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To paint solvent-free, use Gamblin Safflower Oil to clean brushes while you are working. After your painting session, brushes can be further cleaned using Gamsol and brush soap and water. Safflower Oil is a pale, slow-drying oil.

When used as a painting medium, Safflower Oil increases flow and slows dry times. Use sparingly or mix with an equal amount of Gamsol to create a traditional slow-drying, low-viscosity painting medium.

Gamblin Solvent-Free Painting Mediums

Solvent-Free Gel and Solvent-Free Fluid are painting mediums made from safflower oil and alkyd resin with no solvent. Why safflower? We chose safflower for these mediums because of its paler colour. The alkyd resin, a highly polymerized oil, accounts for the faster drying rate of these materials compared to either linseed or safflower oils used alone. Both Solvent-Free Fluid and Gel increase the flow of oil colours and increase transparency, gloss and colour saturation.

Both Solvent-Free Fluid and Gel increase the flow of oil colours and increase transparency, gloss and colour saturation.

Solvent-free-Mediums:

Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel gives colours more flow and transparency yet holds the shape of your brushmark. Solvent-Free Gel has a moderately fast drying rate and increases gloss. Made from safflower oil and alkyd resin, Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel is non-toxic and contains no Gamsol or petroleum distillates.

Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid painting medium gives oil colours more flow and transparency. It has a moderately fast drying rate and increases gloss. Made from safflower oil and alkyd resin, Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid is non-toxic and contains no Gamsol or petroleum distillates.

Solvent-Free Fluid should be used in moderation with oil colours – no more than 25% by volume to ensure proper drying and prevent the beading-up of paint layers. To avoid wrinkling, apply mixtures of Solvent-Free Fluid and oil colours thinly. For underpainting, we recommend adding Gamsol to Solvent-Free Fluid.

Gamblin Safflower Oil is a pale, slow-drying oil. When used as a painting medium, Safflower Oil to colours increases flow and slows dry times. Use sparingly or mix with an equal amount of Gamsol to create a traditional slow-drying, low-viscosity painting medium. To paint solvent-free, we recommend Gamblin Safflower Oil for cleaning brushes while you are working.

Consistency is the most significant difference between the Solvent-Free Fluid and the Gel. The Fluid medium more significantly increases the flow of oil colours off the brush. In terms of its functional properties, it is similar to either straight linseed or safflower, though with faster drying. Brush marks will be slightly levelled or “rounded” when using the Fluid.

Drying Time: Regarding their drying, these mediums have a “moderately fast” drying rate – meaning that thin layers will dry to the touch in approximately 36 – 48 hours. Because they rely solely on oxidation to dry, they have a longer working time than our Galkyd mediums, which begin to tack up as their Gamsol content evaporates from paint layers.

Safflower Oil is available in the following sizes: 125ml/4.2 oz, 250ml/8.5 oz.