Lucky are those who have no problem with turpentine. I do. Working in a professional mask is far from pleasant, but sometimes it’s necessary.

Over time, I’ve learned to work mostly without turpentine. Linseed oil has such a great smell! I used to be annoyed by how slowly it dried. But in time, that became its advantage. On hot days,→sun-thickened linseed oil can dry within 24 hours.

The way dried oil looks can be disappointing! One trick to fix this is oiling—just put a few drops of the same oil on a cloth and rub it in evenly, as thinly as possible, without leaving streaks.

An added benefit? A brush moves almost effortlessly over an oiled surface.

You can apply an intermediate varnish, liquin, or other mediums.

In Search of a Non-Stinking Alternative

In my search for a turpentine alternative for oil painting, I came across something unusual. Of course, I had to try it.

It’s about swapping stench for scent→lavender oil.

What really surprised me, though, was an experiment with →damar gum. Turns out, even turpentine can’t dissolve lumps of damar resin as quickly as lavender oil.

It worked. The turpentine stench was gone. The problem? My whole studio smelled like a temple filled with transcendental incense.

So if you’re also looking for a turpentine alternative for oil painting, this one might surprise you too.