Archival Odourless Mediums and Solvents evaporate much more slowly than turpentines so that very little vapour is generated during a painting session. Archival Mediums are based on fast drying alkyd resins which out perform ‘traditional’ mediums and are better for health.Archival Odourless Mediums and Solvents are based on fast drying alkyd resins which out perform ‘traditional’ mediums and are better for health. They evaporate much more slowly than turpentines so that very little vapour is generated during a painting session.

The main reason why artists develop allergic reactions to oil painting, is not because of the paint but because of the toxicity of traditional mediums. Oil paints are relatively non-hazardous in themselves.

Traditional mediums evaporate very fast releasing toxic vapors which cause health problems. Aromatic solvents like gum or mineral turpentine will affect your health with years of regular use because you cannot escape the fumes. Using toxic solvents and mediums in public shared spaces is like passive smoking. Ultimately it is best to avoid these types of solvents.

All of the Archival Mediums use low toxic odourless solvents.

Non-toxic Solvents

Paint companies do not ‘invent’ odourless solvents: they have been around for many years and are supplied by the major oil companies. They are petrochemicals, with the toxic aromatic (smelly) fractions removed, making them much less toxic than gum turpentine, mineral turpentine, or white spirit.

Odourless solvents are much slower evaporating than turpentines, so that very little vapour is generated during a painting session, and this factor is more important than the lower toxicity itself – they do, however, evaporate over time.

Drying racks as well as work spaces still need to be ventilated and painters in lofts should not recirculate the same studio air in living and sleeping areas because a slow vapour build up could become toxic.

Archival Mediums Are Flexible Like Archival Oils

It is important not to use other brands of mediums with Archival Oils because they would introduce brittle layers. The flexibility of Archival Oils, when used with Archival Mediums, is such that overpainted layers can stretch to accommodate movement as the painting settles down and cures and this is why they can be used with such freedom of technique.

The Archival Mediums, are based on fast drying alkyd resins and present an array of possible techniques beyond what is possible with ‘traditional’ mediums.