Cold Pressed
Linseed Oil  

Cold pressed linseed oil is produced from the first pressing of flax seeds without using heat or chemicals of any kind. It increases the tendency of oil paints to yellow over time when used to thin oil colors.

Poppy Oil  

Poppy oil’s slow drying time may be useful for painters using wet into wet techniques. Adding 10% by volume, poppy oil slows down the drying time of Gamblin Galkyd painting mediums. Available in an 8 oz. container.

Gamblin Ground  

This non-absorbent ground works like a traditional oil ground, leaving finished paintings brighter since the oil is left in the paint film instead of being absorbed. Two thin layers of Gamblin Ground equal four layers of acrylic gesso. Instead of linseed oil, Gamblin Ground is made with alkyd resin for increased flexibility and quicker dry time. Traditional linseed oil grounds need about six months to dry. Gamblin Ground is ready for paint application in a few days and may be used directly upon panels without sizing.

Gamvar  

Gamvar is a low molecular weight synthetic resin varnish developed by conservation scientists at the National Gallery. It looks as good as damar natural resin varnish, but never yellows. Like damar it has a high shine and will saturate the colors of paintings and intensify the transparency of glazes. Gamvar is easy to remove with mild solvents. The 5.4 oz. package (of ready to prepare solvent and resin chunks) covers up to 10 square feet of oil or acrylic paintings and can also be used for retouch.

Galkyd Painting Medium #1

Galkyd is made from alkyd resin, the polymerized oil of the 20th century. The medium adds binder (increases adhesion) and speeds up drying. High viscosity alkyd resin was among the materials Jackson Pollack used to make his drip paintings. To make a similar mixture, use 60% Galkyd and 40% oil color. No more than 50% solvent by volume can be added to Galkyd without compromising its binder.

Galkyd Lite
Painting Medium #2

Galkyd Lite is different from Galkyd because it is made from an alkyd resin that has a lower viscosity. The viscosity of Galkyd Lite is very similar to that of a traditional damar, refined linseed oil or turpentine painting medium. In addition to pleasing painters who prefer a lighter painting medium, the longer working time of Galkyd Lite (approximately three hours) will delight landscape painters and others who enjoy painting outdoors. Thin layers will be ready to paint over within 24 hours. Galkyd Lite thins with odorless mineral spirits. Because of its lower viscosity, Galkyd Lite will leave brush strokes in thicker layers. Glazes made with Galkyd Lite

Galkyd Slow Dry Painting Medium  

Galkyd Slow Dry is formulated to have strength and flexibility and to keep the surface of oil paintings open for approximately three days. This is a good choice for those who blend or work wet into wet. Galkyd Slow Dry is fatter than Galkyd, so using large amounts may cause wrinkling. Use one part Galkyd Slow Dry and one part oil color for at least a day to paint wet into wet. Do not dilute.

Gamsol  

Gamsol is the safest, cleanest and 100% pure odorless mineral spirit. Gamsol is strong enough to thin oil colors and Gamblin alkyd resin mediums and can be reused until the solvent will no longer clear. Gamsol cannot dissolve damar or other natural resins, and will cloud damar varnish if used as an extender.

Poly Vinyl Acetate (PVA) Size  

Diluted with distilled water, PVA size is a contemporary size for fabric support. PVA seals the fabric but does not re-absorb atmospheric moisture, preventing the size layer from swelling and shrinking. It has a neutral pH and does not yellow, plus it retains its flexibility, does not emit harmful volatiles, and protects fabric from the ground. PVA does not tighten the fabric like rabbit skin glue, so stretch fabric tightly.

Rabbit Skin Glue  

This is the traditional size glue for fabric support. Conservation scientists caution painters that rabbit skin glue absorbs and releases atmospheric moisture leading to the swelling and shrinking of the size layer. In a 1 lb. container.