Testing 5 Different Solvents For Blending Polychromos

[@GemmaChambersArt]

I do still like blending with layers and burnishing! Watch the original tutorial here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2iqk6OPnr15bJo

[@Zeke_the_Beagle]

Thank you! Took me a bit of web searching to find an answer, but your demo succeeded brilliantly.

[@susanfield2444]

I'm really impressed with the content and clarity of explanation. Well done.

[@celtic5torm59]

Thanks so much this is what iʻve been waiting for. Thanks for the tips and tricks. Many times i blend my strokes really stands out which isnʻt really what iʻm going for but this video is really helpful. Thanks

[@davidlara9350]

Thanks for the tips, I used an empty molotow (brush) with mineral spirit and works great!

[@Eleixion]

Just to be fair. You can also buy a copic colorless blender ink refill and use cotton buds to blend polychromos.

[@jutta3378]

Thank you Gemma, very helpful tutorial! I have a small bottle of Zest-It but decided not to use it on my coloured pencil drawings as I can't stand the smell! I also found that it seemed to rough up my pretty sturdy watercolour paper somewhat and that did worry me. So it's back to blending without solvents for me.

[@naehalmulazim]

Do you use the blender pencil? I got one of Derwent

[@JoeB_BSc]

Hi in my opinion I have read that mineral spirits are used in the USA to blend with, their UK equivalent being white spirit, are ussed in coloured pencil painting and wonder if you have used them, please? I will try your Zest-It, though as your very helpful demonstration and commentary make it a clear winner. Thanks another useful tip, and regards, JB

[@brynmorgan9294]

Hi Gemma - love your videos! I'm getting the full set of Polychromos shortly so was very pleased to have found your channel. Very interesting video on these solvents. Through my research I found 'Brush & Pencil' Coloured Pencil Powder Blender. If you've never tried this before I saw a short video using this dry lubricant to blend Polychromos so perhaps you could give it a try and possibly make a small video using it?

[@JoeB_BSc]

Hi Gemma, I notice Jackson's also seem in my opinion to do a blender liquid, though I have not tried it. I wonder what, if any problems occur as a result of mix8ng noncommercial liquids perhaps over about a month or, more, and how all five work with subsequent layers please? Thanks for your helpful vide9 and regards JB

[@wanderingstar5673]

Will baby oil and petroleum jelly yellow the paper over time?

[@Pebblesmas]

Thank you so much, a very useful video ! Just wished you would have included the gamsol, but.. that was what I wanted to know, the difference between Zest-it and Gamsol, but that's just me ;-)

[@bobnolin9155]

I would worry about affecting a piece's longevity, using baby oil. Have you tried odorless mineral spirits (Gamsol)? Thanks for your videos!

[@warpedweft9004]

I'd be more than worried for two reasons. One of the reasons artists prepare canvas with gesso is because the oil soaks into the canvas if you don't seal it first and it eventually rots the canvas. While you can paint with oils on paper, you still need to seal the surface with several layers of gesso first. If you use baby oil to blend, it will eventually seep outwards and can leave you with oily, stained halos around your work. Baby oil is also not a drying oil. I mainly paint in oils and used to use baby oil to clean my brushes. If you don't wash it all out, it can get into your paint and the painting will never dry. I learned that the hard way and now clean my brushes with warm water and pure soap. Same deal with oils like safflower and olive oil. I read somewhere about using safflower oil and tried it. It took 2 years for the painting to dry. Linseed, lavender spike, poppy and walnut oil will be touch dry in 1-2 weeks, but take 6-12 months to completely dry. They also yellow over time. It might look nice when you first use an oil to blend, but it won't look nice in a few weeks.

[@amyberg1429]

I'm so glad I found your channel I looked up blonde hair and I found you ..you have taught me so much I appreciate all your hard work thank you for all your time..I can't wait to join your patreon

[@janaMa.]

Dear Gemma, thank you for your video and advice. Unfortunately the Zest-it has a quite strong health hazard warning and is properly also not so good for the environment. Since this video is already a ear old i thought maybe you have experience with some alternative that are more friendly to health and enviroment? Probably no blender....mh...

[@orusart]

Excelent video 💙💚💛🧡❤️💜💝🖍✏️

[@LifeLise]

Can you please do a video with watercolor pencils?

[@seancolleran5843]

I’ve actually found that nail polish remover works for blending. I’ve only used it on regular colored pencils not polychromos

[@ShadowoftheDude]

The only time I see artists use solvent to blend pencil crayons is on a light layer of pencil in the background of the piece; all the blending on the main subject is done with pencils only.

[@petiaivailova2563]

Will the baby oil damage the painting? I use it, because it was recommended on Faber Castell's site, it stains the paper, but it looks good on the painted parts (and the rest will be covered if I frame it). But I don't know what will happen in the long run. And the colors come out a little, when I press the painting (I mean they are not fully fixated - I don't know if they are supposed to be).

[@GemmaChambersArt]

This is a good question and I don't think there is a definite answer. By definition using any solvents is damaging the artwork by dissolving and blending the pigment. I guess it's 'creative damage' with the hope of improving the work! As for the long run, it's also possible that the light fast could be affected. Short of carrying out some very expensive lightfast tests I don't think we will ever know for sure - I know I have some older drawings that look the same after a couple of years in direct light, but maybe they won't make it to the 100 years+ that Polychromos is capable of 😂

[@petiaivailova2563]

​@@GemmaChambersArt Thank you for the answer!

[@warpedweft9004]

@@GemmaChambersArt I can potentially answer that question. Don't use baby oil. It isn't one of the drying oils and won't dry. You'll always have that oiliness and it will seep into your paper, potentially destroying it over time unless the paper is sealed with gesso first. Some got into an oil painting of mine and I ended up throwing it out because it still had not dried after several years. Oils also have a tendency to yellow over time, so it's just not worth trying to save a few dollars by using an oil (not that oils are cheap these days!).

[@lozantoninocreations]

What about non toxic odourless spirits, what are your thoughts on those? I actually love my Derwent blender pencil too, but it can leave a waxy feel on top of my Polychromos. I do have odourless spirits too, so that's why I was wondering what you thought of these and if they work.

[@warpedweft9004]

there is no such thing as non-toxic mineral spirits. It might be odourless but it is still toxic and needs to be used in a well ventilated area.

[@lozantoninocreations]

@@warpedweft9004 there are literally non toxic versions on the market, not just odourless. The technology has come a long way.

[@warpedweft9004]

@@lozantoninocreations have a look at them and they all have warnings on them, even the citrus based ones. It's very ambiguous and you need to check it out. citrus based solvents claim that it is non-toxic, but you can't send it by air. Why not, if it isn't a problem and apparently not flammable? Don't just blindly follow the advertising hype. Check it out for yourself.

[@MegaPerson012345]

I cant buy zest it in the USA. Is there a similar product available in the US?

[@GemmaChambersArt]

Maybe some other US artists can jump in with some advice here, but I would think an odorless mineral spirit like Gamsol would be a good alternative. Jacksons Art in the UK do ship internationally but as it's a solvent I'd check first if it could be sent.

[@truthh8597]

Is turpentine a good substitute?

[@kinjalmallick5407]

can we use turpentine oil???

[@GemmaChambersArt]

I haven't personally tested it but I know a lot of people use various paint thinners like turpentine to blend their work. Hope this helps!

[@loloj9700]

Hi Gemma actually billions like to ur marvelous work.... But kindly will u tell me honestly how many years u really spend on to become that stunning artist & what is ur greatest advice to someone isn't getting better enough to be close to be an artist even of hard work & hard try, what is the missing part plzz...

[@dougkovacs-l6r]

What zestic

[@m.e.cornelis9722]

For baby oil you need aquarel paper!

[@Stroggoii]

I tried it on my best Fabriano three months ago and it still hasn't dried out. I think it never will.

[@warpedweft9004]

@@Stroggoii no it won't dry. It got into an oil painting of mine. several years later it still hadn't dried.

[@mrthomasfritz]

Try again with turpentine and paint thinner.

[@MegaPerson012345]

Yes pls cause I cant buy zest it nor have it shipped for whatever lame reason. Cant find anywhere that can sell to the USA

[@angelicamariadelsole9511]

Impossibile seguirti! Parli troppo velocemente. Non fai vedere i materiali che usi. Peccato perché sei brava, ma ripeto, non si riesce a seguirti...

[@domenicosorrentino1972]

Concordo purtroppo, omette troppe cose. D'altronde come la maggior parte degli artisti a quanto capisco, peccato.

[@budakart]

Come to Islam n success