Rublev Colours Impasto Medium

Impasto Medium is an oil painting medium of finely ground natural minerals, including calcite, barite, and talc, in pale linseed oil. Use it to extend paint without altering the consistency, making oil colours 'short' and buttery for impastos. Stiffer than Velazquez Medium, this putty-like medium makes colours slightly transparent while allowing you to build impastoed, thick paint applications. When added to oil paint, Impasto Medium does not alter its color temperature. It can be thinned with solvent or oil. Impasto Medium does not affect the drying time significantl,y depending on the proportion added to the paint.

Impasto Medium does not contain stearates, waxes, solvents, driers, or natural or synthetic resins, so it is safe to add to oil paint without worrying about cracking or delaminating.

Impasto Medium slightly increases transparency while maintaining a buttery consistency. It allows you to create impasto, or thick paint, with ease. When added to oil paint, brushstrokes hold their form without slumping or leveling. In the example above, when added to green earth artist oil (bottom center), the mixture of Impasto Medium (bottom left) extends the color and consistency. In contrast, the mixture with Velázquez Medium (bottom right) gives the paint a long, ropy consistency.

Directions

Mix Impasto Medium directly into your paint right on the palette.

Impasto Medium is a great way to add calcite to your own paint. Add Impasto Medium and linseed oil directly to dry pigment powder until a stiff paste is obtained (almost the consistency of putty). Grind the paste with a muller on a flat surface before storing it in a collapsible tube. Some of its properties will be temporarily lost when grinding Impasto Medium with a muller but should be restored when allowed to stand.