LANGRIDGE – FLOW MEDIUM

Langridge Flow Medium is a safflower oil based painting medium. A very pale and non-yellowing medium to add to oil colours for a slippery and wet quality. Unlike Stand Oil based mediums, Flow Medium will remain open and can be worked over an extended period of time without becoming tacky. The Safflower base ensures colours stay bright therefore providing a suitable medium for artists who wish to avoid to yellowing consequences of linseed oil based mediums. 

Constituents: Refined Safflower Oil, Low Toxic Solvent, Cobalt Driers.

Langridge Flow Medium may be added to oil colours in quantities at the discretion of the artist.  Initially small additions will purely aid the flow qualities of existing oil colours. As more medium is added to the oil colour, the transparency will be increased due to the further dispersion of the pigment throughout the medium.

In accordance with all Langridge Painting Mediums, Langridge Flow Medium is formulated with a proportion of oil to solvent that can be used unrestrictedly in glazes and washes without risking unbinding the pigment from the oil.  After applying Langridge Flow Medium the surface will remain open for up to 72 hours. Any subsequent painting will disturb the underlying paint until the paint film has become touch dry. Langridge Flow Medium has a high Oil content and, as such, is a fat medium. Fat mediums usually have a higher oil content than pure oil colours from the tube. Therefore Flow Medium should not to be used for underpainting if oil colours with no additional medium are to be applied on top. Dries to a gloss finish.

A Low Toxic Alternative

Because Langridge Low Toxic Solvent has a Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) higher than other solvents the artists exposure will not be as harmful in comparison to traditional solvents.

Associated issues with prolonged contact with traditional artists solvents such as dermatitis, skin and respiratory organ irritation, headaches, etc. can be dramatically reduced or removed by using Langridge Low Toxic Solvent.

Langridge still recommends the use of good studio ventilation, open windows to increase airflow and preferably a properly installed exhaust system.

Altering the reflective finish

The addition of Wax Painting Paste to Langridge Flow Medium can reduce the gloss finish normally associated with an oil paint medium. Mix together 1 part Wax Painting Paste to 4 parts Flow Medium for a satin finish. A higher proportion of wax medium may be added for extra matte effects. The addition of Wax Painting Paste will give more body to the medium, so the artists technique should allow for this in application.

Sinking-in of paint: If a support for painting (e.g. canvas) is poorly primed, oil colours will sink-in to the surface and exhibit a dull and lifeless colour reflection. The oil from the paint is absorbed into the support, leaving the pigment underbound and the surface liable to crack or dust/flake off. In this case oiling-out can rectify the paint film.

To even out the final reflective quality of the painting: There are numerous reasons for an uneven reflective quality in the final paint film. Differences in the particle size of individual pigments, the various recipes of individual oil colours, the variety of oil mediums, layers and techniques employed etc. generally lead to a finished picture with a wide range of reflective finishes.  Additionally, as with all petroleum distillates, Langridge Mediums made with Low Toxic Solvent have a slight tendency to dry to an uneven reflective finish.  Some may like the effect however others may find it distracting. If the surface has only minor variation, the application of Retouch Varnish once touch dry or a final picture varnish after the painting has had time to dry thoroughly can generally unify the surface.   If the reflective disparity is highly pronounced, a picture varnish may not even the differences out. In this case the surface can easily be rectified by oiling out using Langridge Isolating Medium or another Fat medium. Oiling out is a non removable process and does not replace a removable artists varnish.

Thinning: For best results thin with Low Toxic Solvent. However, Distilled Gum Turpentine or other artist’s solvent may be substituted.

Appearance: Langridge Flow Medium is an pale amber coloured liquid with characteristic Safflower oil odour.

Very fresh medium may exhibit a green cast. The colour of the medium will not effect the oil colours with which it is mixed.

Clean brushes with Low Toxic Solvent. For further washing apply a small quantity of Marseille or other pure olive oil soap and massage the bristles of the brush to release any remaining varnish. Wash thoroughly in warm water.

Leave to fully dry before re-use.

Drying Times: 24-48 hours to touch dry. Any airflow over the surface will evaporate the solvent more rapidly which will reduce drying times.