Crafted with the finest raw materials, Gamblin Artist’s Oils are known for their rich handling, luminous color, and reliable permanence. Each paint is made with a single aim: to serve the artist’s vision with clarity and depth.
- High pigment loads for maximum chroma
- Balanced formulations for consistent texture across the palette
- Excellent lightfastness for archival quality
- Made in Portland, Oregon with a focus on sustainability and safety
True Colour. Real Value.
Gamblin 1980 Oil Colours are crafted for artists seeking professional quality at a more accessible price. Made with the same care and commitment as Gamblin’s premium Artist Oils, the 1980 line delivers excellent working properties and colour integrity—without the high cost.
What Sets 1980 Oils Apart
While many entry-level paints compromise by using gels, waxes, or inexpensive pigments, Gamblin 1980 Oils stay true to tradition:
- Pure artist-grade pigments for vibrant, reliable colour
- Finest refined linseed oil as the binder
- Calcium carbonate (marble dust) added to reduce cost without affecting quality
This classic trio of ingredients—used by oil painters for centuries—results in a beautifully balanced paint with rich texture and true colour. The paints handle smoothly, mix cleanly, and maintain the depth and nuance expected of professional oil colours.
- Available Sizes
37ml and 150ml tubes
With Gamblin 1980, artists enjoy the authentic experience of oil painting—without compromising on quality or affordability.
GAMSOL Odorless Mineral Spirits
Gamsol is a low-toxicity, odourless solvent designed specifically for oil painting. It supports all traditional oil techniques without compromising studio safety or paint performance.
Primary Uses:
- Thinning oil colours: Softens stiff paint with minimal solvent. Avoid over-thinning, which can weaken the paint film.
- Adjusting painting mediums: Ideal for use with Galkyd mediums, which are Gamsol-compatible. Not suitable for natural resin-based mediums (e.g., dammar, copal, mastic), which require stronger solvents like turpentine.
- Studio clean-up: Effective for cleaning brushes, palettes, and tools.
Gamsol is a petroleum distillate refined to remove over 99.995% of harmful aromatic solvents. With a high flashpoint, it is classified as non-hazardous for air shipping.
Widely used in classrooms and professional studios, Gamsol ensures a safe, low-odour environment with no compromise to artistic quality.
Available sizes:
- 4.2 oz, 16.9 oz, 33.8 oz, and 128 oz.
Gamblin Oil Painting Mediums
True to historic working properties. Safer. More permanent.
Gamblin painting mediums reflect traditional oil techniques while offering improved safety and longevity. Mediums extend and modify oil colour, affecting everything from texture and mark-making to drying time and finish.
The right medium enhances an artist’s workflow—improving fluidity, transparency, surface quality, and overall control.
Contemporary Oil Painting Mediums
Galkyd
Thins oil colour, increases transparency and gloss. In higher ratios, levels brushstrokes for a smooth, enamel-like finish. Fast-drying; thin layers dry in approximately 24 hours.
Galkyd Lite
A more fluid, less glossy version of Galkyd that retains brush texture. Dries in 24–30 hours.
Neo Megilp
A soft gel that maintains paint body while increasing flow and transparency. Offers a silky texture and satin gloss. Moderate drying time and extended workability.
Galkyd Gel
A firmer gel that holds shape for thicker, more defined marks. Dries faster than Neo Megilp and adds transparency and gloss.
Cold Wax Medium
Made from pure white beeswax. Adds body and a matte finish to oil colours and mediums. Ideal for impasto techniques with a knife or brush.
Solvent-Free Painting Mediums
Solvent-Free Gel
The most versatile solvent-free medium available. Enhances flow, transparency, and gloss while maintaining brushstroke definition. Fast drying and non-toxic. Made from safflower oil and alkyd resin.
Use sparingly (no more than 25% by volume) and apply thinly to avoid wrinkling. Ideal for artists working without solvents.
Solvent-Free Fluid
Increases flow, transparency, and gloss with a fluid consistency. Moderately fast drying. Also made from safflower oil and alkyd resin. Best used in thin layers and under 25% by volume. For underpainting, can be combined with Gamsol.
Safflower Oil
Pale and slow-drying, safflower oil can be used to clean brushes during solvent-free painting. As a medium, it increases flow and slows drying time. Can be mixed with Gamsol to create a traditional, slow-drying medium.
