Chris doesn't use layers of glazes but rather an alla prima technique. You might want to see what Karin Wells has posted. Her technique seems closer to what you might want to try.

Thanks. Michele.

Jean I don't use a medium at this point, but as I say, plan to learn how in the Whitaker workshop. After, that I will decide whether it's something I will continue or not.

My medium de Jure
 

Jean,

I have started using a medium comprised of walnut oil and alkyd resin manufactured by Graham. I may seem fickle, but I'm in love with this stuff. It allows the paint to stay open longer than the Neo Megilp yet it dries faster (usually overnight). It also seems to make the paint less transparent than N.M. Like the N.M. it dries to a gloss finish so the darks avoid that old sinking in feeling. My brushes seem to take less of a beating as well.

My sole criteria is if something works for me I am 100% behind it, since my allegiance is to my paintings alone. I have no loyalty to any brand, approach, concept or affiliation unless it works for me.

Seeking the perfect medium
 

Marvin, you're a hard one to keep up with!

Jean

Marvin,

The Graham walnut/alkyd medium sounds like exactly what I've been looking for.

My only reservation is that an Old Holland tech letter put walnut oil in the same category as poppyseed, in that it's a lighter oil - less subject to yellowing than linseed but more prone to cracking. Intuitively, though, I'd expect this to be offset by the added toughness of the alkyd.

Any problem so far with cracking?

Thanks for all of your generous posts!
Tom

Cracking
 

The only thing coming out of my studio that may be cracking up is me (wise cracking of course). Seriously, I have not been using this medium very long but I feel that the addition of alkyd resin will more than compensate for the inequities of almost any additional ingredient. I am using it with W&N colors, which use more conventional oils as their binder. M. Graham & Co. makes a line of paints using walnut oil and I haven't heard any negative info. Their site is http://www.mgraham.com/ You can contact them if you have any questions. They are very helpful.

Marvin,

Thanks a lot. I'll give it a try.

Tom

Close, but not a perfect medium.

The following link will take you to a demonstration of one of the great old mediums to improve portraits. The demo will show the wonders of this product but there are certain shortcomings, which you will recognize. I have used this product in moderation for many years. The improvements are incredible.


Click the link.....

http://home.attbi.com/~no-spam/Beer.swf

Ultimate medium
 

Jim,

Maybe we should serve some of your "medium" to our clients before we unveil our paintings to them.

Blockx
 

I am A Blockx fan. The paint is so buttery that it never needs a medium, unless you want to slow down the drying or speed it up. It also doesn't suede on skintones.

I am a fan of Galkyd, insread of Liquin for drying and glazing techniques. The Blockx also makes rich, glowing tranparencies.

A few years ago they discontinued their gorgeous Alizarin, probably because of questions of permanence. I could not see any problems with it as the pigment used was on Mayer's approved list, so I bought a box of ten. It is now no longer available.

Sincerely,