Four cans and initial color on UART

After solvents applied

Blue Earth pastel added on top

I noted in my last post that I recently decided to try a different solvent for my latest painting, Summer Greens. I found cans in my home studio cabinet and decided to do a test of them to see how they differed.

Using a sheet of UART 320, I divided it in four and used some of the warm colors I was planning to use in the underpainting.  The four solvents were Gamsol, Turpenoid, odorless mineral spirits, and denatured alcohol.  I bought the Gamsol years ago to try out oil (gave it up fast!).  I bought the denatured alcohol because Duane Wakeham used it.  Not sure about the others but over the years I’ve studied with a number of people who recommended one thing or another.

My normal solvent for hard pastel is 90% isopropyl alcohol that I get at CVS or Walgreens.  Really cheap and it dries instantly.  I wanted to see what benefits these others might have. I also remembered an experience with my painting Snow and Lock that I painted and sold in 2015.  I used one of these (maybe turpenoid?) as the solvent and it allowed me to really work the underpainting in a beautiful way.  But when I got to the painting, there was one place on it that I couldn’t get the pastel to stick to. It had become too smooth and slick.  The turpenoid definitely had the most oily feel to it and I think it must have been what I used.

I tried to use similar colors in each box.  Then added the solvents.  The Gamsol went on really nicely and I took an immediate liking to it.  It also dried quite quickly.  I liked the way the pastel looked afterwards. Definitely brighter than when I use my regular alcohol, I think.  The Turpenoid was the worst of these.  It was rather yellowish and it darkened the colors and it refused to dry!  When I tried to add pastel over it, it was gummy!  I quickly ruled it out.  Perhaps some of you use this with good effect?

The mineral spirits and denatured alcohol both went on nicely and dried quickly and seemed to be similar.  These have the advantage of being cheaper than the Gamsol, which was designed for artists and sold in art stores (can is smaller too!).  The others are all available at your local hardware store.

One issue with some of these solvents is disposing of them.  Alcohol can go down the sink (or on the grass when painting outside) and that’s why I’ve always favored it.  I don’t think Gamsol can be disposed of in this way.  Those of you who are oil painters have more experience with this than I do.  I’d be interested to know what people like best.

I definitely thought that the color was more brilliant with the Gamsol, but then I covered it up so not sure it matters!!!