Gamsol in Kenya | Odorless Mineral Spirits for Oil Painters | Available at Bristles Art & Craft Supplies, Nairobi

There is a particular moment every oil painter eventually experiences. You open your palette, squeeze out your colours, pick up your brush and suddenly the paint feels too stiff. You need to loosen it for an underpainting, clean a brush between colours, remove excess paint from a palette, or create a thin transparent wash.

This is where the right solvent can completely change the way you work.

One of the most widely used artist solvents for this purpose is Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spiritshttps://bristlesartsandcrafts.co.ke/product/gamblin-gamsol-pure-odorless-mineral-spirit/ (OMS) by Gamblin.

Unlike ordinary mineral spirits, Gamsol was specifically developed as an artist’s oil-painting solvent. It can be used for thinning oil colours, modifying compatible painting mediums, and cleaning brushes and other studio tools.

And yes—Gamsol is available at Bristles Art & Craft Supplies in Nairobi.

But what exactly is Gamsol? Is it the same as turpentine? How much should you use? Can it be used for cleaning brushes? Is it safe? And perhaps most importantly:

How do you use Gamsol without compromising your oil painting?

Let’s get into it.

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What Is Gamsol?

Gamsol is an odorless mineral spirit (OMS) manufactured by Gamblin Artists Colors for artists.

It is a petroleum-derived solvent formulated specifically for use in artistic processes, particularly oil painting. Gamblin describes its primary uses as thinning oil colours, modifying certain painting mediums, and cleaning brushes, palettes, palette knives and other studio equipment.

The important distinction is that Gamsol isn’t simply a bottle of generic hardware-store mineral spirits with an attractive label.

Gamblin developed it with artistic use and studio safety in mind. Aromatic solvents have been highly refined out of Gamsol, with Gamblin stating that less than 0.005% remains. It also has a relatively slow evaporation rate and a high flash point compared with many stronger artistic solvents.

That makes Gamsol particularly attractive to artists who want the working properties of a traditional solvent while reducing the unpleasant odour associated with stronger solvents.

In simple terms:

Gamsol helps oil painters control paint consistency, create thinner paint applications and clean their tools—without the strong smell associated with traditional turpentine.

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Why Do Oil Painters Use Gamsol?

Oil paint straight from the tube is wonderfully rich, buttery and highly pigmented.

But you don’t always want it that way.

An artist might want to:

• Create a very thin initial sketch
• Establish values before adding thicker paint
• Make a transparent underpainting
• Loosen stiff oil colour
• Create softer transitions
• Clean a brush between colours
• Remove paint from a palette
• Clean palette knives
• Modify certain compatible mediums
• Remove Gamvar varnish when appropriate

Gamsol gives the painter another level of control.

The key is understanding that solvent is a tool—not something that needs to be added indiscriminately to every mixture.

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1. Using Gamsol to Thin Oil Paint

This is probably the most common question:

How much Gamsol should I add to oil paint?

There isn’t one universal ratio.

Start with a very small amount.

Dip the tip of your brush into Gamsol, or add a small quantity to the paint, and work it into the colour. You can always add more.

Gamblin specifically notes that a little Gamsol goes a long way and that oil colours relax quickly when a small amount is introduced.

This is particularly useful during the early stages of an oil painting.

For example, imagine you are painting a portrait.

Instead of beginning with thick opaque paint everywhere, you might first establish:

Drawing → loose block-in → values → colour → refinement → details

Gamsol can help you create that initial loose block-in.

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2. Gamsol for Underpainting

One of the most useful applications of Gamsol is creating a thin initial layer.

An underpainting allows you to establish:

• Composition
• Proportions
• Light and shadow
• Major shapes
• Value relationships
• Colour temperature

before committing to the final layers.

A small amount of oil colour mixed with Gamsol can create a fluid wash that is easy to manipulate.

For artists interested in classical or indirect oil painting techniques, this is especially useful.

Gamblin recommends Gamsol and a small amount of Galkyd Lite for certain indirect-painting approaches.

A simple approach

1. Put a small amount of oil colour on your palette.
2. Load your brush with a little Gamsol.
3. Mix gradually.
4. Work the colour across the prepared surface.
5. Keep the initial layer relatively thin.
6. Allow the solvent to evaporate before continuing with subsequent layers.

The result should be a thin, controlled layer—not a puddle of solvent and pigment.

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3. Gamsol for Brush Cleaning

This is where Gamsol becomes incredibly practical in the studio.

If you’re painting with several colours, constantly wiping a brush on a rag isn’t always enough.

A small container of Gamsol can help remove remaining oil colour from your brush so that you can move into another colour without carrying a significant amount of the previous pigment with you.

A simple brush-cleaning routine

Step 1 — Wipe

First remove as much paint as possible from the brush using a rag or paper towel.

Step 2 — Dip

Dip the brush into Gamsol.

You don’t need to completely soak the entire handle or ferrule.

Step 3 — Work the brush

Gently move the brush through the solvent to release remaining paint.

Step 4 — Wipe again

Remove the loosened pigment with a clean section of your rag.

Step 5 — Repeat if necessary

For heavily loaded brushes, a second cleaning may be necessary.

Step 6 — Final cleaning

After the painting session, clean the brush appropriately according to the brush manufacturer’s recommendations.

Gamblin specifically recommends Gamsol for general studio cleanup of brushes, palettes and palette knives.

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4. Don’t Use Gamsol to Drown Your Brushes

This is an important distinction.

Using more solvent doesn’t automatically mean your brushes are cleaner.

In fact, constantly leaving brushes sitting in solvent can be hard on brushes and is simply unnecessary.

A better studio habit is:

Wipe → Dip → Work → Wipe → Repeat

rather than leaving your favourite brushes submerged in solvent for long periods.

Your brushes are expensive tools.

Treat them like tools.

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5. Gamsol and Painting Mediums

Gamsol can also be used to modify certain oil-painting mediums.

For example, Gamblin’s Galkyd mediums are formulated with Gamsol and are designed to accept Gamsol as a thinning agent.

However, there is an important exception.

Don’t assume Gamsol can be added to every traditional medium.

Gamblin specifically advises against adding Gamsol to mediums containing natural resins such as:

• Dammar
• Copal
• Mastic

Those materials require stronger solvents such as turpentine.

Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific medium you’re using.

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Gamsol and the Fat-Over-Lean Principle

If you’ve studied traditional oil painting, you’ve probably heard the phrase:

Fat over lean.

It refers to the way oil painters build their layers so that upper layers generally contain more flexible/oil-rich components than the layers beneath them.

Solvent plays an important role because adding solvent without sufficient binder can make a paint mixture extremely lean.

That doesn’t mean:

“More Gamsol = better underpainting.”

Quite the opposite.

Gamblin cautions that thinning oil colour excessively with solvent alone can compromise the paint film. Their guidance on permanent paintings recommends extending oil colours with a mixture of solvent and binder rather than relying on solvent alone.

The practical lesson?

Use Gamsol deliberately.

For a thin initial wash, a small amount can be extremely useful.

For subsequent layers, consider the entire painting structure rather than simply adding more solvent whenever the paint feels too thick.

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Gamsol vs Turpentine: What’s the Difference?

This is one of the most common questions from oil painters.

Both can function as artistic solvents, but they are not identical.

Turpentine

Traditional artists have used turpentine for centuries.

It has strong solvent power and a characteristic, noticeable smell.

Gamsol

Gamsol is an odorless mineral spirit with aromatic components highly refined out. Gamblin developed it specifically for artistic applications and describes it as having a slower evaporation rate and high flash point compared with many traditional solvents.

For many contemporary artists—particularly those painting in studios, classrooms or home environments—the reduced odour can make Gamsol a much more comfortable option.

But remember:

Odorless does not mean harmless.

This distinction matters.

Because you cannot smell Gamsol strongly, you shouldn’t interpret that as permission to ignore solvent safety.

Gamblin’s Safety Data Sheet classifies Gamsol as a combustible liquid and an aspiration hazard. It recommends keeping it away from flames and hot surfaces, using protective equipment as appropriate, storing it correctly and keeping it away from children.

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Is Gamsol Safe?

The better question is:

“How can I use Gamsol safely?”

Gamsol is designed to be a comparatively mild artist solvent, but it is still a solvent.

Gamblin reports that Gamsol has had the aromatic solvents largely removed, has a slow evaporation rate and is not absorbed through healthy skin under their stated conditions.

However, its Safety Data Sheet still identifies important hazards.

Good studio practice includes:

• Work in a well-ventilated space.
• Keep Gamsol away from flames and heat.
• Do not smoke around solvent.
• Avoid unnecessary skin contact.
• Wear suitable protective gloves when appropriate.
• Protect your eyes from splashes.
• Keep the container closed when not in use.
• Keep solvent away from children.
• Never store it in a drinking bottle or food container.
• Clearly label secondary containers.
• Dispose of contaminated materials responsibly.

Gamblin specifically recommends storing solvents in suitable, clearly identifiable containers and warns against using beverage containers such as water bottles or coffee cups for solvent storage.

One more important rule:

Never intentionally inhale solvent vapour.

Odorless is not an invitation to breathe it in.

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Can You Reuse Gamsol?

Yes.

This is one of the practical advantages of a proper solvent-cleaning setup.

When cleaning brushes, much of the pigment can settle to the bottom of the container.

The relatively clean solvent above can then be carefully reused.

Gamblin recommends containers that allow pigment to settle, with secure lids that reduce spills and evaporation.

A simple studio setup

Think of your cleaning jar as having two jobs:

Top: reusable solvent

Bottom: settled pigment

Don’t stir the settled sludge back into your clean solvent unnecessarily.

Let gravity do the work.

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What Container Should You Use for Gamsol?

Avoid improvising.

Never put Gamsol into a container that could be mistaken for water or a drink.

Gamblin recommends suitable solvent containers, including metal containers with clip-on lids and appropriate jars with secure screw-on lids. They also note that Gamsol can be decanted into suitable plastic bottles with nozzle spouts.

Whatever container you use:

LABEL IT.

A good studio is not just creative.

It is organised.

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Can Gamsol Be Used on Oil Paintings?

Gamsol has several applications beyond simply thinning paint.

For example, Gamblin states that Gamsol can be used for cleaning painting surfaces and removing Gamvar varnish.

However, this does not mean you should casually scrub an existing painting with solvent.

When working on a finished or historically important artwork, solvent cleaning and varnish removal are conservation procedures that require knowledge of the materials involved.

If you’re working on an artwork of significant value, consult a qualified paintings conservator rather than experimenting.

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Gamsol for Artists Working in Small Studios

This is one of the reasons Gamsol has become popular with many contemporary oil painters.

Not everyone has a huge dedicated painting studio.

Some artists work in:

• Bedrooms
• Apartments
• Small studios
• Classrooms
• Shared creative spaces
• Home workshops

In these environments, strong solvent odours can become a major problem.

Gamsol’s very low odour compared with traditional turpentine can make the working environment considerably more pleasant. Gamblin has also studied its use in classroom environments and reports a slow evaporation rate relative to stronger solvents.

But ventilation and safe handling still matter.

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Common Mistakes Artists Make With Gamsol

Mistake 1: Using too much

You don’t need to flood your paint with solvent.

Start small.

You can always add more.

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Mistake 2: Using solvent alone for every layer

A painting made entirely from heavily solvent-thinned colour is not necessarily a well-constructed painting.

Think about your painting structure and binder content.

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Mistake 3: Treating “odorless” as “risk-free”

It isn’t.

Gamsol still needs proper storage and handling.

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Mistake 4: Leaving brushes submerged

Clean your brushes efficiently rather than leaving them sitting in solvent unnecessarily.

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Mistake 5: Storing it in a drink bottle

This is a serious studio-safety mistake.

Never do it.

Use a proper labelled solvent container.

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Mistake 6: Pouring solvent down the drain

Don’t treat solvent like dirty water.

Collect used solvent appropriately and follow applicable waste-disposal requirements.

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Gamsol for Beginners: Where Should You Start?

If you’ve never used Gamsol before, don’t overcomplicate it.

Start with three applications:

1. Brush cleaning

Learn how much solvent you actually need to remove colour.

2. Underpainting

Use a small amount of Gamsol with oil colour to create a thin initial layer.

3. Paint control

Experiment with adding tiny amounts to stiff oil colours and observe how quickly the consistency changes.

You’ll quickly discover something experienced oil painters already know:

A little solvent can do a lot.

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Gamsol for Professional Oil Painters

For experienced painters, Gamsol becomes less about “thinning paint” and more about controlling the behaviour of the entire painting process.

It can become part of a carefully considered workflow involving:

Drawing → imprimatura → underpainting → opaque layers → glazing → refinement → varnishing

Different stages require different paint handling.

Gamsol can help you move between those stages without having to fight the consistency of the paint.

That is where the product becomes much more interesting.

It isn’t simply a brush cleaner.

It’s a control tool.

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Why Gamsol Is Worth Having in an Oil Painter’s Studio

The biggest advantage isn’t that Gamsol somehow makes you a better painter.

No solvent can do that.

The advantage is that it gives you control.

Control over:

• Paint viscosity
• Brush loading
• Thin washes
• Underpainting
• Brush cleaning
• Palette cleaning
• Certain medium mixtures
• Studio odour compared with stronger solvents

And when you’re working with oil paint, control matters.

You don’t want to fight the material.

You want the material to respond when you ask it to.

Gamsol in Kenya: Where Can Artists Buy It?

If you’re searching for Gamsol in Kenya, Gamsol in Nairobi, or an odorless mineral spirit for oil painting, you can find Gamsol at:

Bristles Art & Craft Supplies

We stock professional art materials for painters, illustrators, students, architects and makers—and Gamsol is part of our oil-painting range.

Bristles Art & Craft Supplies
Salama House
Mama Ngina–Wabera Street Junction
3rd Floor, Room 308
Nairobi, Kenya

Whether you’re a beginner buying your first bottle of artist solvent or an experienced oil painter looking for a reliable studio solvent, our team can help you choose the right materials for your workflow.

Come in, ask questions, compare materials, and build a studio that works for you.

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The Bottom Line

Gamsol isn’t just “something you put in oil paint.”

Used properly, it can become one of the most useful tools in an oil painter’s studio.

It can help you create thin underpaintings, loosen stiff oil colours, clean brushes and studio tools, and work with compatible mediums—all while providing a much lower odour experience than traditional turpentine.

But the best results come from using it sparingly and intentionally.

Don’t use solvent because you think you’re supposed to.

Use it because you know why you’re using it.

That small distinction can make a surprisingly big difference to the way you paint.

Ready to try Gamsol?

Gamsol is available at Bristles Art & Craft Supplies, Nairobi.

Bristles Art & Craft Supplies — Custodians of creativity in its purest, analog form.

Your ideas deserve better materials.

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