Zest-it®

The Zest-it Clear Painting Medium is designed to facilitate the flow of oil paint, level out the brush strokes and for glazing. The Clear Painting Medium can be of assistance to both the Traditional oil painter and the Wet-on-wet artist. It is a mix of Zest-it and Linseed Stand Oil without added Varnish, it also makes the paint it is used with dry faster.

For the Traditional oil painter. The Zest-it Clear Painting Medium is very useful for applying glazes to the painting. It dries clear and quite quickly, it will also lift any dull parts of a painting giving an overall balance to the surface finish. It does not contain any varnish, this keeps the dried glaze as a more flexible film and in keeping with the rest of the paintings structure. The last glaze can of course be worked into before it dries to completion.

Often when a painting has been drying for sometime dull areas show up. Before starting work on the painting again the artist often wants the 'wet look' back, this is an aid to judging the colour with more accuracy. Using the Clear Painting medium for this gives back the 'wet look', can be painted into and keeps the integrity of the painting. Very useful and a little goes a long way.

For the Wet-on-Wet painter. The Zest-it Clear Painting Medium gives an ideal base for the start of a canvas painting, allowing the artists to mix and blend colours on the canvas and can be used throughout the painting. The Clear Painting Medium can also be coloured before starting a wet-on-wet painting, just add a small amount of oil paint to an amount of the medium and mix together before using to wet the background - only a very thin coat is needed. The medium will stay workable for about twelve hours.

For the Tole or One-stroke painter. The Zest-it Clear Painting Medium is excellent for blending colours together when double loading a brush for one-stroke painting, which of course is a wet-on-wet painting method when using oils. When double loading a brush, mix a small amount of ZCPM with each pile of paint, then load into each side of the brush and blend on the palette. The painting medium also makes blending the applied colour easy.

The Clear Painting Medium can also be used to thin oil paint to an ink consistency for use with a dip pen nib, the oil written words will have a gloss and slightly raised profile.

Zest-It Marble Dust is a painting additive that is used to give 'tooth' and texture to your painting media. It can be added to oil paint, cold wax mediums, gesso, mediums, plaster and primers.

Zest-It Marble Dust is a non hazardous product made from pure marble (Calcium Carbonate - CaCO₂). It is ground to a fine 100 mesh size. Use with caution as it is a dusty material. It is advised to wear a mask while using it.

Zest-it® Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner is used for diluting oil paint and cleaning brushes, it is non-flammable, non-toxic and leaves no residue of itself in the painted work. The Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner is a much safer solvent for oil painters than Gum Turpentine and White Spirit, it has been an excellent replacement for many years. It does not contain any Aromatics or CFC's and it is non-flammable, non-toxic and biodegradable with low VOC's and is therefore kinder to the environment. It can travel by road, sea and air, therefore an excellent accompaniment if you are going on a painting holiday (depending on the airline). It is re-usable, which makes it economical and a little goes a long way.

Use as a diluent to thin oil paint, oil based ink, oil pastels and wax pencils. Thin oil paint 'as thin as ink' for under-painting a canvas or colouring a surface. Excellent for blending oil pastel, oil bars and paint sticks, can be used to give a smooth finish, the same techniques can be used with wax based media. It is an excellent solvent for Gum Damar and other resin for making varnish. You may have read that only turpentine will dissolve these resins, this has not been the case for many years, so you can use it to make your own varnish if you wish. Zest-it Brush Cleaner can be used to make a standard "5 lb cut" varnish and dilute it down to your required strength. However we would advise using the same diluent for dilution as mixing solvents could cause your varnish to go cloudy.

Use it to make a medium by mixing with Linseed Stand Oil and Cold Pressed Linseed Oil. Your painting medium will be easier to make-up if you add the Oil to the solvent and not the other way round. Linseed oils are very viscous and it takes a decent amount of 'agitation' for the two products to mix together thoroughly. Painting mediums can be a personal 'thing' and the ratio of the mix is not fixed. If you are unsure, as a suggestion, try a 50/50 mix and adjust the proportions from there.

Use for cleaning oil paint, oil colour, oil bars, oil pastels, oil based ink, wax based products, Damar varnish and other oil based products from your brushes, palette, painting knives, rollers and equipment. The Zest-it Brush Cleaner has considerable active strength, meaning it is re-usable many times for brush washing. After use allow to settle and decant off the clear liquid, this saves on waste and makes it economical in use. If you need to dispose of unused Brush Cleaner, before throwing away ask your local art club if they could make use of it, you may do someone a good deed! Dispose of 'paint sludge' by putting onto damp sand or soil in a container.

Zest-it® Citrus Free Solvent is ideal for those oil painters who wish a little more 'bite' to their solvent, prefer a non-citrus smell and a slightly stronger action than the original Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner. Just like the original Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner, it leaves no residue of itself in your work, however, it has a slightly faster drying time because it is without the citrus element. Use it as a solvent, a diluent, a medium and for brush cleaning.

The Zest-it Citrus Free Solvent is a much safer solvent for oil painters than Gum Turpentine and makes an excellent replacement because it is non-toxic and non-flammable. The solvent is just as easy to use as the original Zest-it Brush Cleaner and can be used in just the same way. The Aliphatic Hydrocarbon has a slight solvent odour because it contains no Aromatics or CFC's, has low VOC's and is kinder to the environment. It can travel by road, sea and air, therefore an excellent accompaniment if you are going on a painting holiday. It is re-usable, which makes it economical and a little goes a long way.

Use it as a medium for mixing with Linseed Stand Oil and Cold Pressed Linseed Oil to make your own painting mediums. Your painting medium will be easier to make-up if you add the Linseed Oil to the Zest-it Citrus Free Solvent and not the other way round. Linseed oils are very viscous and it takes a decent amount of 'agitation' for the two products to mix together thoroughly. Painting mediums can be a personal 'thing' and the ratio of the mix is not fixed. If you are unsure, as a suggestion, try a 50/50 mix and adjust the proportions from there.

The Zest-it Cold Wax Painting Medium is a smooth, thick, firm paste and the reference to cold is because it does not need or require heat. Mix with Oil paint to give texture and add more substance to the oil paint, makes impasto easier to achieve and speeds the drying time.

Can be used with brush painting knife, shapers, rollers, wedges, silicon blades and tools of your choice. Add pigments, powdered metals, marble dust and other fine art materials to increase the visual depth and surface finish. Apply to canvas, paper, mdf, gesso'ed board or panel, birch ply panel, waxed raw canvas or other material of your choice.

Zest-It Linseed Stand Oil is a top-tier medium designed to elevate your oil painting experience. Derived from high-quality linseed oil, it offers artists a range of benefits to enhance their artwork. One of the notable advantages of Zest-It Linseed Stand Oil is its ability to improve the drying time of oil paints. By adding a small amount of this stand oil to your paint, you can accelerate the drying process, allowing for faster layering and reduced waiting time between sessions. This feature is especially useful for artists working on time-sensitive projects or those who prefer a more efficient workflow.

In addition to its drying properties, Zest-It Linseed Stand Oil enhances the flow of your paint. It improves the consistency and spreadability of oil paints, making them easier to work with. This improved flow allows for smoother brushstrokes and seamless blending, giving your artwork a professional and refined appearance.

Furthermore, Zest-It Linseed Stand Oil contributes to the overall gloss and finish of your paintings. It enhances the luminosity and depth of colors, creating a vibrant and captivating visual effect. The stand oil also offers excellent leveling properties, helping to create a smooth surface with minimal brush marks or texture inconsistencies. This ensures that your artwork exhibits a professional quality finish that is both visually pleasing and long-lasting.

Artists who value the longevity and durability of their artwork will appreciate the qualities of Zest-It Linseed Stand Oil. Its composition helps protect the layers of paint, making them less prone to cracking and fading over time. This ensures that your artwork retains its original beauty for years to come.