Glazing

[Peter Garrett]

Just a reply to Stephen Sweeney: glazing need not compromise the paint film in any way. The pigment can be rubbed on with a cloth or even a finger, if you have no objection to touching the paint. Oil paint, fortunately, can be spread out easily. What you seem to be describing is more like a tinted varnish or wash. This approach to glazing is guaranteed to result in a very weak film, both as to colour and cohesion etc

Very small amounts of medium are required only to improve the spreadability of the paint. If you 'rub" the glaze on, there is no danger that the paint will be underbound, and lightening it is merely a matter of rubbing off what is too dark or intense. I suspect that many of the problems of muddiness, cracking and darkening are due to the over-use of medium, whether traditional or alkyd. Keep it simple!