| The properties of the various solvents and resins | | | | Mineral spirits is based on pure petroleum and has a |
| used in an oil painting | | | | moderate evaporation rate, releasing harmful vapors. |
| Solvents are added to oil paints for temporary | | | | It is not absorbed through healthy skin like turpentine. |
| change, they are designed to work in a way such | | | | Mineral spirits is less expensive than turpentine. Mineral |
| that they evaporate consistently and completely as | | | | spirits is a stronger solvent than odorless mineral |
| the oil paint dries. (Technically, the more correct term | | | | spirits, also called as white spirits. |
| is diluents, as not all are solvents, but it's not the | | | | Odorless mineral spirits is based on petroleum and has |
| term very commonly used.) Solvents are also used | | | | a reasonable evaporation rate. It is again not |
| to soften resins, making mediums, cleaning up, and | | | | absorbed through healthy skin. It's quite expensive |
| also for cleaning brushes. It is very essential to use | | | | than normal mineral spirits as it has had some of the |
| solvents in a well-ventilated room and you need to | | | | harmful perfumed solvents removed. Good brands |
| remember that they are flammable (catch fire easily). | | | | include Turpenoid, Thin-ex, and Gamsol. |
| Turpentine is the traditional solvent used in the oil | | | | Tip: Test the quality of a solvent by putting a little on |
| painting. It's actually based on tree resin and has a | | | | a drop of paper and to let it evaporate. If it doesn't |
| very fast evaporation rate, releasing harmful vapors. | | | | leave any resident, stain, or smell, it needs to be |
| It could also be absorbed through healthy skin. Try | | | | good enough for oil painting. |
| using only artist quality turpentine as the industrial | | | | Resins are used to increase the shine of oil paint, |
| variety you will find in hardware stores probably | | | | reduce the color, reduce drying time of a medium, |
| contains impurities; it needs to be colorless, like water. | | | | and add body to drying oils. The most used one is a |
| It is also known as spirit of turpentine, oil of | | | | natural resin known as Damar that should be mixed |
| turpentine, genuine turpentine, English turpentine, | | | | with turpentine as it would not thoroughly dissolve |
| distilled turpentine; double rectified turpentine, or even | | | | when mixed with mineral spirits. Damar could also be |
| simply turps. | | | | used as a varnish. |