Mediums, Solvents, Varnishes & Grounds

Select from our range of Oils, Acrylic, Sprays, Watercolour and Raw Materials. If you would like to know more please read our blog post "the differences between solvents".
Oil
- M Graham Walnut Oil 8 ounce$23.95
Walnut oil effectively removes color from artists' brushes and is a natural vegetable oil that does not evaporate or remove essential oils from the artists' brushes. The addition of walnut oil to color will slow drying, enhance flow and increase sheen.
Our walnut oil medium is compatible with other artists oil colors and mediums. - Res N Gel$38.95Out of Stock
Mixing medium for oil color. Accelerates drying time and adds textural effects. In a 150ml tube.
- Art Spectrum Varnishes12 items
- Archival Painting Mediums12 items
- Winsor & Newton Artisan Mediums7 items
- Art Spectrum Painting Mediums24 items
- Winsor & Newton Painting Mediums15 items
- Daler-Rowney Painting Mediums13 items
- Gamblin Painting Mediums22 items
- Gamblin Oil Ground2 items
This non-absorbent ground works like a traditional oil ground, leaving finished paintings brighter since the oil is left in the paint film instead of being absorbed. Two thin layers of Gamblin Ground equal four layers of acrylic gesso. Instead of linseed oil, Gamblin Ground is made with alkyd resin for increased flexibility and quicker dry time. Traditional linseed oil grounds need about six months to dry. Gamblin Ground is ready for paint application in a few days and may be used directly upon panels without sizing.
- Gamvar Picture Varnish6 items
Developed in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art, Gamblin Gamvar Varnish saturates and gives greater depth to the colors in your painting and gives your work a unified and protective surface. Virtually odorless and ready to apply, Gamvar goes on water-clear, stays water-clear, and can be easily and safely removed with Gamblin Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits.
- Gamsol4 items
Gamsol is an excellent solvent for thinning Gamblin mediums and for general painting. It evaporates 100% and leaves no residue in paint layers. Gamsol is less toxic than other brands of OMS (Odorless Mineral Spirits), mineral spirits, or turpentine because the harmful aromatic solvent component has been removed. It's also useful for studio and brush cleanup.
Gamsol also enables printmakers to easily modify inks.
- Art Spectrum Stand Linseed Oil
Stand Oil is a heat thickened linseed oil mainly used as a levelling agent in mediums. Slower drying, Stand Oil imparts gloss to oil paints and dries to a tough, elastic film.
- Art Spectrum Pure Gum Turpentine4 items
Double distilled for artists' use. Use in the preparation of painting mediums and for cleaning equipment. Do not use neat as a diluent for oil paint.
- Art Spectrum Oil Prime2 items
Oil Prime is a unique oil/acrylic resin blend. The 40% linseed oil content provides controlled absorbency, which maintains the natural glow of oil pint. Non-toxic, non-flammable and equipment washes up with water.
- Art Spectrum Odourless Solvent4 items
Ideal for artists who are sensitive to the odour of turpentine. Use to cleaning brushes and as an additive to mediums.
- Art Spectrum Citrus Turpentine3 items
Use sparingly as a diluent for oil paint, mediums and for cleaning brushes.
- Art Spectrum Artists Turpentine4 items
Artists' Turpentine has less tack than Gum Turpentine. Use in the preparation of painting mediums and for cleaning equipment. Do not use neat as a diluent for oil paint.
- Art Spectrum Art Clean2 items
Perfect for all applications in the studio such as cleaning brushes, palettes, hands as well as a large range of household applications. Fragrant Art Clean is made from a blend of natural extracts. Colour and aroma variation is natural. Art Clean contains no petroleum based solvents and no harmful bleaches.
- Matisse Mm29 Satin Varnish (turps-based)2 items
- Matisse Mm15 Matt Varnish (turps-based)2 items
- Matisse Mm14 Hi-Gloss Varnish (turps-based)2 items
- Matisse Mm17 250ml Patina (Oil)$24.80
This product available on 'Special Order, only.
- Archival Oil Odourless Solvent3 items
A general purpose, low toxicity solvent which may be used as a safe replacement to gum and mineral turpentine for thinning paint and cleaning brushes.
It's slow evaporation rate 1/16th that of mineral turps and its low toxicity combine to produce a painting environment which 16 x 3 = 48 times less toxic than turpentine.
Acrylic
- Sargent Art Acrylic Pearlescent Mixing Medium 16oz$24.10Out of Stock
Can be used to produce pearlescent paint effects. Mix one part of acrylic colour paint with approximately ten parts of Pearlescent Mixing Medium and mix thoroughly. Using too much paint will reduce the pearlescent effect. Made in the USA.
- Sargent Art Acrylic Matte Medium 16oz$15.95Out of Stock
Dries to a permanent, matte finish. Water reducible, non yellowing. Made in the USA
- Sargent Art Liquid GessoOut of Stock2 items
Sargent Art Liquid Gesso is an acrylic primer formulated for use on raw canvas and other surfaces to seal and provide a light 'tooth' for for acrylic and other paint media. Permanent and water resistant when dry. Made in the USA.
- Atelier Universal Medium/Varnish$29.30
Mix with Acrylic artists' paint to reduce viscosity for improved brushabilty and glazing, or as a final varnish with a finish of your choice.
- Atelier Slow Medium$23.60
Low Viscosity. Slows the drying process of Atelier Interactive. Allows thinly painted areas to be re-wet and remain workable for longer.
- Atelier Satin Varnish2 items
Use as a final varnish for artists' acrylics to protect artwork and give a semi-gloss, satin sheen.
- Atelier Regular Gel 250ml$22.40
An Acrylic gel with a smooth buttery consistency. Use as a paint extender to add gloss and transparency without altering consistency. Mix with paint to increase body or apply directly on top of paint layer for a transparent textural effect.
- Atelier Gloss Medium 250ml$22.40
Mid-Viscosity. A general purpose fluid medium that adds translucency and a rich oil-like gloss
- Matisse Mm28 Polymer Satin Varnish$34.60
MM28 Polymer Satin Varnish is used as a final varnish over a dried, well-cured acrylic painting when a satin or very mid level sheen is required (and the use of MM29 Satin Varnish(turps-based) is not appropriate).Polymer water-based varnishes may appear to be slightly hazy whilst in solution. This is an optical effect produced by light refraction of acrylic particles suspended within the water-based medium. The effect disappears when the film is dry. As acrylics dry very rapidly, care should be taken to apply varnish pre-diluted with water. Polymer Varnish, applied in very thick layers on a hot day, could trap moisture,resulting in a cloudy film which would be very difficult to correct.
- Glow in the Dark Medium$8.20
Apply one or two coats to any craft or fabric surface. Paint will absorb the light and glow in the dark. 59ml
- Daler-Rowney Gesso5 items
- Daler-Rowney Mediums22 items
- PVA Size2 items
Diluted with distilled water, PVA size is a contemporary size for fabric support. PVA seals the fabric but does not re-absorb atmospheric moisture, preventing the size layer from swelling and shrinking. It has a neutral pH and does not yellow, plus it retains its flexibility, does not emit harmful volatiles, and protects fabric from the ground. PVA does not tighten the fabric like rabbit skin glue, so stretch fabric tightly.
- Jo Sonjas Polyurethane Varnish 250ml3 items
Durable formulation for indoor & outdoor use
Clear, non-yellowing, quick drying. Approximate coverage: 1ml = 215sq centimeters
- Triple Thick Gloss Glaze3 items
Add a glazed ceramic look to a variety of hard surfaces. Three times as thick as other finishes, it provides a protective, non-yellowing coat that dries quickly and evenly. It goes on smoothly with no stroke marks. The finish adds the illusion of depth and resists cracking. Suitable for wood, wicker, plaster, papier mache, resins, painted china, pre-primed metal, pinecones, jewelry, bisque, artificial flowers and more.
- Jo Sonjas Textile Medium 250ml$26.80
- Winsor & Newton White Gesso3 items
This gesso is made from the highest quality acrylic resin. It has a superior level of pigmentation to give maximum covering power, so one coat is usually enough. It is fast drying and opaque and dries to give an excellent level of tooth and a balance absorbency. It dries to a non-yellowing, flexible ground suitable for acrylic oil and alkyd painting.
- Winsor & Newton Modelling Paste1 item
This modelling paste is lightweight and flexible so it doesn't shrink or crack. It thickens the consistency of the colour, building body and structure and accentuating texture, brush marks and palette knife marks. It also increases the opacity of the colour. It is ideal for carving, sanding and creating extreme textures. It can be used to easily and quickly build up depth in layers, and either over painted when dry or mixed with colour. Due to its high opacity it may lighten certain colours. It provides an even matt finish.
- Winsor & Newton Slow Dry Medium2 items
This additive slows the drying time of acrylic colour to give you more working time for extended blending and manipulation. This additive has been formulated to match the consistency of the colour. This means that none of the characteristics of the colour are affected, except the drying time. You can mix Slow Drying Medium with any other medium in the range to slow the drying. This additive maintains no colour shift from wet to dry when used with Winsor & Newton Artists' Acrylic, unlike other slow drying mediums.
- Winsor & Newton Matt Medium1 item
This medium improves the flow of the colour making it ideal for blending or fine detail work. It provides an even matt finish and increases the water resistance of the colour when dry. This medium contains clear binder and matting agents giving you no loss of colour depth when used with Winsor & Newton aRtists' Acrylic.
- Winsor & Newton Matt Gel1 item
This medium decreases the gloss of the colour. Its gel consistency is thicker than the Matt Medium, matching the luxuriously thick and buttery consistency of the colour. Hence, when mixed with colour the thickness of the colour is maintained, so the paint retains brush strokes and palette knife marks for excellent impasto effects. This means you can change the paint without compromising the feel. It dries to give an even matt finish. This medium contains clear binder and matting agents giving you no loss of colour depth when used with Winsor & Newton Artists' Acrylics.
- Winsor & Newton Acrylic Varnish Remover 125ml$23.80
By removing the varnish over a painting you can remove the dirt and pollutants trapped. Winsor & Newton Artists' Acrylic Varnish Remover allows you to safely remove varnishes with no damage to your painting. It removes Winsor & Newton Artists' Acrylic Gloss, Matt and Satin Varnishes.
- Winsor & Newton Satin UV Varnish2 items
Winsor & Newton Varnishes contain a UV protective agent which improves lightfastness and protects from other UV damage such as fading or colour shifting in tone. Winsor & Newton Artists' Acrylic varnishes are equally suitable for use on artwork painted in oils and alkyds. They can also be intermixed to vary the result and to achieve any sheen.
- Winsor & Newton Matt UV Varnish2 items
Winsor & Newton Varnishes contain a UV protective agent which improves lightfastness and protects from other UV damage such as fading or colour shifting in tone. Winsor & Newton Artists' Acrylic varnishes are equally suitable for use on artwork painted in oils and alkyds. They can also be intermixed to vary the result and to achieve any sheen.
Sprays
- Krylon UV Resistant Clear 11oz2 items
Protects your valuable projects against harmful UV light rays. Protects against fading, is moisture resistant and smudge-proof. Can be used for photography, watercolor, fabric, pencil, charcoal, and more.
- Krylon Craft Foam Primer$20.80
- Krylon Dulling Spray$25.60Out of Stock
Temporarily reduces shine and glare when photographing or filming bright objects. Removable dull finish for use on items to be photographed and videotaped, Reduces shine, Semi-drying finish wipes off easily, Leaves no marks. Dries to the touch in 15 minutes. For use on metal, plastic, glass, plaster, ceramic
- Krylon Low Odor Clear Finish Gloss$26.95
Krylon Low Odor Clear Finish features a latex enamel formula that provides a permanent, protective, non-yellowing finish without the strong odor of traditional coatings. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, it may be applied on plastic, silk flowers, papier mâché, ceramic, plaster, glass, metal, wood, and craft foam. Choose from gloss or matte finishes.
- Krylon Low Odor Clear Finish Matte$26.95
Krylon Low Odor Clear Finish features a latex enamel formula that provides a permanent, protective, non-yellowing finish without the strong odor of traditional coatings. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, it may be applied on plastic, silk flowers, papier mâché, ceramic, plaster, glass, metal, wood, and craft foam. Choose from gloss or matte finishes.
- Krylon Kamar Varnish$25.95Out of Stock
Krylon Kamar Varnish provides clear, lasting protection for oil, acrylic, and water-based paints. It's free of the impurities found in natural varnish, so it will not yellow with age. It allows reworking of the painting, and it can be safely removed by conservators for restoration.
- Daler-Rowney 400ml Artist Clear Picture Varnish$35.50A removable picture varnish for a clear even gloss, which will not yellow or bloom. May be used on both oil and acrylic painting.
- Daler-Rowney 150ml Artist Clear Picture Varnish$21.50A removable picture varnish for a clear even gloss, which will not yellow or bloom. May be used on both oil and acrylic painting.
- Daler-Rowney 400ml Perfix Aerosol$31.60Out of StockPastel Fixative is a perfect colourless fixative for pastels, crayon or charcoal drawing.
- Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Maxx3 items
A premium clear coating for added durability and protection. Dries in 10 minutes. Protective, non-yellowing finish. Dry to the touch in 10 minutes. Dry to handle in 1 hour. For use on: wood, metal, plastic, wicker, dried silk flowers, fabric, ceramic, plaster, glass, wicker, metal, wood, paper mache. 311g
- Krylon Chalkboard Spray Paint Black 12oz$27.60
This chalk paint formula contains fine particles of slate-like abrasive materials which give years of use. Use to refinish chalkboards, ping pong tables or on any smooth, non-porous surface.
- Krylon Wood Finish Varnish 11oz2 items
This crystal clear spray varnish seals wood finishes and enhances surface grains. It makes an excellent protective coating for brass, bronze and other metals. The durable finish has an outstanding resistance to chemicals and abrasion.
- Krylon Magnetic Spray Paint 13oz$31.95
Use by itself or as a primer with any spray to create a surface that magnets will stick to! The more you apply, the stronger the attraction will be. Use it as a base on doors, walls, and furniture so that you can attach magnetic films and sheets. It's great for classrooms and studios.
- Krylon Glow-In-The-Dark Spray 6oz$18.95
This glow-in-the-dark paint is suitable for indoor and outdoor use to create a glowing effect. The painted surface recharges with exposure to light.
- Krylon Gallery Pastel Fixative 11oz$34.40Out of Stock
This spray fixatif offers invisible protection of artwork without dissolving pastel whites and light colors. Provides final and workable protection. It contains UV light absorbers and stabilizers. Safeguards pastel, charcoal, pencil and chalk from dusting, smudging and fading.
- Krylon Satin Finish 11oz$25.60
A clear, protective spray finish for all kinds of arts, crafts, and home décor projects. It is non-yellowing, moisture-resistant and provides a permanent, protective gloss finish. Great for use with wood, metal, wicker, plastic, glass, plaster, ceramic, paper, paper mache, dried/silk flowers, and more. In an 11 oz. aerosol can.
- Krylon Crystal Clear Triple Thick Glaze$26.20Out of Stock
This triple-thick coating produces a bright, glass-like finish for arts and crafts. Used as a non-firing glaze for bisque or plaster, it’s also excellent for porcelainizing, decoupage, papier mâché, collage, artificial flowers, quilling and much more.
- Spectrafix Pastel Spray$32.95
SpectraFix is a casein-based pastel fixative that utilizes milk protein and grain alcohol to provide a non-toxic, fully archival fixative for pastel, charcoal, conte, watercolor, gouache and multi-media techniques. It holds and protects media without darkening or dulling colors. It can also be used under oil paintings to hold a preliminary charcoal or pencil sketching and provide a barrier between the oil paint and the drawing. It is all natural, odor-free and can be sprayed indoors while without obnoxious odors or unhealthy fumes. 12 oz. non-aerosol pump fine mist plastic spray bottle.
- Krylon Matte Finish 11oz$25.60Out of Stock
Krylon Matte Finish provides a permanent, non-gloss finish which protects art, crafts and valuables. Eliminates light reflection. Dries fast and clear.
- Krylon Preserve It Spray 11oz2 items
Digital photo and paper protectant more than doubles the life of documents and photos.
- Nuart Workable Fixative 350g$28.10
Specially formulated for charcoal, pencil or pastel drawings and layouts. Provides compatible surface for rework needs. Gives a clear protective coating to prevent dusting or smudging.
- Nuart Picture Varnish Satin 400g$29.30Out of Stock
This fine colourless varnish is carefully formulated to protect your valued works of art. Suitable for use on Oil and Acrylic Paintings. As a final varnish, two coats should be applied allowing the first to dry before re-spraying. May be removed with Distilled Turpentine if desired.
- Nuart Picture Varnish Matt 400g$28.10
This fine colourless varnish is carefully formulated to protect your valued works of art. Suitable for use on Oil and Acrylic Paintings. As a final varnish, two coats should be applied allowing the first to dry before re-spraying. May be removed with Distilled Turpentine if desired.
Watercolour
- Art Spectrum Gum Arabic 50ml$21.00Out of Stock
- Dr Martin's Frisket Mask Liquid2 items
These liquids work great for masking off areas and will seal well on most surfaces. The Level 1 formula peels off clean without tearing paper. Level 2 is a thinner liquid that features a soft grip, and produces an easy-lift peel so the mask will come off in one piece without crumbling. AP approved non-toxic and conforms to ASTM Standard D-4236.
- Daler-Rowney Rown 75ml OX Gall Solution$17.50Improves the wetting and increases the flow of watercolour. Only add a few drops of Ox Gall to the mixing water.
- Daler-Rowney 75ml Gum Arabic Solution$18.20Increases the gloss and transparency of watercolours.
- Daler-Rowney 75ml Art Masking Fluid$17.70Used to create striking white highlights or areas for overpainting at a later stage.
- Daler-Rowney 175ml Art Masking Fluid$33.00
- Daler-Rowney Simply 75ml Art Masking Fluid$16.10Out of Stock
- Daler-Rowney Rown 75ml Poster & Watercolour Varnish$17.50Apply one coat for a glossy surface on watercolours, poster or gouache paintings and designs.
- Art Spectrum Masking Fluid2 items
A rubber latex solution which is painted over any dry area you wish to keep free of colour. Allow the masking fluid to dry before over-painting. Peel or rub off with fingers or suitable eraser when paint is dry.
- Winsor & Newton Blending Medium 75ml$17.30
This liquid is used to slow the drying rate of water colours allowing more time for blending. It is particularly useful in hot climates where artists would like their water colours to stay open and workable for a longer period of time.
- Winsor & Newton Permanent Masking Medium 75ml$21.50
This medium is used to mask specific areas of paper, making them resistant to water. It can also be mixed with water colours and is ideal for isolating areas of fine detail. Unlike Art Masking Fluid, Permanent Masking Medium is not removable.
- Winsor & Newton Ox Gall Liquid 75Ml$21.50Out of Stock
A wetting agent used to improve flow when mixed directly with water colours. It can also be used on very hard sized papers to reduce surface tension.
Raw Materials
- Encaustic Medium$59.70
This 8/1 blend of White Filtered Beeswax and Damar Resin is perfect for encaustic applications. It comes in easy-to-measure pellets. Can be used alone for collage techniques or be mixed with any encaustic paints or pigments. 1 lb
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