Make Your Own Glazing Medium For Oil Painting and unlock a world of luminous color, subtle transitions, and professional-level depth in your artwork. While commercial glazing mediums can be effective, there’s a unique satisfaction and control that comes from crafting your own. Not only can it be more cost-effective, but it also allows you to tailor the medium’s properties precisely to your artistic needs, whether you’re seeking a faster or slower drying time, a more matte or glossy finish, or a specific viscosity. This guide will walk you through the principles of creating an excellent DIY oil painting glazing medium, demystifying the process and offering a reliable recipe to get you started.
The magic of glazing lies in applying thin, transparent layers of paint over dry underlayers. This technique allows light to pass through the upper layers and reflect off the lower ones, creating a luminous, jewel-like effect that is difficult to achieve with opaque or thicker paint applications. The medium plays a crucial role in this process. It thins the paint without compromising its integrity, makes it more fluid and brushable, and influences drying time and surface sheen. A well-chosen glazing medium ensures that your thin layers remain transparent, don’t muddy the underlying colors, and dry to a stable, durable finish.
Understanding the Components of a DIY Glazing Medium
To effectively make your own glazing medium for oil painting, it’s essential to understand the function of its primary ingredients. These typically fall into three categories: oils, resins, and solvents.
Oils: These are the binding agents in oil paint. For glazing mediums, slower-drying oils like linseed oil or walnut oil are often preferred. Linseed oil is the most common, offering good drying properties and a slightly yellowish tint that can add warmth over time. Walnut oil dries a bit slower and has a clearer, less yellowish appearance, making it a good choice for cooler palettes or when extreme color fidelity is paramount. However, for glazing, you want an oil that is refined and has been treated to increase its drying potential. Cold-pressed oils can be too slow and prone to yellowing. Stand oil, a heat-bodied linseed oil, is a popular choice for glazing mediums due to its increased viscosity, flexibility, and faster drying time compared to raw linseed oil.
Resins: Resins are added to increase the gloss, durability, and flow of the paint. They act as a varnish within the paint itself. Historically, natural resins like dammar or mastic were used, but these can yellow significantly over time and can become brittle. Modern alkyd resins are often preferred for their stability, clarity, and consistent performance. Alkyd resins are synthetic resins that are soluble in mineral spirits and are a staple in many commercial mediums. They enhance the gloss and create a smooth, enamel-like finish.
Solvents: Solvents are used to thin the mixture and control the drying time. The most common solvents are odorless mineral spirits (OMS) and turpentine. OMS is generally preferred for its less pungent odor, although some artists still favor the distinct, sharp smell of turpentine, believing it has a cleaner evaporation. Solvents evaporate as the paint dries, leaving behind the oil and resin binder. For glazing, you want just enough solvent to achieve the desired fluid consistency without making the paint too thin or weak.
The Best Recipe: Make Your Own Glazing Medium For Oil Painting
This recipe is a well-balanced starting point, offering good flow, transparency, and a satisfying sheen. It balances the drying and glossing properties of alkyd resin with the fluidity of linseed oil and the controlled evaporation of odorless mineral spirits.
Ingredients:
1 part Refined Linseed Oil or Walnut Oil: (Choose a good quality, refined artist-grade oil. Avoid cold-pressed for this recipe.)
1 part Stand Oil: (This is a pre-bodied linseed oil that provides excellent flow and gloss.)
1 part Alkyd Medium (e.g., Liquin Original or Galkyd): (These commercial alkyd mediums are excellent for consistency and readily available. They already contain resin and solvent.)
1 part Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS): (Or Turpentine, if preferred.)
Instructions:
1. Gather your materials: You’ll need clean glass jars with airtight lids, measuring cups or syringes for accuracy, and a funnel if necessary. Ensure your workspace is well-ventilated.
2. Measure your ingredients: Carefully measure out equal parts of each component. Precision is key for consistent results.
3. Combine the liquids: Pour the refined linseed oil, stand oil, and alkyd medium into your clean glass jar.
4. Add the solvent: Slowly add the odorless mineral spirits to the mixture.
5. Seal and shake: Securely seal the jar with its lid. Gently shake the jar to thoroughly combine all the ingredients. Continue to shake until the mixture appears uniform and clear.
6. Allow to settle: It’s beneficial to let the mixture sit for at least 24 hours. This allows any minor variances in the ingredients to fully integrate and for the mixture to settle. You might notice a slight clearing or thickening over this time.
How to Use Your DIY Glazing Medium:
When ready to paint, add a small amount of your custom glazing medium to your oil paints on your palette. Start with a ratio of approximately 1:1 or 1:2 (medium to paint) and adjust as needed. Mix thoroughly until the paint is smooth, fluid, and transparent. Apply thin layers, allowing each layer to dry to the touch before applying the next. The drying time will vary depending on the thickness of the application, humidity, and temperature.
Variations and Adjustments
The beauty of this DIY approach is its adaptability. Here are some common adjustments you might consider:
Faster Drying Time: Increase the proportion of alkyd medium or OMS/turpentine. Be cautious not to add too much solvent, as this can weaken the paint film.
Slower Drying Time: Increase the proportion of refined linseed oil or stand oil, and slightly decrease the solvent.
Increased Gloss: Add a bit more stand oil or use a more resin-rich alkyd medium.
More Matte Finish: While pure glazing aims for gloss, you can introduce a matting agent like silica or microspheres, but this is more advanced and can sometimes affect the transparency and durability. For a slightly less glossy finish, simply reduce the amount of stand oil and alkyd, and focus more on the refined linseed oil.
Important Considerations
Ventilation: Always work in a well-ventilated area when using oils and solvents.
Storage: Store your DIY glazing medium in a cool, dark place in an airtight glass container. Label your jars clearly.
Testing: Before committing to a large canvas, test your medium on a scrap piece of canvas or board to see how it interacts with your paints and dries.
* Freshness: While these mediums are quite stable, it’s best to make smaller batches if you don’t paint frequently to ensure optimal performance.
By taking the time to make your own glazing medium for oil painting, you empower yourself with greater control over your artistic process. This recipe provides a solid foundation, and with a little experimentation, you’ll discover the perfect formulation to enhance your oil paintings with breathtaking luminosity, depth, and control. Happy glazing!