Grumbacher Oil Painting Mediums

Grumbacher Oil Panting Mediums are complementary products that are aimed at professional oil painters who want to work extensively with their materials, experiment with their chemical composition, and the unique effects that derive from this process. Grumbacher’s specialists have engineered a rich set of oil mediums that were created for the purpose of enhancing the attributes of their original oil paints, and allow artists to achieve the desired flow and drying properties.

Medium Usage

Picture Varnish Spray Matte – Applies a matte resin onto oil and acrylic paintings. Use after the oil work has been dried for at least six months.

Picture Varnish Spray Gloss – Applies a glossy resin onto oil and acrylic paintings. Use after the oil work has been dried for at least six months.

Alkyd Painting Medium – Speeds up drying time and lubricates the oil paint. It’s non-yellowing.

Oil Painting Medium I Matte – Provides a matte finish when used in underpaintings, absorbent gesso, and mural work.

Oil Painting Medium II Slow Dry – Slows drying time for use in wet-to-wet techniques.

Oil Painting Medium III Rapid Dry – Speeds up drying times for use in glazing.

Copal Painting Medium – Speeds up drying time and increases the paint flow.

Gel Transperentizer for Oil Colors – Preserves color consistency while it transparent.

Max Linseed Oil – Improves flow and water mixability of oil paints.

Linseed Oil – Acts as a binder for when mixing colors from powder pigments.

Sun-Tickened Linseed Oil – Adds gloss and fluidity to oil paints but is heavier than the standard linseed oil.

Stand Oil – High viscosity oil that eliminates brushmarks and creates an enamel-like finish.

Poppyseed Oil – Like linseed oil but for use in alla prima techniques and with pale colors.

Max Quickdry Medium – A semi-gel medium that is used in wet-on-wet to keep lines and strokes precise.

Zec Quick Drying Oil Medium – Accelerates drying times by maintaining the color consistency and hue.

Cobalt Drier – Speeds up the drying times. Very strong, should be used with caution.

Pale Drying Oil – Speeds up drying times, reduces the oil consistency, increases the flow and gloss.

Turpentine – Thins oils and improves the paint flow. Can also be used as an equipment cleaner.

Grumtine – Oil solvent that is a slightly stronger alternative to Turpentine

Pre-Tested Odorless Thinner – A crystal clear organic solvent that thins oil colors and can also be used as a cleaner.

Retouch Varnish – Removes the gloss from unfinished work and revives dry areas.

Damar Varnish – A final varnish for oil paintings with a glossy finish. A 6 month period of drying is required before applying.

Picture Varnish – A final varnish with a satin finish. Apply after a six months period of drying.

Matte Varnish – A final smooth varnish for pale works. Apply after six months of drying.

Japan Drier – Alkali based drier that can cause yellowing or darkening.

MG Underpainting White – Creates a thin dry paint film that captures paint on it. Suitable for underpainting and wet-in-wet. Dried in just 6 hours.

Oil Painting Restorer – Surface cleaner that is used for removing surface soil and impurities.

Retouch Varnish Spray – Evens out gloss of unfinished work and revives dry areas.

Damar Varnish Spray Gloss – Final protective glossy varnishing layer. Should be applied after drying for six months.

Damar Varnish Spray Matte – Final protective matte varnishing layer. Should be applied after drying for six months.

Final Considerations

Oil mediums are the determining factors that can make the difference between a compelling and an uninteresting work. No oil artist can fully express him/herself without experimenting with the countless possibilities that open up with the use of oil mediums. If you’re into Grumbacher paints, you should definitely start using these mediums that were specifically engineered for the painting products of the company.