Low-toxicity solvent (odourless) based flow medium.

Non-yellowing medium to add to oil paints to improve paint handling and promote the brushing out of colours. 

Langridge Low Toxic Painting Medium has been constructed as an alternative to traditional turpentine based painting mediums for artists concerned about exposure to harmful solvents.

Constituents

Stand Oil (40 Poise), Low Toxic Solvent, Alkali Refined Linseed Oil, Cobalt Drier.

Product Application

Langridge Low Toxic Painting Medium may be added to oil colours in quantities at the discretion of the artist.

Initially small additions will purely aid the flow qualities of existing oil colours. As more medium is added to the oil colour, the transparency will be increased due to the further dispersion of the pigment throughout the medium.

In accordance with all Langridge Painting Mediums, Low Toxic Painting Medium is formulated with a proportion of oil to solvent that can be used unrestrictedly in glazes and washes without risking unbinding the pigment from the oil.

After 15-25 minutes under normal conditions of applying Langridge Low Toxic Painting Medium the surface will set-up to a tack that grabs any succeeding brush strokes. The wet, but tacky, paint surface can be readily painted into, even quite aggressively, without moving or disturbing the areas of fresh paint underneath. This allows for a wet-in-wet technique with very controlled manipulation of paint including soft blending.

Stand oil used in Low Toxic Painting Medium has pronounced leveling qualities. If more than 50% is added, the resulting paint film will exhibit an enamel finish with little or no physically raised brushmarks.

Langridge Low Toxic Painting Medium has a high oil content and, as such, is a ‘fat’ medium. Fat mediums usually have a higher oil content than pure oil colours from the tube. Therefore Low Toxic Painting Medium should not to be used for underpainting if oil colours with no additional medium are to be applied on top.

Dries to a gloss finish.

Additional Product Information

A Low Toxic Alternative

Because Langridge Low Toxic Solvent has a Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) higher than other solvents the artists exposure will not be as harmful in comparison to traditional solvents. (See…)

Associated issues with prolonged contact with traditional artists’ solvents such as dermatitis, skin and respiratory organ irritation, headaches, etc. can be dramatically reduced or removed by using Langridge Low Toxic Solvent.

Langridge still recommends the use of good studio ventilation, open windows to increase airflow and preferably a properly installed exhaust system.

For the prevention of sinking-in of paint

If a support for painting (e.g. canvas) is poorly primed, oil colours will ‘sink-in’ to the surface and exhibit a dull and lifeless colour reflection. The oil from the paint is absorbed into the support, leaving the pigment underbound and the surface liable to crack or dust/flake off. In this case ‘oiling-out’ can rectify the paint film (See..).

Altering the reflective finish

The addition of Wax Painting Paste to Low Toxic Painting Medium can reduce the gloss finish normally associated with an oil paint medium. Mix together 1 part Wax Painting Paste to 4 parts Low Toxic Painting Medium for a satin finish. A higher proportion of wax medium may be added for extra matte effects.

The addition of Wax Painting Paste will give more body to the medium, so the artists technique should allow for this in application.

Adhesion problems

When very fluid glazes are applied on top of a layer of glossy paint in which there is a high proportion of a Langridge Medium containing Stand Oil the surface may exhibit Surface Beading. The overall adhesion of the paint Layer is unaffected however the artist may find the effect distracting or displeasing. The application of a very thin layer of Retouch Varnish to the touch dry paint surface will help to prevent the ‘beading up’ of succeeding paint layers. For more information.

To even out the final reflective quality of the painting

There are numerous reasons for an uneven reflective quality in the final paint film. Differences in the particle size of individual pigments, the various recipes of individual oil colours, the variety of oil mediums, layers and techniques employed etc. generally lead to a finished picture with a wide range of reflective finishes.  Additionally, as with all petroleum distillates, Langridge Mediums made with Low Toxic Solvent have a slight tendency to dry to an uneven reflective finish. 

Some may like the effect however others may find it distracting.

If the surface has only minor variation, the application of Retouch Varnish once touch dry or a final picture varnish after the painting has had time to dry thoroughly can generally unify the picture surface.  

If the reflective disparity is highly pronounced, a picture varnish may not even the differences out. In this case the surface can easily be rectified by “oiling out” using Langridge Isolating Medium or another “Fat” medium. Oiling out is a non removable process and does not replace a removable artists’ varnish. (See…)

Thinning

For best results thin with Low Toxic Solvent. However, Artists White Spirit or Distilled Gum Turpentine may be substituted. The use of Artists White Spirit will tend to reduce the fatness of stroke and the oil film will dry with less richness due to the partial destruction of the paint film.

Appearance

Langridge Low Toxic Painting Medium is a pale amber coloured liquid with characteristic linseed oil odour.

Very fresh medium may exhibit a green cast. The colour of the medium will not effect the oil colours with which it is mixed.

Clean Up

Clean brushes with any artists’ solvent (eg Low Toxic Solvent, Gum Turpentine, etc.).

For further washing apply a small quantity of Marseille or other pure olive oil soap and massage the bristles of the brush to release any remaining colour. Wash thoroughly in warm water. Leave to fully dry before using for oil colours.

Drying Times

24-48 hours to touch dry. Any airflow over the surface will evaporate the solvent more rapidly which will reduce drying times.

Full film drying 3-6 months