Why use Galkyd instead of a painting medium made with damar resin and turpentine?
Galkyd is made from alkyd resin. Alkyd resin, first manufactured in the early 1930’s, is produced by a reaction of natural oil with a polyfunctional alcohol and polybasic acid. Alkyd resin as a binder cannot hold the high pigment load of linseed oil. So alkyd has been formulated for use in artists’ materials, most successfully, as an oil painting medium. Alkyd resin painting mediums are now more popular as glazing mediums and general painting mediums because they are made with milder solvents and really do speed the drying time of oil colors. Thin layers of oil colors mixed with alkyd resin painting medium will dry in 24 hours. Turpentine is the only part of oil painting material that is toxic. It is the only solvent commonly available to painters that is absorbed through healthy unbroken skin. Damar resin must be dissolved in turpentine. By using Galkyd, painters will be able to use the mildest form of solvent, odorless mineral spirits. Mediums made with damar varnish darken significa
