Quick drying additives

[Michele Rushworth]

Thanks, everybody, for the input.

As you know, Linda, I'm leery about Studio Products' Maroger because of the potential that the resin might darken quite a bit over time. (For the same reason, I don't like to use retouch varnish very much because every brand I've found is made of Damar, also a resin.)

I'd like to try alkyds but I think they are the same substance as Liquin (it's an alkyd, right?) and I've had those delaminating problems with Liquin.

Has anyone used lead dryers or cobalt dryers?

[Chris Saper]

Well, there you go! Burt Silverman uses Alkyd white, mixed in various proportions with other whites. He likes the surface to set up quickly.

[Kimberly Dow]

I've used cobalt drier. It works great and you use very VERY little. I've never seen any problems with it at all - but I'm no expert. I know Tim Tyler uses it. I only use it in emergencies since I dont like to use mediums if I can help it. I am loving the Maroger - but only on canvas. I don't care for it on a panel much yet..

[Richard Budig]

I premix little puddles of paint -- A La Daniel Greene. Quite some time ago, I got into the habit of putting out a little puddle of Liquin and, as I mixed my little batches of paint, I'd dip my brus into the Liquin, about once per puddle of paint. The result is that my paint dried nicely overnight -- touch dry that is. I actually use very little Liquin unless I'm doing a bit of glazing, but that tiny bit added to the colors I pre-mix gets me a touch dry canvas by the next morning.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

I wonder about the spraying of retouch varnish inbetween paint sessions (ala Daniel Green's method) and the addition of mediums. Does this not weaken the paint layers?