If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission.
If you love the feel of oil paints but get frustrated with the drying time between layers, alkyd oil paint might be the solution for you. Made with a synthetic resin as the binder, it is a durable paint that reaches the dry-to-the-touch stage much more quickly than oils do; you can often return to your work the day after you put down your first layer. This makes alkyds well suited for plein air work as well. Once you try them and see how they allow you to maintain momentum, you just might never go back to the traditional stuff.
1. Gamblin FastMatte
This paint’s winning characteristics are right there in its name: FastMatte paint not only dries quickly—in about 24 hours—but does so with a matte finish that has subtle tooth. This makes it especially excellent for underpainting, as the surface virtually grabs and holds on to fresh paint, allowing you to build textures to your heart’s content. FastMatte also boasts a higher pigment load than less costly competitors such as Winsor & Newton’s Griffin line, but it’s still relatively affordable. It is quite a stiff paint, but you can thin it as you wish by mixing it with Galkyd or Gamsol. Our only complaint is that it comes in just 24 colors, including titanium white.
2. Diamond Brite Oil Alkyd Primer
Want to properly protect your surface before painting on it? Lay down a coat of this oil-alkyd primer, which creates a durable base for oil-based or latex paints. It is ready to use out of the can, and you can apply it with a brush, a roller, or even a sprayer; the formula flows easily to create a uniform layer, and having a high viscosity, it doesn’t simply sink into the canvas weave. Once dry, it resists cracking, peeling, and scuffing.
3. M. Graham Walnut Alkyd Medium
Say goodbye to brush drag with this painting medium, which can be mixed into your alkyd colors. In addition to lubricating your pigments for enhanced flow, it accelerates their drying time so you can add another layer in just 12 or so hours. When dry it adds a subtle, sophisticated sheen. Don’t worry about yellowing, either: It’s made with walnut oil, which resists discoloration and cracking. The medium comes in various sizes, up to this whopping 1-gallon tin.
4. Winsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd
This student-grade paint is an excellent choice for those who are on a budget or are diving into alkyd paint for the first time. The lower price reflects the fact that the formula contains more fillers than higher-end products do. This results in slightly less pigmented paints, but they are still a pleasure and an ease to use. Griffin paints have a satisfyingly smooth texture, are consistent in their fast drying, and present a slightly glossy finish.
5. C.A.S. AlkydPro
If you’re serious about your alkyd paints and have a generous budget, go with C.A.S.’s product. The crème de la crème in their class, these paints are a pure alkyd medium—there’s no linseed oil involved—so they maintain stunning, intense colors, are more flexible than the competition, and still dry quickly. Plus, the paint is available in 56 colors to cover all your needs. It’s also available in several sizes, from 1.25 ounces to 8 ounces.
