Winsor & Newton Oil Mediums and Varnishes

Winsor & Newton Artists Oil Mediums allow you to alter the characteristics of your tube colour, eg. consistency, gloss, drying rate or texture. There are two main types: oil based and alkyd based. The former are traditional and combine oils and solvents, while the latter combine synthetic alkyd resins with solvents to produce faster drying mediums, the most famous being Liquin. The addition of a medium while painting ensures the artist does not over-thin his/her paint.
Varnishes provide a transparent coating which protects the finished painting from dirt. Picture varnishes are removable, enabling the painting to be cleaned in the future. Varnishes should not be used as mediums for adding to the colour. Oil paintings should not be varnished until thoroughly dry (at least 6 months).

Varnishing Oils

Solvent Basics

Oil Medium Basics

Liquin Mediums