Description

Zest-it was born in 1995 from a very practical need. Jacqui Blackman, a working artist and oil painting workshop facilitator based in the UK, found that the turpentine and white spirit used by her students caused persistent headaches and sore throats in the studio. Determined to find something better, she set out to develop a solvent that was non-toxic, non-flammable, pleasant to use, and genuinely effective. The result was the now iconic Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner, a formula built on Aliphatic Hydrocarbon and pure food-grade Citrus Oil extracted from the zest of citrus fruit.

Zest-it Cold Wax Solvent dissolves and lifts cold wax and oil-wax mixtures from brushes, painting knives, tools, and surfaces with the same gentle efficiency that characterises the entire Zest-it range. When used to thin cold wax medium, it adjusts the consistency of the medium for different application techniques — a looser mix works well for glazing and translucent layers, while a firmer consistency suits impasto and textural work. Add the solvent gradually and mix thoroughly to achieve the working consistency you need. When cleaning tools, pour a small amount into a separate container, work the tool through the solvent, wipe away, and reuse the solvent until exhausted. The pale yellow tint and orange fragrance confirm the presence of citrus oil in the formula; this also means the solvent does not mix with water and should be cleaned from brushes with soap and water after the initial solvent clean.

Cold wax painting has experienced a significant revival in contemporary studio practice. Artists working in this medium combine cold wax with oil paint to create richly textured, matte or semi-matte surfaces with extraordinary depth and luminosity. The medium encourages intuitive, gestural mark-making , scraping, burnishing, incising, and layering are all characteristic techniques. However, working with wax introduces a cleaning challenge that traditional solvents handle poorly. Turpentine and white spirit can remove wax, but their toxicity and flammability make them unpleasant and hazardous companions for extended studio sessions. Zest-it Cold Wax Solvent provides the solution.