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John Mccloskey

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Anyone use cold wax with their oil paint? If so what effect does it produce? Is it simply to thicken the consistency of the paint? Any disadvantages? 

Alan Bickley

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Yes John, I’ve got a tub of Gamblin cold wax which I use occasionally. I use it if I’m adding thick impasto, usually on some cloud formations or in the foreground region. No issues whatsoever! I’ve also used it to varnish paintings, not exactly varnish of course but it does a nice job - wipe it on and buff it off!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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It might be susceptible to solvents - i.e. when the picture is cleaned; I don't use it (at the moment anyway) but if I did I'd put a note on the back - just in case anyone in the future thinks my paintings are worthy of cleaning and preservation!   There used to be a medium called Maxwax, or Mattwax - made by Rowney, I think; I used it to varnish a couple of paintings around twenty years ago, and still have one of them, in good nick.  I don't know if the product is still made, but it did impart a soft glow to paintings - I used it on oils and acrylics; the one I still have is an acrylic.  For cleaning, all it's required so far is a gentle buffing with a soft cloth.  
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Marjorie Firth

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Years ago I got a Gamblin sample from the Norfolk Painting School but forgot to use it! A few months ago I bought a bottle of Michael Harding Beeswax paste. As Alan says, it increases the body of oil colour. Just put a blob on the palette and add to your oil colour. It has a lovely texture. Also, you can rub it over a finished painting and buff it, it has a semi matt finish, very pleasant. I see that in next month’s Artist mag there is an article by Lisa Timmerman on using oil and cold wax. I’ll look that up myself.

Ellen Mooney

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It’s something I’ve thought about using, but I paint in acrylics. Has anyone tried it with acrylics, and can it be used with them? 
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Marjorie Firth

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Beeswax paste also has stand oil and turps mixed in so I wouldn’t think it would work well or have the same effect if used with a plastic based paint. We know you can use oils over acrylics but not the other way around so I don’t think they’d blend properly, the acrylic might repel the wax.

John Mccloskey

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Thanks everyone for your advice. Very useful.

Ellen Mooney

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Thanks for that, Marjorie. 
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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But would the cold wax be suitable for varnishing alcohol based sharpies?

Alan Bickley

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We’re probably in the realms of the unknown here Linda! Try a test piece would be my suggestion, but it may well work. 
big hat

Collette Hughes

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I use cold wax medium a lot. I make my own but they are all pretty similar. I mostly use cold wax mixed with oil paint, the cold wax gives bulk and texture to the paint it also increases transparency.  As well as mixing with oil paint, I have used cold wax over liquid charcoal, India ink and soft pastel and mixed with dry pigments. Don't see why it wouldn't work with sharpies too. There are a number of paintings in my gallery using this medium. You can use thin acrylic as an underpainting but it has trouble sticking to thick glossy acrylic, so not really suitable as a finish on acrylics. I have recipes if anyone is interested. 
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Marjorie Firth

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Collette, I would love a recipe….
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