PRODUCT INFORMATION SHEET artists white spirit Product Description Economical all purpose solvent.Ideal for cleaning brushes as it has a strong detergent action.Has distinctive petroleum odour. Product Code: 013 Constituents: Refined distillate of petrolleum. Product Application For artistic use must be completely anhydrous, or water-free. Artists White Spirit has particularly good detergent action making it a highly useful all purpose solvent from the cleaning of artists’ equipment to removal of surface dirt from paint films (Langridge does not recommend thorough cleaning, including varnish removal, of artworks except by a trained conservator.). Although not recommended, it can be used as a diluent when used in small quantities with oil colours. Extreme care should be taken, however, in diluting purely with Artists White Spirit as its over-use can easily underbind paint and lead to a dull, dry lifeless film with potential for dusting or flaking off.Artists wishing to create very fluid working qualities should refer to painting mediums constructed for that purpose. Artists White Spirit can be added to artists’ drying oils to add extra fluidity. If wishing to home manufacture an artists’ synthetic varnish (Paraloid B67MT, Laropal K80, etc.) or using a varnish or a medium with a synthetic resin content Artists’ White Spirit should be used when wishing to dilute or remove. Artists’ synthetic resins are only fully dissolved in petrolleum distillates. Damar resin is only fully dissolved in Gum Turpentine, petrolleum distillates only partitially dissolve natural resins such as damar and prevent full hardening of the resin film. For cleaning brushes Langridge recommends the use of brush cleaning units or containers which have an airtight lid. Reducing exposure to solvent fumes is to advised at all times aswell as preventing evaporation of solvent in the container. Artists White Spirit leaves no residue after evaporation. ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION Concerns about solvents. If concerned about contact with Artists White Spirit (see related Material Safety Data Sheet) then Langridge Low Toxic Solvent, a lower toxicity alternative, can be used.Damar resin cannot be dissolved in Low Toxic Solvent or any petrolleum distillate. Using solvents to matte paint. Artists wishing to have a painting with a matte reflective quality should use a matte medium added to their paints or apply a matt picture varnish once the painting is finished.The use of solvents to matte paint is not recommended because the matte effect seen is due to the partial destruction of the paint film, leaving an unstable, underbound paint surface liable to crack or dust/flake.Although there are well documented examples of artists in the 20th century using solvents for matting they generally have the same conservation issues described here. Much effort from conservators are expended on preventing further deteriation of these unstable paint films. WORKING PROPERTIES Appearance Clean Up Evaporation Times Available in: |
Recognised as the world's finest acrylics
Manufacture your own colours to specific projects
Subscribe to Langridge Studio Notes Enter your email address to join our community of painters and receive future editions via email.