Notebook

Notebook, 1993-

MATERIALS & METHODS - Painting - Oil Painting - Binders and Diluents

Characteristics - Painting Methods & Techniques - Materials and Equipment - Work Space & Storage - Manufacture of Pigments - Protection of the Picture

From: Kay, Reed. The Painter's Guide to Studio Methods and Materials. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1983.

Binders and Diluents - Balsams
These oleoresins are thick varnishlike liquids which are obtained by incising the bark of certain coniferous trees. They are used almost as they come from the tree and are diluted, when necessary, with turpentine or alcohol. They may thicken in the container, so that they pour very slowly. In this case, heating the container gently in a water bath or double boiler will make them more liquid.

Strasbourg Turpentine and Venice Turpentine are two balsams that were in common use, but the genuine products are difficult to find today.

Copaiba Balsam, an oleoresin used in the past in restoring pictures, was said to rejuvenate dried and cracked linseed oil films. It should not be employed in painting media because it has a tendency to dissolve and penetrate linseed oil films. [p. 62]

[Kay, Reed. The Painter's Guide to Studio Methods and Materials. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1983.]









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