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