Painting Auxiliaries

Auxiliary painting materials are products that modify paint properties or protect finished works, mediums that change consistency and drying time, thinners that dilute paints, varnishes that protect and provide finish, and fixatives that stabilize dry media. Each painting technique uses different auxiliaries: oils need linseed oil and turpentine, acrylics accept various mediums for different effects. The right auxiliaries improve application, speed up or slow down drying, and keep works in excellent condition.

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Auxiliary materials are divided into three main categories: mediums that modify paint consistency and properties, solvents that dilute and clean, and final finishing and protection products. Mediums change thickness (more fluid or more impasto), finish (matte, glossy, satin), drying time (accelerators or retarders), and add special effects like transparency, texture, or metallic appearance. Solvents (turpentine, white spirit for oils, water for acrylics and watercolours) dilute paints and clean tools. Varnishes and fixatives protect the final work from dust, moisture, and UV radiation, while providing the desired finish.
For oil paints you need linseed oil for thinning and mixing, turpentine or odorless mineral spirits for cleaning, and final coat varnish (damar or synthetic varnish). For acrylics there are gloss/matte mediums that change finish, gel mediums that increase volume and transparency, retarder that slows drying, and modeling paste for three-dimensional effects. Watercolours use gum arabic for more intense colours and ox gall for better flow. Pastels and charcoals need fixative spray to prevent smudging. Discover them at Art & Colour