Product Review: Gamblin Solvent-Free Oil Painting Gel
- Doug Swinton
- Nov 10, 2016
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 18, 2020
Creamy. Very creamy. I have found my new addiction!
Initially I was reluctant to use this product because it’s hard enough to paint without throwing yourself a curve ball and adding a new product to the lineup. After reflecting on numerous bad experiences with Res-n-Gel, and admitting to my long-term addiction to Liquin, I surrendered and cracked open a tube.
Verdict: I absolutely love this product! Here is why...
Let me preface this text by saying that up to this point I have only tried it for outdoor painting. I always use some kind of medium additive when painting outdoors because straight thinner dries at a blistering pace. Other products seem to be either too greasy or get tacky too quickly.
The Straight Dope:
Thinner only - dries too fast.
Walnut or Linseed Oil - gets the paint too slick, making subsequent layers slide around.
Walnut Alkyd or Liquin - starts to get sticky and tacks up in half an hour. Brush marks drag over each other. Smurge!
Res-n-Gel - is greasy, slippery and doesn’t readily accept the paint. Over-mixing is the danger with this medium.
Gamblin Solvent-Free Gel benefits:
Non toxic and non smelling.
Slow drying and won’t tack-up at all during a three hour painting session in the hot sun and wind. (even longer working time in studio)
Readily mixes into paint without being greasy.
Mixes great with thinner allowing for layers of paint to get fatter and fatter. (Kind of like me when I quaff too many chicken wings.)
Comes out of the tube readily
It’s a gel so it stays where you put it on the palette.
Holds the shape of your brushstrokes.
Gives colours more gloss and transparency.
You don’t need much for it to work it's magic.
Being solvent-free you can transport this product when flying.
Creamy. Very creamy. I have found my new addiction!
Your friend in art,
Doug.
P.S. Since writing this review I had a chance to use the gel in the studio and I have to say that this is by far the best painting medium I have ever used. Its consistency and workability is fantastic.
Thanks for sharing this honest review, Doug! I’m just starting to experiment more with solvent-free options, and your take on Gamblin’s gel really helps. I work with energy and visuals a lot—especially during my psychic readings by crystal—so anything that supports clarity and intention in my art is a win. Definitely adding this to my kit!
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