Have you ever used Liquin and found it to have a really bad smell? Is the smell driving you to look for Liquin alternatives so that you can paint without getting a headache? If you said yes to any of these then this blog post is for you!
In this post I will explain:
- My pick for the best Liquin alternative
- What Liquin is used for
- The importance of exploring non-toxic Liquin alternatives
- 5 Other Liquin Alternatives to Try
Liquin is a well known and popular medium with modern oil painters thanks to its ability to be fast-drying and ability to create a nice glossy finish. The downside is that Liquin is known to contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to both artists and the environment not to mention it also has quite a strong smell. Luckily for us there are several natural and non-toxic Liquin alternatives that offer similar benefits and results without the added health risks.
Some of these Liquin alternatives include Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium, Gamsol Substitute, Linseed Oil, Walnut Oil, Safflower Oil, and Poppy Oil. These options are either all-natural or eco-friendly, and can improve paint flow, drying time, and transparency. By looking for non-toxic alternatives to Liquin, we as artists can create art with peace of mind, knowing we are not exposing ourselves or family to harmful substances.
Best Liquin Alternative – My Pick
Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium is my pick for the best Liquin alternative. It is a well-regarded and widely used medium from a very respected manufacturer with a long track record of fantastic products.
Its non-toxic and environmentally friendly formula, as well as its ability to create a smooth and glossy finish in oil paintings, and its ability to come close to how Liquin behaves without the negatives of Liquin have made it a popular choice among artists who want a safer and healthier painting medium. In the end the choice of which Liquin alternative you should use will depend on your specific needs and preferences and availability of the alternative mediums.
What is Liquin used for?
Liquin is a brand of oil painting medium that is made by Winsor & Newton. It is a mixture of synthetic resins and drying oils, it can be added to oil paints to make them be more fluid and easier to apply. The resin in Liquin also helps protect the painting once it’s dry so it stays looking nice and glossy for a long time.
Importance of exploring non-toxic Liquin alternatives
Nobody wants to spend their days working with toxic and smelly chemicals so it makes sense to explore non-toxic Liquin alternatives. This is important for several reasons. Liquin contains harmful solvents and resins that can be hazardous to your health and the environment. When used in unventilated area or disposed of improperly, solvents like these can release toxic fumes that can have increase the risk of negative impacts on both human and environmental health.
Many non-toxic mediums offer similar benefits to traditional Liquin, such as improving flow, enhancing gloss, and speeding up drying time without the negative experience.
And as the demand for non-toxic art supplies continues to grow, looking for non-toxic Liquin alternatives can help to support the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly products in the art industry.
Liquin Alternatives to Try
Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium
Description and benefits
Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly alternative to other painting mediums, such as Liquin. This gel medium is made from a combination of alkyd resin and safflower oil, which provides a smooth and glossy finish to oil paintings.
One of the main benefits of using Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium is that it is completely free of solvents, making it safer and healthier for artists to use and it does not have the overpowering smell of Liquin.
Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel medium allows artists to create a range of effects, from thin glazes to thick impasto textures. Another added benefit is that this gel medium has a slow drying time, which can be useful for artists like me who want to work with their paints for an extended period or who want to create wet-on-wet effects.
User review and comparison with Liquin
User reviews of Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium are pretty positive overall, many artists online have been noting that it is a good alternative to alternative mediums like Liquin. Some artists have noted that it has a slightly thicker consistency than Liquin and may take longer to dry, but others actually prefer the slow drying time and find it easier to work with than other traditional mediums.
Availability and pricing
Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium is widely available at art supply stores and online retailers. The pricing of this medium can vary depending on the size of the container, but it is generally priced similarly to other high-quality painting mediums. Click on the image below to find the latest pricing.
Gamsol
Description and benefits
Gamsol is a non-toxic solvent that can be used as a substitute for traditional solvents like turpentine and mineral spirits. While it is not a painting medium it can still be used to thin out oil paints but you will not get the same gloss finish as Liquin. In fact, Gamsol and other solvents tend to leave oil paints with a matte finish. Gamsol is made by the same manufacturer as Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium, and is designed to be safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional solvents.
One of the main benefits of using Gamsol is that it is odorless, making it a good choice for artists who are sensitive to strong smells. Additionally, it is a low-evaporating solvent, which means that it does not release as many harmful vapors into the air as traditional solvents. It can be used to thin oil paints, clean brushes and palettes, and as a solvent for varnishes and other painting mediums.
User review and comparison with Liquin
User reviews of Gamsol are pretty positive. Many artists have said that it is a good alternative to traditional solvents. Some users of Gamsol have noted that it may not be as effective at cleaning brushes as stronger solvents, but others appreciate its low odor and environmental friendliness.
I have used Gamsol and I quite like it.
Availability and pricing
Gamsol is available at most well stocked art supply stores and online retailers such as Blicks and Amazon. The pricing of Gamsol can vary depending on the size of the container, but it is priced similarly to other high-quality solvents. Overall, Gamsol is a popular and well-regarded alternative to traditional solvents that offers artists a safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly option.
Walnut Oil
Description and benefits
Walnut oil is a natural and another non-toxic medium that is a great alternative to Liquin. Walnut oil is derived from the nuts of the walnut tree and can be used as a painting medium, a varnish, or a solvent for oil paints.
One of the main benefits of using walnut oil is that it is completely natural, non-toxic and environmentally friendly, making it a safe choice for artists to use. Like other mediums listed here it can be easily mixed with oil paints to create a range of effects, from thin glazes to thick impasto textures. Walnut oil is good at enhancing the color of oil paints and helps to preserve oil paints over time.
User review and comparison with Liquin
User reviews of walnut oil are positive. Some artists have said that it may take longer to dry than other mediums. Additionally, some artists prefer the natural, warm tone that walnut oil gives to their paintings once it is dry.
Availability and pricing
Walnut oil is available at most art supply stores and online retailers as it has been used by oil paint artists for generations. The pricing of Walnut oil can vary depending on the size of the container. Feel free to click on the image below to get the latest pricing.
Linseed Oil
Description and benefits
Linseed oil is a traditional and versatile painting medium that has been used by artists for centuries. It is made from the seeds of the flax plant and can be used to modify the consistency, drying time, and gloss level of oil paints. I would say that Linseed oil is the first and main oil most oil painting artists use.
One of the main benefits of using linseed oil is that it is a natural and non-toxic medium that has a long history of use in art. I love the smell of Linseed Oil, it has a nice woody smell that is not overpowering but you know it is there. Linseed oil can be used to make oil paints more fluid and easier to apply, or to create a glossy finish in oil paintings. Linseed oil can help to preserve the paint and prevent it from cracking but has been known to yellow over time which is a characteristic I have grown to love as it gives oil paintings that patina we all recognize in older oil paintings.
User review and comparison with Liquin
User reviews of linseed oil are positive, as a long time user of Linseed oil I can state that it is a reliable and versatile medium that can be used in many ways. You need to be aware that if you add too much to oil paint it may take longer to dry than other mediums. Linseed oil also give a warm tone that linseed oil gives to oil paintings over time.
Availability and pricing
Linseed oil is widely available at pretty much every single art supply store and online retailers. The pricing of Linseed oil can vary depending on the size of the container and the quality of the oil.
Safflower Oil
Description and benefits
Safflower oil is another natural and non-toxic medium that can be used as an alternative to linseed oil or Liquin. Safflower oil is derived from the seeds of the safflower plant and can be used as a painting medium, a varnish, or a solvent for oil paints.
One of the main benefits of using safflower oil is that it has a lighter color and less yellowing properties than other oils, making it great for use with lighter colors or white paint. It also has a lower viscosity and faster drying time compared to some oils, making it suitable for artists who prefer a medium that dries faster. Safflower oil can be easily mixed with oil paints to create a range of effects, from thin glazes to thick impasto textures.
User review and comparison with Liquin
User reviews of safflower oil are universally positive and it is a good alternative to linseed oil or Liquin. Some users of Safflower oil have stated that it may not provide the same level of gloss as other oils, but they appreciate the more subtle finish that it provides. Some artists prefer the lighter and less yellowing properties that safflower oil gives to their paintings.
Availability and pricing
Safflower oil is widely available at art supply stores and online retailers. The pricing of this oil can vary depending on the size of the container.
Poppy Oil
Description and benefits
I have to admit that I have never used Poppy oil so my comments are based on my own research. Poppy oil is another natural and non-toxic medium that is used by artists as an alternative to both linseed oil and Liquin. This oil is derived from the seeds of the poppy plant and can be used as a painting medium, a varnish, or a solvent for oil paints.
One of the main benefits of using poppy oil is that it has a light, clear color that does not yellow over time, making it ideal for use with light or white paints.
Poppy oil also has a thinner consistency than some of the other oils which can make it easier to apply and blend with oil paints. Poppy oil can be used to create a range of effects, from thin glazes to thick impasto textures, and it can help to preserve the paint and prevent it from cracking or yellowing over time.
User review and comparison with Liquin
User reviews of poppy oil are generally positive, with many artists in online forums noting that it is a good Liquin alternative. Some artists have noted that it may not provide the same level of gloss as other oils, but others appreciate the more subtle finish that it provides. Additionally, some artists prefer the lighter and less yellowing properties that poppy oil gives to their paintings.
Availability and pricing
Like the other oil mediums, Poppy oil is widely available at art supply stores and online retailers. The pricing of this oil can vary depending on the size of the container, but it is generally priced similarly to other high-quality painting mediums.
Best 6 Non Toxic Liquin Alternatives You Need Now – Wrap up!
Summary of the Liquin alternatives and their benefits
There are so many Liquin alternatives available to us these days that we are spoilt for choice. I could have listed more than 6 but I decided to use 6 Liquin alternatives that are easy to find and use. Let’s recap on some of the other popular non-toxic alternatives including Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium, Gamsol Substitute, walnut oil, safflower oil, and poppy oil.
Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel Medium is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. It’s made from a combination of alkyd resin and vegetable oil. It provides a smooth and glossy finish to oil paintings, and it can be easily mixed with oil paints to create a range of effects.
Gamsol is a non-toxic solvent that can be used as a substitute for traditional solvents like turpentine and mineral spirits. It is odorless and has a low-evaporating formula, making it a safer and healthier alternative for artists to use. I also use Gamsol on a regular basis. Another alternative I forgot to mention is Sansodor which is almost the same thing as Gamsol.
Walnut oil is a natural and non-toxic medium that is derived from the nuts of the walnut tree. It can be used to make oil paints more fluid and easier to apply, or to create a glossy finish in oil paintings. It helps to preserve the paint and prevent it from cracking or yellowing over time.
Safflower oil is a natural and non-toxic medium that has a lighter color and less yellowing properties than other oils, making it ideal for use with lighter colors or white paint. It has a lower viscosity and faster drying time compared to some oils, making it suitable for artists who prefer a medium that dries faster.
Poppy oil is a natural and non-toxic medium that has a light, clear color that does not yellow over time. It has a thinner consistency than some other oils, which can make it easier to apply and blend with oil paints. Additionally, it helps to preserve the paint and prevent it from cracking or yellowing over time.
Overall, these Liquin alternatives offer artists a range of benefits, including non-toxic and environmentally friendly formulas, a variety of effects and finishes, improved safety and health for the artist and are easy to find and not that expensive to buy.
I hope you found this article useful.
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