 |
Zest-It
Zest-it is an environmentally friendly, non-flammable, non-toxic and biodegradable alternative to commonly used solvents in oil painting – turpentine and white spirit. Zest-it is a natural solvent made from the zest of citrus fruit with a neutral pH and containing no CFC’s or aromatics. It is ideal for cleaning brushes and thinning paint.
Most solvents used with traditional oil colours are an irritant, toxic or highly flammable and often all three. Even ‘odourless’ solvents still give off fumes – they just cannot be seen or smelt. Zest-it is a ‘studio safe’ solvent. It has a very low evaporative loss meaning there are few fumes released into the surrounding air and thus ideal for small studio’s or home use. The active strength of Zest-it is longer lasting than turpentine or white spirit and independent laboratory tests have shown it has no detrimental effect oil paint or pigment quality, proven stability and a long shelf life. Zest-it is beneficial for brushes as well. Turpentine and white spirit are known ‘leech out’ the natural oils bristle and hair brushes, causing them to go brittle over time. The citrus oils contained within Zest-it help maintain the integrity of the brush giving it a much longer life.
Zest-it is perfect for use in the classroom, where the use of harmful solvents has been restricted and for anyone who has given up using oil colours for health reasons.
|
 |
Zest-It Brush Cleaner and Oil Paint Dilutant
Two products in one!
Zest-it can be used to “thin” oil paint for applying a coloured ground to a canvas and for painting fine detail. When mixed with Linseed or stand oil it will speed up the drying time of oil paintings.
For brushes that have oil paint dried in the bristles simply soak in Zest-it and work well into the bristles and ferrule, then rinse in Zest-it. Repeat as necessary. Dry in the normal way.
|
 |
Zest-It Clear Painting Medium
Clear painting medium is a combination of Zest-it and Linseed Stand Oil.
It reduces consistency and enhances the flow of oil paint. Oil colours can be added to the Clear Painting Medium where a coloured ground is required for painting wet-on-wet. It is also a very useful for thinning transparent colours when glazing and, as it does not contain varnish, glazes do not ‘yellow’ over time. The Zest-it Clear Painting medium dries to a tough plastic film.
|
 |
Zest-It Damar Retouching Varnish
Zest-it Damar Retouching Varnish is made from Zest-it and Gum Damar crystals. The Gum Damar crystals are dissolved naturally in Zest-it over a period of 2 – 3 days and the mixture is then filtered to produce a crystal clear, bright varnish. Zest-it Damar Retouching Varnish is primarily used on dull or ‘sunken’ paintings to give back the ‘wet’ look. It also gives excellent protection for oil paintings that are in progress until they are dry enough to receive the final coat of varnish.
|
 |
Zest-It Damar Gloss Picture Varnish
Zest-it Damar Gloss Picture Varnish is made from Zest-it and Gum Damar crystals and dries to a glossy, hard, clear, flexible film. It is used to protect a dried oil painting from the affects of atmospheric conditions. Picture varnish is always best applied in multiple thin coats as opposed to one thick layer. Drying between each coat is recommended to ensure optimum protection and finish.
|
 |
Zest-It Cold Pressed Linseed Oil
Cold Pressed Linseed oil is extracted from the flax plant without the use of heat, chemicals or solvents. Cold Pressed Linseed Oil is very useful for anyone wishing to reduce the amount of solvents they use in oil painting. Only a small amount needs to be added to the paint to alter its working properties. It enhances the flow of oil colours, giving it a loose, slippery quality and reduces brush marks. Cold pressed Linseed oil is considered a ‘fat’ medium so it is not advisable to place a solvent thinned paint layer over it as this would cause cracking. This oil has good wetting properties with dry pigments and is easily formed into a paste allowing you to create your own oil colours.
|
 |
Zest-It Pencil Blend
An ideal medium for under-painting and blending with coloured pencils. Add a tiny amount of Zest-it onto a tortillon, paper stump or cotton wool bud and use gentle strokes to blend the pencil, adding more pencil as necessary to build up colour. Can also be used with oil pastels in the same way. Zest-it has a neutral pH value and evaporates without leaving any residue.
|
 |
Zest-It Parchment Blend
The Green alternative to turps and white spirit - safe, non-toxic, non-flammable, environmentally friendly and smells of oranges. A favourite with Parchment Craft artists for blending Coloured Pencils, Pastels and Oil Pastels. When colouring parchment for embossed work, first apply oil pastel or similar on the reverse side. Use Zest-it Parchment Blend with kitchen towel or a soft brush to blend the colour and allow to dry. When you emboss your design it will show white on the front against the applied colour.
|
 |
Zest-It Blending Sponge
For blending coloured pencil and pastels. The Blending Sponge is an easy, clean and convenient way of using Zest-it to moisten paper stumps, tortillons or shapers. Ideal for blending coloured pencils onto parchment, vellum and paper. Pre-filled with 15ml of Zest-it.
|
 |
Zest-It Adhesive Remover
Zest-it Artist Adhesive Remover safely removes Hinging Tape, Glue Dots, Masking Fluid and the sticky residue from paper, wood, mount board, glass, fabric, plastic and china. It works gently and safely without harming the surface, lifting any sticky residue away without any damage to the artwork. Zest-it adhesive remover works especially well with the highly adhesive PH7-70 archival conservation tape widely used by framers. It is not an aggressive remover, so patience is rewarded. Zest-it Artist Adhesive Remover is environmentally friendly, non-flammable, non-toxic and biodegradable
|
 |
Zest-It Artists' Handcleaner
This handmade soap is suitable for sensitive skin and made with orange peel powder, Shea butter and essential oils to gently but thoroughly remove oil paint from hands, leaving them supple and conditioned.
|
 |
Zest-it Glazing Medium
Zest-it glazing medium is a mix of Zest-it brush cleaner, Damar varnish and linseed stand oil. Use to thin transparent oil paint for glazing. Zest-it glazing medium is easy to use, has a light pleasant smell and contains no CFC’s or aromatics. It is bio-degradable and has a minimum 5 year shelf life. It improves the flow of oil paint, levels out brush marks and dries to a non-yellowing, glossy, flexible film. Only a small of Zest-it glazing medium is required to achieve optimum results. Touch dry in 12 – 24 hours depending on ambient temperature.
|
 |
Zest-it Glue Dot Remover
Zest-it glue dot remover removes glue dots and their sticky residue from paper, card etc. It works gently and safely without harming or staining the surface. Its gentle action allows you to remove any dots or residue with control. Zest-it glue dot remover has a light pleasant smell, contains no CFC’s or aromatics and will not irritate the skin.
|
|
Zest-it Hinging Tape Remover
Hinging tape (often referred to as Framers tape) can be difficult to remove without damaging the surface or surfaces it is attached to. Zest-it hinging tape remover removes all tape and sticky residue safely and gently without harming the surface. It contains no CFC’s or aromatics, is non-flammable, non-toxic and bio-degradable. Zest-it Hinging tape remover is non-aggressive remover so once applied it should be left for a short time before removing tape. For heavy and thick tapes such as Velcro simply leave on longer to make removal easier. This remover is highly recommended for use with PH-70 archival conservation tape.
|
|
Zest-it Lean Painting Medium
The new Zest-it lean painting medium is ideal for the first layer of an oil painting, providing a stable foundation for further oil work. It contains no CFC’s, varnish or aromatics and dries to a strong, flexible film with non-yellowing properties. It improves the flow of oil paint and reduces brush marks. It is ideal for wet-on-wet painting and is touch dry in 12 – 24 hours depending on the ambient temperature. If necessary, it can be further thinned with Zest-it oil paint dilutant. This product is bio-degradable and has a minimum 5 year shelf life.
|
|
Zest-it Linseed Stand Oil
Linseed Stand Oil improves the flow and consistency of oil paint. It is a clear, viscous drying oil that levels brush marks and dries to a tough elastic film.
|
|
Zest-it Masking Fluid Remover
Use to remove old and/or dried on masking fluid from brushes, equipment and clothes. Zest-it masking fluid remover works gently and safely without harming bristles, cleaning and revitalising old brushes. It is has a light, pleasant smell and contains no CFC’s or aromatics. It is bio-degradable with a minimum shelf life of 5 years. Zest-it masking fluid remover can be used on clothes but it is recommended that you test a small patch first.
|
|
Zest-it Solvent
Zest-it solvent is the perfect, safer replacement for Gum Turpentine. It is a stronger mix than the Zest-it oil paint dilutant and does not have the citrus smell. Ideal for oil painters who prefer a stronger action and a little more “bite” to their solvent. It will remove oil-based products from brushes, palettes, knives and rollers in addition to thinning oil paint.
|
 |
Zest-it Washaway
Zest-it Washaway allows oil paint to be cleaned from brushes and then rinsed clean with water. It has a light solvent smell, contains no aromatics or CFC’s, non-flammable and less harmful to the environment. It contains an Aliphatic Hydrocarbon with added soaps that emulsify oil-based media, enabling it to be washed away with water so there is no need to use soap and water as a final brush clean-up. After cleaning with Washaway, dry on paper towel and allow the brushes to air-dry in the normal way. Zest-it Washaway is ideal for those dislike the lingering solvent smell from most brush cleaners and for plein-air oil painters it means carrying around dirty brushes is a thing of the past.
|