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MEDIUM
Liquin
Liquin is Winsor & Newton's alkyd resin medium — the most widely used modern oil painting medium in the world. It significantly speeds drying time (touch-dry in 1–3 days versus weeks for straight oil), increases transparency and gloss, and improves flow. It is the preferred medium for glazing, layered indirect painting, and any technique where faster drying between sessions is essential. Important: once you introduce Liquin into a painting, continue with Liquin throughout — do not alternate layers of alkyd and straight oil.
Properties ▾
Base: Alkyd resin
Colour: Amber-brown in bottle — does not discolour paint
Consistency: Fluid
Drying speed: Fast — touch dry 1–3 days
Yellowing: Resists yellowing
Gloss: High
Compatibility: Do not alternate with non-alkyd layers
Techniques ▾
Glazing
Mix a small amount of Liquin with transparent or semi-transparent colour. Apply over a completely dry layer. The fast drying time means multiple glaze layers can be built up in a single day.
Indirect painting: Liquin is the modern standard medium for classical indirect painting methods — underpainting in monochrome, followed by transparent colour glazes. The shortened drying time makes this practical without a waiting weeks between sessions.
Fine detail: Liquin Fine Detail (thinner, more fluid version) reduces surface texture and allows precise, controlled brushwork on detailed passages.
Alla prima support: Even in direct, single-session painting, a small amount of Liquin keeps the paint moving and improves flow without making the surface feel oily.
Indirect painting: Liquin is the modern standard medium for classical indirect painting methods — underpainting in monochrome, followed by transparent colour glazes. The shortened drying time makes this practical without a waiting weeks between sessions.
Fine detail: Liquin Fine Detail (thinner, more fluid version) reduces surface texture and allows precise, controlled brushwork on detailed passages.
Alla prima support: Even in direct, single-session painting, a small amount of Liquin keeps the paint moving and improves flow without making the surface feel oily.
Liquin has a distinctive amber colour in the bottle and a strong smell. Neither affects the paint — it dries odourless and does not shift colour. Some painters dislike the alkyd smell; ensure studio ventilation. Galkyd (Gamblin) is the closest equivalent if Liquin is unavailable.
Works in ekphra ▾
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Notes
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