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Paint

Alkyd Paint

Alkyd paint is made of synthetic oil-modified resin that binds the pigments and additives together.  The alkyds are actually the binder in the paint – what makes it adhere and hold to a surface.  This binder is most often vegetable oil and creates paint that comes in a variety of decorator finishes.  These choices make alkyd ideal for multiple projects.  In the case of decorating paints, alkyds are very resistant to wear and tear and will hold up well in “high traffic” areas.  For artists, alkyds mean a versatile and responsive medium that can be used in a number of different and exciting ways.

One way alkyds are beneficial is that they are soluble in mineral spirits or turpentine.  High grade artists’ colors are available from a number of manufacturers.  Alkyds are formulated to be low odor, an increasing concern to many artists.  Several brands are created with much higher percentages of pigment and offer a greater value and thicker, stronger colors.

The consistency and application of alkyds is very much like working with dense oil paints.  They are compatible with other oil paints, can be thinned, often dry slower (allowing longer “open” time for work and additions to work) and come from the tube somewhat firmer than conventional oil paints.  This means that less paint is squeezed out and provides more coverage than traditional oils.  This firmer texture is especially well suited to palette knife work.

The real exciting feature of alkyds is their ease in creating glazes.  Once painted, the glaze dries quickly and can then be reworked sooner than conventional oil paints.  This ability to be used as glazing makes the overlaying of transparent colors, one over the other, a technique artists might use to create signature tones and luminescence in their works.  The hours this ability saves the artist who enjoys working with glazed surfaces is obvious.  Rather than days, hours are needed to create similar overlays.

When compared to conventional oils, alkyds are similar in the use of solvents and mediums to those used by oil painters.  The one clear advantage to alkyds is their drying time.  Artists can complete paintings in much less time, as alkyds dry much faster than oil but slower than acrylic paints.  In contrast to acrylics, alkyds usually dry with a luster that acrylics do not match.  Alkyds dry with a vivid, semi-gloss surface, while acrylics have a flatter finish.

The consistency of alkyds is smooth and buttery, though often thicker than conventional oils.   Alkyds do not yellow over time, nor do they become dull when dry.  Brilliant colors stay brilliant and their semi-gloss finish does not change over time.

In summary, alkyds can be mixed with other oil-based paints but should not be painted over oils. Only when painted over oils do alkyds have any chance of cracking – because the oil dries slower than the alkyds painted over top.   Alkyds are thicker, but can be thinned easily and will dry to a lustrous and lasting finish.  Pigment concentrations are very similar to conventional oil paints, although this was not always so. Alkyds can be used to create luscious glazes.  Layering is easy because the drying time is so short.

Alkyds offer a variety of exciting options and opportunities.  If you already paint in oils, you can continue to use the same mediums and solvents.  Colors and vibrancy are legendary and the results are dramatic.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 19 No. 6 — April 2009