To thicken oil paint, you can add a commercial thickener, create a homemade medium like chalk mixed with linseed oil, or use an impasto medium. Proper mixing is crucial to maintain paint stability and longevity.
Impasto Medium by Rublev Colours - Enhance Your Oil Paintings
Impasto Medium is an oil painting medium of finely ground calcite, silica, and bentonite in pale linseed oil. Use it to extend paint without altering the consistency, making oil colors 'short' and buttery for impastos. Stiffer than Velázquez Medium, this putty-like medium makes colors slightly transparent while allowing you to build impasted, thick paint applications. When added to oil paint, Impasto Medium does not alter its color temperature. It can be thinned with solvent or oil. Impasto Medium does not affect the drying time significantly depending on the proportion added to the paint.
Impasto Medium does not contain stearates, solvents, driers, or natural or synthetic resins, so it is safe to add to oil paint without worrying about cracking or delaminating.
Impasto Medium is a calcite-rich oil-painting medium.
The soft white paste has little effect on oil colors, making them less opaque and slightly less saturated. Use it to build thick applications of color.
A comparison of Impasto Medium (top left) and Velázquez Medium (top right) shows the different handling characteristics added to paint.
Impasto Medium slightly increases the transparency of colors while maintaining the buttery consistency. It allows you to build impasto or thick paint with ease. When added to oil paint, brushstrokes hold their form without slumping or leveling. In the example above, when added to green earth artist oil (bottom center), the mixture of Impasto Medium (bottom left) extends the color and consistency. In contrast, the mixture with Velázquez Medium (bottom right) gives the paint a long, ropy consistency.
Directions
Mix Impasto Medium directly into your paint right on the palette.
Impasto Medium is a great way to add calcite to your own paint. Add Impasto Medium and linseed oil directly to dry pigment powder until a stiff paste is obtained (almost the consistency of putty). Grind the paste with a muller on a flat surface before storing it in a collapsible tube. Some of its properties will be temporarily lost when grinding Impasto Medium with a muller but should be restored when allowed to stand.
Health Label
Based on a toxicological review, there are no acute or known chronic health hazards with the anticipated use of this product. Always protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and concentrated vapors. Contact us for further information or consult the MSDS for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thickener for oil paint?
The ideal thickener varies depending on the desired texture and paint properties. Impasto or paste mediums, consisting of vegetable drying oil such as linseed oil and extender pigments or fillers, are the best choice for building thick impastos and adding texture to oil painting.
Which medium is best for oil painting?
The best medium for oil painting depends on the artist's technique and desired outcome. Options include linseed oil, stand oil, and impasto mediums. Experimentation is key to discovering the medium that best complements your style.
How long does it take for impasto oil paint to dry?
Drying times for impasto oil paint vary based on application thickness, oil-to-pigment ratio, and environmental factors. While thin layers may dry within days, thick impasto layers can take weeks or longer to dry thoroughly.
How do you thicken oil paint?
How do you make a thick texture with oil paint?
For a thick texture, apply oil paint thickly using a palette knife or brush (impasto technique) or mix the paint with an impasto medium. This method enhances the tactile quality and visual depth of the painting.
What can I mix with oil paint for texture?
Mix materials like extender pigments that include chalk, marble dust, barite (baryte), talc, mica, etc., into oil paint for added texture. Texturizing agents and impasto mediums are also widely used to provide a distinct tactile feel and visual complexity to the artwork.
SKU | 530-320 |
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Brand | Rublev Colours |
Vendor | Natural Pigments |
Processing Time | Usually ships the next business day. |