I’ve tried many painting mediums, but I keep coming back to this formula that I wrote about on the first day of posting here. Canada balsam and stand oil 50/50, then add oil of spike until it flows easily.
Just a tiny bit of this medium mixed into oil paint improves brushability remarkably. And it smells wonderful.
To give proper credit, the recipe comes from Rob Howard of Studio Products.
I’ve just started using something similar, it is wonderful. I’m using turpentine instead of the spike though.
One thing I’ve noticed is that it loves to separate in the jar I keep it in. Warming it in a hot water bath (just from the tap) and vigorous shaking fixes it though.
Matthew,
I haven’t tried it with turps. Once mixed (which requires warming), the version I use doesn’t separate, which I find kind of surprising.
I like the smell of spike much more than turps, although my wife can’t stand either.
Hi David,
What would you recommend as a good source for purchasing canada balsam / stand oil / spike?
Just thought I’d mention after the addition of some more turpentine and more vigorous heating the medium now remains suspended.
Thanks, Jeff. I somehow missed your question from the 18th about where to get supplies for making medium. I’ll answer soon in a post.
Hi I was just searching for the ideal oil medium and I’m interested to try this one out and see how it works. One thing though I live in the states and I haven’t looked yet but I don’t seem to remember seeing canada balsam — if I’m not able to find it is their anything else that would work as a substitute?
KEH,
Canada balsam isn’t too hard to find. Try these sources:
http://www.naturalpigments.com http://www.studioproducts.com