Anyone have experience with Graham oils?

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They are fairly small American made oil, nicely pigmented..their claim to fame is not using linseed oil nor the usual solvents. Rather they use walnut oil and thin with walnut, alkyd..plus use walnut oil for brush cleaning. I have a few, simply because it’s the only brand I don’t have to order on line. But am having troubles, even with heat box, thin coats, Ron Clarke’s sponge and make up brushes..getting the stuff to dry in weeks..and if thinned with their mediums get high gloss
Curious if anyone else has used them ...am I pushing a string uphill persisting? Ordered some grumbacher medium 1 which used to be a good matting agent..and can order Abteilung matte medium...neither solvent free of course..
Any thoughts ?

Thanks in advance

John

 

[hypertex]

John,

I haven't used that brand myself, but I do have a few comments about walnut oil. Walnut oil was used by Renaissance artists but was replaced by linseed oil in the 16th century. The biggest downside of walnut oil is its painfully slow drying time. Plus, it tends to crack and wrinkle if applied too thick. Think about it, if walnut oil is so great, why did they stop using it in the 16th century? Because they switched to linseed oil.
Also, there isn't anything "solvent free" about walnut oil. You can go solvent free with any oil paint.

 

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I know what you mean re solvent free..it’s a term akin to “sustainable”. Can be applied to anything..the company does try hard to help..sent them a note. Have heard uschi makes a drying agent..the guys who make fine thread for rigging scale aircraft

 

[Alex]

John : embrace the wonderful world of acrylic painting !!
hehehe.. I love to paint with oils on canvas and would never use anything else but with figures... try it !

 

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Am probably going to break,down at some point..thing is the only source I can physically look over the rack and select from is Games World. And have yet to understand their nomenclature...I get “deck tan” better yet, “yellow ochre” but the citadel stuff? Nothing intuitive about it

 

[theBaron]

I'm intrigued by the use of walnut oil, because I would think it would turn rancid with time.

Prost!
Brad

 

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I understand..walnuts for sure go off quickly..apparently the stuff doesn’t go off..there is no odour no rancidity

 

[fogie]

I've used spike lavender oil for years ... smells a bit like a tart's handbag but works well and dries
quickly.

 

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Ha ha..will try it...with pending legalization maybe I should try cannabis oil? Not...

 

[fogie]

Spike Lavender has been used since Rembrandt's and Rubens' time, and as far back as the Flemish painters. It's a solvent,
and a dilutant that helps the paint to oxidise. It can be used to loosen the paint, as well as to thin the stuff for glazes - best
of all it helps smooth out brush strokes. Use it sparingly because it's expensive which is probably why few artists use it today.

 

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Thank you..Daler Rowney has it as ingredient in their mediums, but Holbein offers pure stuff. Cannot get it but ordering on line ..but speaks for Old Holland brand if I end up switching away from the Graham..

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

I've used spike lavender oil for years ... smells a bit like a tart's handbag but works well and dries
quickly.

What does a tarts handbag smell like

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Thank you..Daler Rowney has it as ingredient in their mediums, but Holbein offers pure stuff. Cannot get it but ordering on line ..but speaks for Old Holland brand if I end up switching away from the Graham..

I have tried oils from another American company { Vasari from New York ) they also claim to use some sort of vegetable oil but again they dry a bit glossy , and they are very pricy to boot .

Old Holland for me every time
Then again the price might just be the New York hike as everything there is way over the top .

Bought a small to medium rose bush for my granddaughters garden and it cost $46.00 ,something you get here for no more than twelve quid or even £6

 

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Tell me about it..shipping from the US is brutally expensive and dead slow

In terms of the Graham’s, no issue with going off..and the company is small, family owned and run..reached out to them with some questions and they were back with answers, plus sent me full colour chart with pigment specs, opativy, drying times..with colour samples sealed in plastic so I have blobs of the real paint. So, am persisting and will find a way to deal with drying time, glossiness..thin glazes per Ron Clark should help the drying. I would go Old Holland but that’s mails whereas I have a shop only couple hours drive away where I can pull these off the rack..of course I end up,buying more this way! Still a small palette of decent quality paint isn’t expensive.