(Excerpts from ART HARDWARE: The Definitive Guide to Artists’ Materials, by Steven Saitzyk © 1987)

Intermediate Media

The following recipes are easy to prepare and provide greater versatility than simple media.

DIAGRAM OF INTERMEDIATE MEDIA

Drying Oil
|
Thinner
(If natural resin is involved use only genuine turpentine.)
|
Resin or Wax
(dammar solution, dammar varnish, Venice turpentine, or wax)

(A few drops of drier may be added.)

Copal-Drying Oil Medium.

Copal media are ideal for producing very hard and durable, although brittle, paint films that can be applied without softening or redissolving previous paint layers. This allows for an egg-tempera like effect where one color can be painted over another after it has dried without the two colors mixing.

COPAL-OIL MEDIUM (A TYPICAL RECIPE)

1 part copal varnish
(see Copal Varnish)
|
1 part genuine turpentine
|
1 part linseed oil
(Stand oil may be substituted. The drying oil reduces the brittleness of the copal resin.)

The drying rate is approximately two hours if the copal varnish used contains driers; if it does not contain driers, the drying time will be approximately 1 ½ days. (Please note that this means workably dry, not totally dry.)

Dammar-Drying Oil Medium.

The difference between this medium and that of the copal-drying oil medium is that the dammar will soften and partially redissolve when successive layers of paint mixed with this medium are applied. This allows the two paint films to interlock and to appear less isolated from each other. Dammar also yellows and darkens much less than copal. It is also less brittle. Dammar is not as hard a resin as copal and is therefore less durable, but not sufficiently so to cause concern. The following recipe also has better leveling properties than a copal medium.

DAMAR-DRYING OIL MEDIUM

1 part dammar varnish
(Dammar heavy gum solution may be substituted for extra thick body.)
|
1 part stand oil
|
1 to 5 parts rectified turpentine
(This proportion may also be varied for desired fat or lean quality.)

(15 drops of cobalt drier may be added to every 8 ounces of medium to speed drying.)

The drying time is between 2 and 3 days (without the drier).

Stand Oil Venice Turpentine Medium.

The combination of stand oil and Venice turpentine will give a thick, resinous medium with enamel like leveling properties. Glazes with this medium will be exceptionally clear and brilliant.

STAND OIL VENICE TURPENTINE MEDIUM

1 part stand oil
|
3 parts Venice turpentine
|
0 to 3 parts turpentine
(Vary turpentine according to fat over lean principles.)

It is necessary to warm the stand oil and Venice turpentine first to make mixing them easier.

Paint films using the formula can often be worked over in 1 to 2 days.

Greater brilliance as well as a shorter time between application of paint films can be had by adding some dammar heavy gum solution (this is a concentrated form, which can be bought or made).

(Excerpts from ART HARDWARE: The Definitive Guide to Artists’ Materials, by Steven Saitzyk © 1987)

Questions regarding materials and the creative process will be considered a request for a consult and
may be sent to Steve@trueart.info Consulting services are available for a fee. 
Copyright © 2001 True Art
Last modified: 06/14/09