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