Liquin - An Oil Painter’s Best Friend
Oil painters have used mediums for centuries to modify the properties of their oil paints. One of the most popular and versatile mediums used today is liquin, an alkyd-based medium. In this post, we’ll explore the history of liquin, its many uses and advantages for oil painting, any potential disadvantages, and important safety considerations when using this medium.
A Brief History of Liquin
Alkyd resin is synthesized through a process involving the reaction of natural oils with both a poly-functional alcohol and poly-basic acid. Originating in the 1920s, General Electric first developed alkyds as a coating for electrical wires. Winsor & Newton later introduced the inaugural alkyd resin medium named Liquin.
Liquin is the brand name for a fast-drying medium and varnish that is composed of alkyd resins suspended in solvent. Alkyd resins are synthetic resins created by heating glycerol or other polyhydric alcohols with phthalic anhydride and either soybean or other natural oils. The use of alkyd resins allowed paint chemists to create affordable, versatile oil paints that dry faster than traditional oil paints.
Liquin was introduced by Winsor & Newton in the 1960s to widespread popularity. It allowed artists to manipulate oil paints in new ways thanks to liquin’s faster drying time, ability to increase gloss and transparency, and capacity to facilitate wet-on-wet painting. In many ways, liquin brought alkyd technology to the masses and changed oil painting as we know it today.
The Many Uses of Liquin
Over the past 60+ years, artists have found many ingenious uses for liquin beyond simply speeding up drying times. Here are some of the top ways oil painters incorporate this versatile medium:
Thinning and glazing - Adding small amounts of liquin allows paint layers to be smoothly and transparently glazed on top of one another.
Wet-on-wet painting - Liquin facilitates this lush, dynamic style of layering wet paint into wet paint.
Creating fluid detail - It can make brush or knife work flow beautifully.
Increasing gloss - Liquin gloss medium enhances the natural lushness of oil paints.
Extending color intensity - It helps maintain the integrity of colour as layers build up.
As you can see, liquin has become an essential part of an oil painter’s toolkit for mastering color mixing, glazing, detail work, and achieving luminous depth in a painting.
Why Do Oil Painters Love Liquin?
There are many good reasons why liquin has been zealously embraced by generations of artists:
Faster drying time - Alkyd resin mediums can be added to conventional oils to speed drying time. Thin layers could dry as fast as 24 hours.
Versatility - Has many applications beyond just drying acceleration. The drying time can also be extended by mixing some linseed oil into the medium. They can be used to modify the paint for any use - thinning, thickening etc.
User-friendly - Easy to incorporate into existing oil painting practice as it mixes well with the linseed oil in oil paint, and can be incorporated into any layer of the painting.
Low odor - Does not have a strong solvent smell, unless you get nose close to your painting or palette, although it is still recommended to work in a well-ventilated area.
High clarity - Does not alter colors or create cloudiness like some mediums
Gloss - These mediums can also add some gloss along with transparency to paint layers, perfect for glazing as mentioned previously.
Importantly, liquin maintains the archival integrity and stability of oil paints even though it speeds up drying time. This makes it very appealing to artists who want to balance working efficiency with time-tested permanence.
Potential Drawbacks of Working with Liquin
Of course, no medium is perfect. There are a few potential drawbacks to working with liquin that artists should keep in mind:
Handling - Though low odor (for the most part), liquin contains components that require it to be handled with some caution like most artist solvents.
Not a Binder - Whilst it makes a great medium for glazing and paint layers, it cannot hold as high a pigment load as linseed oil.
Varnishing - Despite its glossy finish it shouldn’t be used as a final layer as it is not soluble in normal solvents making it incredible tricky to be cleaned or removed.
Risk of cracking - Too thick or too many layers of liquin can make a painting prone to cracking over time. Alkyds can become brittle with age.
Many of these issues can be managed with proper handling and care. Adding too much liquin too quickly is never recommended. It takes some experimentation to find a paint:liquin ratio that suits each artist’s unique style and application method. But used judiciously, liquin poses no major downsides beyond requiring safe handling procedures.
Is Liquin Toxic? Handling Safety Precautions
While liquin contains less noxious fumes than traditional paint solvents like turpentine or mineral spirits, it is still vitally important to follow safe handling guidelines when working with this medium just as you would with any art material:
Work in a well-ventilated area - Open windows and use fans to keep air gently circulating.
Avoid skin contact - Wear gloves and long sleeves while painting.
Cover nose and mouth - Wear a proper respirator mask made for oil painting.
Take regular breaks - Step outside occasionally for some fresh air.
Securely cap containers - Tightly seal liquin between uses.
Allow proper disposal - Check local regulations and allow solvents to fully evaporate before placing in normal trash.
Children, pregnant women, folks with respiratory issues, and pets should avoid exposure to liquin fumes as a precaution. With prudence and responsible handling, liquin poses low toxicity risks according to the health & safety data sheet, but we still must be conscientious while working with this medium.
Tips for Incorporating Liquin Into Your Oil Painting Practice
Curious to give liquin a try but aren’t quite sure where to start? Here are a few tips as you integrate this versatile medium into your oil painting:
Start slowly - Add very small amounts to paints at first until you get a feel for drying times
Take notes - Document liquin ratios that work well for your style and techniques
Apply judiciously - Don’t overuse liquin just to speed things up needlessly
Consider combinations - Liquin works well with traditional mediums too, such as linseed oil.
Test before varnishing - Make sure work is fully cured before applying final varnish
Observe basic studio safety - Ventilate your workspace properly and always use protective gear
With some thoughtful experimentation, liquin can help take your oil painting to exciting new levels without fundamentally changing everything you love about rich, buttery oil paints. Mastering this modern classic medium opens up new creative possibilities!
Give Liquin a Try!
If you’re an oil painter yet unfamiliar with liquin, hopefully this post has illuminated just how versatile and game-changing this medium can be! By understanding proper handling procedures, thoughtfully incorporating liquin into your existing painting practice, and taking advantage of its unique drying and working properties, a world of new techniques and artistic effects is open to you.
So don’t be afraid to give liquin a try on your next oil painting! With a little practice and patience figuring out ideal liquin ratios for your style, you’ll discover why generations of artists have embraced this modern classic as an indispensable oil painting medium.
If you have any further questions on the medium or want any tips or examples then please comment so down below!
