Galkyd has its benefits, principally that it dries fast. It also makes my lungs ache, and yes I am using it with adequate ventilation. And I must say I am not very excited about that.

Galkyd works well as a thin glazing medium so I think I’ll keep using it for the bottom layers of paintings. But today Venice turpentine reappeared at the tack store and really nothing beats it for versatility and sheer joy in paint handling. Venice turpentine has the magic in it. That is just the way it is.

Here we have it mixed with linseed oil to make an easy glossy medium that holds brush strokes:

And this is what we used it for:

We also used traditional Venetian glazing medium in this painting and the 3 others that we started tonight. (Why do I keep using the Royal We?)

And now it is time for bed.