WHAT IS A PAINT MEDIUM?
A paint medium is an additive, usually an oil or a paste, that can be mixed with your paint to alter the properties of it in some way. It should not be confused with references to the different types of “painting mediums”, which are the types of paint, such as oil, watercolour, gouache and acrylic.
WHY ARE THEY USEFUL?
Paint mediums give artists greater control over the application and finish of the paint. Different mediums can be used to variously alter the consistency, texture, sheen and drying time of your paintings – or chosen sections of them.
ARE THERE DOWNSIDES TO USING THEM?
Some paint mediums naturally have a slight yellow tint to them. This can have a slight effect on the finish of the painting, particularly in the lighter colours. “Non-yellowing” paint mediums are usually labelled as such.
Paint mediums can also cause issues when layering paints (particularly oil paints) as the drying times of different layers can be affected. As such, it is important to observe the “fat over lean” rule, which means using more medium (and so less pigment) in the lower layers, so that they dry first and prevent the top layers from cracking.
WHICH MEDIUMS ALTER A PAINT’S DRYING TIME?
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Still life IN 3 HOURS
Former BP Portrait Award runner-up FELICIA FORTE guides you through a simple, structured approach to painting alla prima that tackles dark, average and light colours in turn
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Through an analysis of three masterworks, landscape painter and noted author MITCHELL ALBALA shows how you can animate landscape composition with movement
Shane Berkery
The Irish-Japanese artist talks to REBECCA BRADBURY about the innovative concepts and original colour combinations he brings to his figurative oil paintings from his Dublin garden studio
The Working Artist
Something old, something new... Our columnist LAURA BOSWELL has expert advice for balancing fresh ideas with completing half-finished work
Washes AND GLAZES
Art Academy’s ROB PEPPER introduces an in-depth guide to incorporating various techniques into your next masterpiece. Artwork by STAN MILLER, CHRIS ROBINSON and MICHELE ILLING
Hands
LAURA SMITH continues her new four-part series, which encourages you to draw elements of old master paintings, and this month’s focus is on capturing hands
Vincent van Gogh
To celebrate The Courtauld’s forthcoming landmark display of the troubled Dutch master’s self-portraits, STEVE PILL looks at the stories behind 10 of the most dramatic works on display
BRING THE drama
Join international watercolour maestro ALVARO CASTAGNET in London’s West End to paint a dramatic street scene
Serena Rowe
The Scottish painter tells STEVE PILL why time is precious, why emotional responses to colour are useful, and how she finds focus every day with the help of her studio wall
Bill Jacklin
Chatting over Zoom as he recovers from appendicitis, the Royal Academician tells STEVE PILL about classic scrapes in New York and his recent experiments with illustration
