modern processes, which is the pigment type used by all artists' paint manufacturers today.




You can read more flake white in this article:

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Congo copal is no longer available commercially (at least as it was available in commerce formerly), because the suppliers have long stopped trading due to strife in Africa since the last quarter of the 20th century. Trade of Congo copal was once controlled by the Belgian government, but as this region of Africa gained independence, and the demand for copal resins diminished during the last half of the 20th century, commerce of Congo copal has all but ceased.

There are many types of

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