Does this sound familiar at all?

When I first started my oil painting journey, I found myself running through tubes of paint at an incredible rate...

...and I didn't even realize it!

I thought it was completely normal that every painting I made used up at least half of a large tube of Titanium White...

...that's not normal.

Besides, how many more tubes of Titanium White can a starving artist's budget really handle before it breaks the bank?

We all love to paint, but when it requires endless restocking of the mediums we passionately love, we sometimes need to take a more measured approach.

Even if budget isn't necessarily the biggest issue (lucky you), you might still run into problems when honing your technique if you find that oil-based paint is simply too thick of a medium for you to wield appropriately.

Of course, you could use linseed oil, but then you run into the problem of long drying times that not only get in the way of your workflow but may simply kill your progress altogether.

Enter solvents.

For us artists, there are two major types of solvents we rely on time and time again: turpentine or mineral spirits (and perhaps a secret third one...which I'll get to in just a minute).

If you've used one of these before, you're probably already familiar with the results. If not, I want to spend a minute talking about solvents for those newer to the ever-growing world of art and art supplies:

[IMAGE]

What Is A Solvent? And What Effect Does It Have On Your Work?

Solvents are a key weapon in any artist's workshop. You've probably heard the saying 'fat over lean' (or thick over thin). This is a rule that nearly all artists live by...and it's pretty easy to follow.

When you make any piece of art (especially an oil painting), it's usually constructed in several layers:

Underdrawing
Wash/underpainting
Overpainting
Finished with some sort of gloss or varnish

Here's the deal: If you take fresh paint from your oil tube, you'll find it's not only thick but will take FOREVER to dry. Seriously, we're talking at least a day.

Painting isn't a rushed process...unless you're a speed painter! But for most of us mere mortals, we'd much rather have a painting completed in a few days rather than several weeks. Furthermore, we like to apply different styles and techniques as we tackle each new piece.

This is where solvents come in. Solvents play a key role in thinning out paint and can generally be called paint thinners.

While we're only talking about turpentine and mineral spirits (and don't forget that secret one I'll share in a minute), there are several other liquids that fall within the solvent category, including acetone, naphtha, and DMF to name a few (source).

So, what exactly does a solvent do other than thin paint? Solvents help break up (or dissolve) a solute, in this case, our oil-based paint. Oil-based paint is a mixture of oil and pigment in a single tube. These solvents largely target the oil in this mixture to make it transform to a more water-like consistency.

While solvents can get your oil paints to be incredibly thin and almost watercolor-esque, these solvents should always be used with extreme caution. Here's why: Not only do they have an incredibly low flashpoint at 104°F (40°C), but they may cause peeling of your work if overused.

The last thing you want as an artist is to hang up or sell your artwork only to have it begin peeling due to your heavy hand with solvents. Now, it bears repeating: with the thick-over-thin rule that so many artists exercise, it's still completely safe (and expected) to use these solvents in your daily workflow...but just be sure to use them more for the initial wash and underpainting rather than the overpainting.

[IMAGE]

Mineral Spirits vs. Turpentine – What Are They Formulated From?

Initially, many folks may think that mineral spirits and turpentine are derived from chemicals. After all, when was the last time you saw a turpentine flower at your local nursery? However, here's the truth: Turpentine is actually derived from a tree!

Yes, you read that right. Turpentine is commonly made from the resin in pine trees (who would have thought?!). While some turpentines are derived from balsam, cypress, larch, and a few others, most of what you'll find on store shelves comes from some form of pine tree.

Now, you might be thinking, since turpentine is derived from a plant, surely it must be safe in a studio environment, right?! Well...it depends. If you head to your local hardware or home improvement store, you can likely pick up a huge jug of turpentine for under $20. However, this turpentine isn't highly refined. Not only will this mean there are several impurities in the solvent that aren't suitable for fine art, but it will also feature heavy toxic scents. Therefore, by all measures, you should avoid using this type of turpentine in an art studio for your own safety.

Conversely, you can find artist-grade turpentine. This artist-grade turpentine has a much more dialed-back potency. If possible, we'd always recommend going with student-grade turpentine as it will be the mildest form, designed for classroom settings.

So, all this info about turpentine, what about mineral spirits? Derived from petroleum, mineral spirits tend to be preferred among artists both old and new. Sold as regular mineral spirits or odorless mineral spirits, this is a great mild/nearly unscented solvent you can use daily. Like turpentine, odorless mineral spirits will do a terrific job at thinning any oil paint you throw at it.

Just like turpentine, you can often find mineral spirits at your local hardware store, but you should always opt for the artist-grade solution. Not only will it be safer for your body, but it will also yield better results when adopting the fat-over-lean painting technique.

[IMAGE]

Odorless Mineral Spirits vs. Turpentine Drying Times

Source of the solvent and scent aside, one of the most important considerations when it comes to these two very popular solvents is their drying times. As any seasoned artist will agree, having a firm understanding of how long it may take a particular part of your painting to dry will allow you to plan your work accordingly.

While we'd like to give you hard facts on what you should expect within your own studio, there are a lot of environmental factors that can alter the numbers. Therefore, we'll give more of a general guideline instead:

In short: Turpentine will dry at a much faster rate than odorless mineral spirits.

Now, here's the deal: If you want a part of your painting to dry a bit faster, you'll want to employ the following techniques:

Paint In Thinner Layers
Store In A Dry (Low Humidity) Area
Drying Medium

[IMAGE]

How To Dispose Of Mineral Spirits And Turpentine

In order to be a good steward to both the environment and your local water facility, you should under no circumstances put either turpentine or odorless mineral spirits down the drain or in the ground. While these solvents are safe for painting, they are incredibly harmful to the environment.

Here are a few pro tips you should follow when using these solvents:

If you poured out a portion of your solvent into a secondary container (more on this in a minute) and it became muddied with colors after repeated use, it's not bad. If you give the solvent a few days (or less), the liquid will separate from the pigment. This allows you to pour off the top clear layer of the solvent into a new container and dispose of the remnants at the bottom of the existing container.

But please don't throw out these pigment remnants... Instead, contact your local sanitation department for advice on properly disposing of this gunk. But don't worry... It doesn't cost you anything...and usually just involves swinging by the local trash collection area and handing it to them.

Where To Store Solvents Safely

When it comes to solvents, you must exercise extreme caution not only for yourself but also for pets and children. When it comes to odorless mineral spirits, their near-absent fragrance can very easily be mistaken for water. What we recommend to our readers is that you place solvents in a metal latched or glass container (that doesn't look like a standard glass you would drink from) and label it clearly.

Companies like Gamblin even offer labels for easy printing that you can place on the side of your jars for both safety and easy organization (see here).

Where To Buy Odorless Mineral Spirits And Turpentine

As we stressed earlier, both of these solvents are likely going to be sold in hardware stores... However, as cheap and attractive as they may seem (I mean, who could turn down 128oz of odorless mineral spirits for $14?), these solvents aren't artist grade. Therefore, all the negative side effects associated with them will be quite prevalent.

As you'd probably guess, the best place to buy these is going to be at either your local art supply store (i.e., Michaels, Hobby Shop, or mom & pop boutiques) and online. Many artists like to go with Dick Blick as their selection is second to none.

[IMAGE]

A Natural Solvent To Consider

While we spent all this time talking about odorless mineral spirits and turpentine, surely we wouldn't forget about that natural solution we alluded to earlier, would we?! Of course not!

One solvent that artists are starting to take more of a liking to is oil of spike lavender (also known simply as oil of spike). Derived from the lavender plant, this oil is completely all-natural and performs on par with turpentine. It's terrific at thinning out paint and decreasing drying times.

While it's not as effective as odorless mineral spirits or turpentine at cleaning your paint brushes thoroughly, it's still a great solvent to use while painting – making it a great way to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals. Oil of Spike Lavender is a bit harder to find locally and may require you to resort to online stores to purchase.

Key Takeaways When It Comes To Deciding Odorless Mineral Spirits vs. Turpentine

When considering a solvent, we'd always recommend going with odorless mineral spirits for comfort (assuming your budget doesn't allow for oil of spike). The nearly non-existent smell in odorless mineral spirits will ensure that you don't have any headaches for you and those around you.

Like any solvent, odorless mineral spirits will still emit fumes, however, they just won't be nearly as pronounced – so be sure that you still seal the container when they aren't actively being used.